The July 2008 issue of GQ UK magazine ran a feature article on the current state of Angola, Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, by the journalist John Kampfner (he used to be editor of the New Statesman) and pictures by Andy Sewell. The article gives a glimpse into the changing face of the capital, Luanda, and of the new elites flush with cash and their hard-partying and fast money ways. We’re reminded that life expectancy is 42 years of age and that three-quarters of the population live on less than a dollar a day. Kampfner also offers this insight: “This is now the ultimate rainbow nation. During my stay I meet South Africans, Mozambicans, Brits, French, Americans, Portuguese, Spanish, and the elusive Chinese. They are united in one cause — to get rich.”
I wonder what Lara Pawson’s take is on the article. She writes about Angola and South Africa over on her blog Unstrung.
[...] GQ. It was brought to my attention by the pretty prolific Africa is a Country, who blogged it here. Mr Kampfner is a seriously experienced journalist, and someone I’ve tended to enjoy reading [...]
[...] that claim too is complicated. Probably a more accurate description comes from the title of an interesting article in the British version of GQ magazine: “The World’s Richest Poor Country.” There are [...]
[...] following articles. First, a GQ feature by John Kampfner, former editor of the New Statesman, on “The World’s Richest Poor Country” (click through for a PDF). Here’s a snippet: The IMF spent years negotiating a [...]