LONDON (Reuters) - Africa may be seen by the rest of the
world as a continent dogged by war and poverty, but Africans
themselves are fiercely proud of their homeland, a survey
conducted by British broadcaster the BBC showed on Monday.
The survey, which questioned more than 7,500 people across
10 countries, showed 90 percent of Africans are proud of the
continent and the majority are optimistic their families will
be as well off or better off this year than last.
Around 40 percent of Nigerians and Ghanaians felt better
off compared to a year ago while Zambians said they had seen
the least progress in the past year.
But although most of those surveyed were generally positive
about Africa, a clear majority also said they would emigrate if
they had the choice -- many of them beyond their own continent.
Only half of the Kenyans who responded to the survey said
they would want to stay in Kenya, while almost three-quarters
of Nigerians said they would leave if they could.
South Africa was the only country named as a popular
destination.
The survey, entitled "Pulse of Africa" and compiled from
research conducted in April and May, found that most said they
thought outsiders regarded Africans as peaceful, friendly and
rich in natural resources.
Asked to identify the continent's most serious problems,
the majority of respondents pointed to poverty, followed by
HIV/AIDS, unemployment, illiteracy and corruption.
On tackling AIDS, 80 percent of those questioned said they
thought their governments were doing well.
But in general terms, the majority were dissatisfied with
their governments' performances. Only in Kenya (69 percent),
Rwanda (66 percent) and Ghana (56 percent) did majorities say
their governments were doing well.
Attitudes on the continent, particularly to social and
family issues, were conservative.
Around half of the Nigerians and Malawians said they
preferred to only wear traditional clothes and the percentage
of those surveyed agreeing with the statement "the man should
be the head of the family" ranged from 73 percent to 96
percent.
