Africa Iron Age

Interesting question Andy. Yes, this photo shows that Togo is in the Iron Age (I wouldn't say "still", as that implies some kind of inevitable chronology). Fact is, Togo is in the Iron Age and the Digital Age at the same time. I can't remember if you've been through Mauritania or Mali yet? In the crafts market in Timbuktu they sell not only lots of crafts, but also huge numbers of small arrowheads and stone axes and hand knives, scrapers and other tools, that people find in the dunes just north of town, and also all over the desert in Mauritania. If you found stone tools like that in Europe, you'd think "Stone Age", caves, probably 20,000 years ago or more, literally pre-historic. But in West Africa the stone age persisted right into historical times, and there were hunters out there in the bush making stone tools just a couple of hundred years ago, maybe less, until there were enough iron tools, and iron technology was widespread enough for people to switch and lose the old stone-flaking skills. But I believe there are people in southern Africa, San hunters in Botswana, some of whom stil have those skills. So these "ages" have come to carry a slightly perjorative baggage in our popular culture.

Ive been here 9months and I couldnt agree more. Well its TOTALLY feudal. Its like living in Robin Hood days with mobiles and motorbikes. Feudally everyone hails the Sherrif of Nottingham and everyone wants his job ! So everyone waits rahter than works together. Everything is competitive n quasi politica. Throw in white skin and youre screwed BECAUSE u symobolise liberalism, freedom, progression etc.. "You are beyond the child-like hierarchy"
And u r right, NGOs are fooling themselves AND in the yes of the Africans, a laughing stock !