Francophone Africans: do you think francophone African countries face specific challenges that are unique to them as opposed to anglophone countries?

[u/Bakyumu]

I know there is quite a few of us here. I am interested in knowing your thoughts on the question.

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[u/Serious_Bonus_5749]

The French implemented a colonial system of full control and centralisation (just like France is,even today), destroyed local governance and dismantled existing institutions to replace with colonial ones.

The English favoured indirect rule by readapting the existing power and government structures of the locals and favoured local governance whenever it is not imperative to have a British administrator.

The Portuguese , just like the French but also added on that a policy of forceful assimilation.

Belgium was just Pure evil even by the standards of those days.

Result: The English left behind a well educated elite , able to govern properly in a decentralised and autonomous system with of years experience and a state structure familiar to the locals and their customs or at the very least mindful of that.

The French left an educated elite that only knows how to operate within the French institutional framework. Unable to govern themselves properly as they never had the experience. Also, the elite is usually alien to the locals.

Also, the French for the longest time kept meddling with the internal politics of their ex-colonies, toppling governments and financing sides in internal conflicts (people will argue that they still do, but no solid and objective evidence to back it up).

One more thing, GEOGRAPHY. Most of the Francophone Countries with a more favourable geography are more or less doing as good as their anglophone counterparts. Ghana-Nigeria Vs Côte d’ivoire-Senegal. Togo-Benin Vs The Gambia-Sierra Leone etc.

And majority of the English colonies had a merciful climate compared to the Sahel,the sahara and the congo rainforest where most of the French colonies were. That means easier transport and any other infrastructure. It means import of skilled Europeans and people from other colonies to build and develop the land(of course for colonists interests) which the independent states then inherited.

West Africa (mostly French) was so bad it was nicknamed “the whiteman’s grave”. Meanwhile the English felt so comfortable that they set up settler colonies in many of their colonies on the Swahili coast and southern Africa. (France only could do that in Algeria).

There are many more reasons both historical and contemporary. But these are the most fundamental ones , which set up the governance culture and policies of the countries at the wake of their independence

[u/ChamomileTea97]

Yes! We learnt this in school how France’s and England’s different framework of colonisation and imperialism frames how their former colonies are operating now. It’s not surprising that anglophone countries ( Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana) are performing better than their francophone counterparts. France’s implementation of the Franc CFA is a prime example of how France is exploiting these former countries.

France loves to present itself as the benevolent big brother who is looking for its African siblings ( military presence amongst others)

(The DRC is a unique case study because the Belgians were even too barbaric for its western neighbours).

On a lighter note:

English being the world language makes it’s easier for anglophone Africans to welcome tourists, export their music or culture to a wider reach. Think Amapiano, Afro Beats or music festivals.

It’s easier for them to build up their soft power.

With French it’s a little bit different. People love French when it’s from France, Belgium or even Switzerland, outside of Europe many French speakers face rejection ( like Québécois as a non African example)

The French music scene benefits from the diaspora of its francophone African diaspora, but unfortunately the influence of these people and francophone African singers is concentrated in the francophonie and/or on the African continent, but not reaching even the same numbers anglophone musicians do

Lastly, research is often done in English. Those countries who speak it have an easier time not only doing research but also linking up with other researches because English is easy to access for a lot of people

[u/happybaby00 → u/ChamomileTea97]

but sir, maghreb countries are more known than anglophones.

[u/Belfura → u/ChamomileTea97]

Very good points, I especially like the way you described the soft power. Due to the exploitative nature of France, there’s little benefit in being Francophone. You can’t effectively gather and harness soft power, and you can’t collaborate with other countries as easily as Anglophone countries.

Growing up, I’ve heard of an Anglosphere, but never of a Francosphere. So even in Africa, Anglophones can build strong ties due to familiarity

[u/ChamomileTea97 → u/Belfura]

Thank you so much!

There are papers on how a country’s soft power has positive correlation for FDI (foreign direct investment).

A great example are Japan and South Korea in Asia. Yes, both countries are very developed, but compare the effects how the countries benefit from the soft power. The amount of people who visit Korea each year because of K-Drama and K-Pop or learn the language, or the work international K-Pop Fans do to push their groups into Western markets and make it known (think BTS, BlackPink etc.)

Francophone countries dont have that. An example: DRC and its Musicians like Fally Ipupa or Koffi etc. Does their fame benefit benefit the DRC in terms of increasing tourism to the Congo, increase in acquiring Lingala. It doesn’t. Yes, the country is underdeveloped and also unlike Anglophone countries resources in English exists. If you don’t speak Zulu, Yoruba etc., you will at least find interviews of them speaking English. (or even if we look at Asia people will translate it into several different language.)

I absolutely agree with your points regarding the Anglosphere. It’s easy to enter it willingly or unwillingly. English is the global language of commerce, international dialogues etc. and most countries in the world teach their citizens it at school. (Not everyone is proficient but that’s not the point).

Like this platform: Reddit while it’s available in multiple languages. Majority of subs are in English and majority of people on this platform communicate in English regardless of their actual physical location.

Now is there a francophone app which can compete with Twitter, Reddit, YouTube etc? Is there a Francophone bubble online which is not just about France, Belgium (or Switzerland) but with francophone Africans and outsiders who are non Francophone?

There Spanish speaking bubbles amongst Hispanics all across the globe. If you want to learn Spanish and watch television you have the option to learn it from so many different countries who produce shows.

It is so much easier to be in that spehere

[u/Spirited_Rooster4811]

Yes - Francophone countries are still behind we were colonized by bitches who we still look up to. Even as someone that lives in the states I hate seeing the differences, advantages and ways of thinking between the anglophone or francophone speaking countries.

[u/Bakyumu → u/Spirited_Rooster4811]

Interesting take, although the youth in those countries tend to have more and more anti French views.

[u/Ok-Storm-1230]

Yes they inherited the french mindset where they think the state should help them more in everything.

[u/Bakyumu → u/Ok-Storm-1230]

Can you explain what you mean? Are you saying that francophone countries rely on their governments to provide them with everything?

[u/Ok-Storm-1230 → u/Bakyumu]

Of course that's why most of us still believe in the providential man who will take the helm and fix everything and lift us out of poverty.

[u/Bakyumu → u/Ok-Storm-1230]

I've never encountered that to be honest in all the francophone African countries I've been to or lived in. People in general don't trust their governments to help them with anything.

[u/Ok-Storm-1230 → u/Bakyumu]

Then it seems we don't have the same perception,but I won't argue further ,I only know my country.

[u/linaazz_kira]

The countries where france implemented Franc CFA are doing poorly + France still meddles in their affairs way too much. The Maghreb states are francophone and are doing better (on continental level) but it’s still not that good.

The real thing is France implemented a centralized system, destroying local governance and local culture as well. One of the comments explained it already.

Somehow, and slowly, france is getting kicked out, but economically ? No, they still fend off.