Ken Opalo
@kopalo.bsky.social
Associate Professor at Georgetown University.
Washington, DC.
More here: https://www.africanistperspective.com/
Washington, DC.
More here: https://www.africanistperspective.com/
Transformative national development (as opposed to nano-developmentalist nibbling at the margins) is the only way out of this. The sooner everyone is on the same page the better.
November 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Transformative national development (as opposed to nano-developmentalist nibbling at the margins) is the only way out of this. The sooner everyone is on the same page the better.
Only way out of this is national development strategies.
African policymakers should feel empowered to pursue pro-growth national development strategies.
Don’t settle for marginal projects, regardless of who’s hawking them.
African policymakers should feel empowered to pursue pro-growth national development strategies.
Don’t settle for marginal projects, regardless of who’s hawking them.
October 27, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Only way out of this is national development strategies.
African policymakers should feel empowered to pursue pro-growth national development strategies.
Don’t settle for marginal projects, regardless of who’s hawking them.
African policymakers should feel empowered to pursue pro-growth national development strategies.
Don’t settle for marginal projects, regardless of who’s hawking them.
September 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
What I told you that even with the recent increase in the cost of power in the U.S., Kenyans still face a higher price than in the U.S.?
September 21, 2025 at 10:31 PM
What I told you that even with the recent increase in the cost of power in the U.S., Kenyans still face a higher price than in the U.S.?
Energy use per person. African states MUST do better.
September 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Energy use per person. African states MUST do better.
Absolutely glorious.
September 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Absolutely glorious.
One day writers and editors in major international magazines will learn that the Continent has 54 countries with lots of variation.
September 14, 2025 at 8:39 PM
One day writers and editors in major international magazines will learn that the Continent has 54 countries with lots of variation.
Among other things, the story of the relationship between these two regions over the last two centuries (and likely the next two) is one shaped in non-trivial ways by demography.
September 1, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Among other things, the story of the relationship between these two regions over the last two centuries (and likely the next two) is one shaped in non-trivial ways by demography.
Your regular reminder to write, rewrite, and keep writing your own stories, with a good faith effort to maintain fidelity to truth.
August 17, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Your regular reminder to write, rewrite, and keep writing your own stories, with a good faith effort to maintain fidelity to truth.
The most complacent set of ruling elites in the world: www.africanistperspective.com/p/what-expla...
August 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The most complacent set of ruling elites in the world: www.africanistperspective.com/p/what-expla...
Some thoughts on the sorts of policies that produced this map: kenopalo.substack.com/p/a-historic...
July 24, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Some thoughts on the sorts of policies that produced this map: kenopalo.substack.com/p/a-historic...
There’s an old West African meme for what you are expressing here…
June 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
There’s an old West African meme for what you are expressing here…
History of energy transitions.
(source: Critical Minerals Journal) 
(source: Critical Minerals Journal) 
May 29, 2025 at 4:12 AM
History of energy transitions.
(source: Critical Minerals Journal) 
(source: Critical Minerals Journal) 
A great Kenyan has rested. RIP.
May 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A great Kenyan has rested. RIP.
Trying to figure out why policymakers did what they did is fun.
May 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Trying to figure out why policymakers did what they did is fun.
A large share of the populations without access to electricity across Africa actually live in or around urban areas (within an hour) — Source: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A large share of the populations without access to electricity across Africa actually live in or around urban areas (within an hour) — Source: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Two figures that the Continent's policymakers must take seriously.
May 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Two figures that the Continent's policymakers must take seriously.
Africa remains a strategic backwater in DC, exhibit 33555872
And if we are being brutally honest, Africanists in DC played a role in this by pigeonholing the region and at times being openly hostile to alternative frames.
And if we are being brutally honest, Africanists in DC played a role in this by pigeonholing the region and at times being openly hostile to alternative frames.
April 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Africa remains a strategic backwater in DC, exhibit 33555872
And if we are being brutally honest, Africanists in DC played a role in this by pigeonholing the region and at times being openly hostile to alternative frames.
And if we are being brutally honest, Africanists in DC played a role in this by pigeonholing the region and at times being openly hostile to alternative frames.
Your regular reminder that you can’t leapfrog a working state: www.npr.org/sections/goa...
April 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Your regular reminder that you can’t leapfrog a working state: www.npr.org/sections/goa...
External actors are extending the duration of the war.
April 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
External actors are extending the duration of the war.
Many people will be surprised to learn that manufactures comprise a significant share of intra-Africa trade:
April 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Many people will be surprised to learn that manufactures comprise a significant share of intra-Africa trade:
Your regular reminder to read this book.
April 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Your regular reminder to read this book.
What competition? There is no competition.
Which African countries trade more with the U.S. vs China?
Which African countries trade more with the U.S. vs China?
April 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
What competition? There is no competition.
Which African countries trade more with the U.S. vs China?
Which African countries trade more with the U.S. vs China?