Today I learned that the Foreign Policy magazine will publish the world's top 100 public intellectuals in the July/August issue of the magazine.  They are giving the public an opportunity to have a say in whose names should appear on this list.  Dr. George Ayittey was one of the names on the list and I am telling you so that you may vote for him.

Here is the link. 

For anyone that may not be familiar with him, there are several main underlying themes behind his speaking and writings:

1. That Africa's corrupt politicians are the cause for slow progress on the continent.

2. Africa should embrace her unique traditions and indigenous economic systems, because although they may not be vogue, they do address otherwise difficult to solve challenges.

3. Rather than throwing aid at Africa's low income producing communities, that encouraging and facilitating trade and small enterprise amongst the continent's populace is a more effective way to end poverty and bring wealth to the continent.

4. If one could view modern Africa's development  by focusing upon three main groups of people, that Africa's challenges and opportunities will become more apparent- the Cheetahs (Africa's young problem solving generation), Hippos (the old generation who wish to maintain the status quo for their own betterment), and the Atingas (these are the continent's large number of small scale economic players, like participants in the informal economy and the indigenous economies). Cheetahs, Hippos, and Atingas are words that Ayittey has coined and have made their way into many mainstream discussions on the continent's development.

This can all be summed up in one statement that Ayittey has also popularized, "African problems require African solutions".  He goes into a great degree of depth on these three themes in his book, "Africa Unchained". 
 
By the way, here is something else interesting behind Ayittey-he is the inspiration behind the Cheetah Index, and before the founders of the African Path Network began working together they were each positively influenced by George Ayittey.

Please vote for Dr. George B N Ayittey, so that his ideas can help shape more lives!