Is Africa really moving foward?

I , like several African's around the globe think that western media like BBC and Aljazeeera constantly show the worst things about our continent. But, this month I have watched two documentaries one about baby trafficking in Nigeria and the other about the "Nigerian Mafia". It sounds unbelievable but it is so painstakingly true. So, I ask myself how Forbes and IMF published that the fastest economiesn the world are countries from Africa. Also, most African countries are said to be moving from low income economies to middle icome enomies but in my opinion this report is partly true because there are international companies investing in this continent and it is now common to see huge skyscrapers , American fast food chains and the youth tweeting on their blackberries. But, could this be a smokesscreen to keep us from noticing the real issues on the ground that are happening in the little towns all around the continent of Africa.
 Today I was saying to a freind that a whole lot of things piss me off including those gloomy stories the international media portrays about Africa. He asked me a simple question ' But, are those stories true?" I had to admit that eventhough those stories are degrading they are true.What are we doing about it?  Nothing.
The baby trafficking documentary that was shot in Nigeria had a profound effect on me. The best word that sums up my feelings is  a word in french "boulverse". It is unbelievable that mothers and fathers give up their infants to a middle man who looks the highest bidder and sells the child. One of the victims the reporters interviewed said her two babies were sold by her boyfriend in her absence. The boyfriend is now lying in jail but in his defence he said he needed money and also he signed a contract with the dealers without even understanding what he did. So should we then blame these actions on poverty?  NO! I believe that there are some basic rights that cannot be tampered with and one of them is Life.  Forftunately, the woman(victim) got help from an NGO they tracked her boyfriend and were able to rescue her first child but the other was sold.  I was speechless for a while after watching the video and what made it more astounding was the fact that these acts are ongoing in a neighbouring country. Who knows whats probably happening here?
There are sucess stories in Africa but these will never come to the limelight if we dont adress the atrocious acts happening in the slums,ghettos or villages. We seriously do not need USAID or UNHCR coming to help us, we just need leaders and citizens who would stand up for what is right.

N.B  Below are some links to the documentaries I have seen this month, they are eye opening.
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/africainvestigates/2011/11/2011113071310331931.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2011/05/201152583557883925.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/08/201189141348631784.html