Young Africans want more African connections – report

They may be little travelled but Africa’s burgeoning youth population expresses knowledge and understanding of their continent and most are eager to tap into opportunities that unite them more, according to a report.

By Conrad Onyango, bird

Young people in Africa look forward to travelling more to other African countries to explore, expand their friendship network, build new working relations and possibly meet a marriage partner, according to a new report.

The “One Africa” report from Africa No Filter found that the majority of the 4,500 youths polled across nine countries feel positive being identified as Africans and express appreciation of the continent.

According to the report, more than eight in 10 youths from West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa, link their identity to the continent, identifying as Africans, while 68 percent are keen to travel in Africa.

“They also had positive attitudes about friendships, marriage and working relationships with Africans from other parts of the continent,” reads the report in part.

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While youth comprise the largest segment of the continent’s 1.3 billion-strong population, they are the least travelled, with the report showing 63 percent are yet to set foot in another African country.

Breaking that down nationally, more than half of South Africans (56 percent) said they had travelled to at least one country in the continent, followed by East Africans (35 percent), West Africans (33 percent) and North Africa (22 percent).

3 percent of East Africans – the largest percentage of those polled – have travelled to more than six other African countries.

The Population Reference Bureau forecasts that young Africans will comprise 42 percent of the world’s youth population, with under-35’s accounting for 75 percent of Africa’s population, by 2030.

The urge to travel to other African countries was highest in the larger sub-Saharan Africa (61 percent) compared to a paltry 20 percent of youths in North Africa.

“Youth in Africa are interested in knowing more about other African countries, through travel, and the main barrier is their perception that travel is expensive. Safety and being unwelcome are of less concern,” says the report.

Generally, young Africans are accommodating and welcoming, despite coming from diverse ethnic backgrounds and cultural backgrounds, according to the report, a trend that flies in the face of the xenophobia experienced by many people who have moved to South Africa from other parts of the continent.

“Across the survey, most respondents (70 percent) had a positive view of Africans from other countries living in their country,” reads the report.

Even though the majority of young African’s are not travelling, growing internet connectivity is making it easier for them to learn and discover positive stories – including on economic opportunities – in other parts of Africa on social media (52 percent).

Only 13 percent of the respondents said they rely on politicians for accurate information about other countries on the continent.

However, in North African countries, friends and family, television and books plays a bigger role compared to social media, in spreading positivity and inspiring stories about Africa.

All these sources of information are contributing to a greater understanding of the rest of Africa amongst African youth, than previously.

“82 percent of young Africans felt they knew the continent somewhat well or very well,” said the report.

The “One Africa” report can be found here: http://africanofilter.org/oneafrica