The latest issue of Spear’s magazine makes the unarguable case that Africa is the future of our planet – whether you’re talking in terms of human capital or economic heft, writes Alec Marsh
In about 1903, no one can quite remember, my great-grandfather, a medical man who had gone stone deaf, upped-sticks and moved the family to Kenya, in what was then British East Africa.
We have some photographs to show for it, and a bit of family folklore, but mostly all that I’ve inherited is a quiet affinity for Africa. This may have something to do with the African theme of this edition of Spear’s. More likely, it’s because of the unarguable case that I hope we make in this edition that, in many important respects, Africa is the future of our planet – whether you’re talking in terms of human capital or economic heft. This is a theme addressed in our leader, in our Spear’s interview with the entrepreneur and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim on, and explored further in our special 11-page Africa section.
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Here we detail the extent and breadth of the economic expansion that Africa is embarking upon. We also look at the impact of tourism, the diamond industry, and we hear from our columnist and long-time Africa-watcher Robert Amsterdam.
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Finally we also take a closer look at the artistic flowering occurring in Africa, one which is at last being recognised internationally. Continuing this theme is Lucia van der Post, writing about tourism-led conservation in Chad and beyond. In our arts interview we meet prize-winning Nigerian author Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia. Then, Arun Kakar heads to Zimbabwe to experience a safari and the Victoria Falls.
What’s more, we have the celebrated primatologist Jane Goodall in the Midas interview. And that’s not all: in this inaugural edition of the 2020s we have John Arlidge leaping aboard the ‘new Concorde’ flying from London to Sydney; Nick Foulkes reveals Britain’s answer to Ralph Lauren. At the back of the book, Mark Walton gets behind the wheel of the new McLaren GT. And it doesn’t disappoint. While William Sitwell meets the epicurean talents behind Carousel.
What else? Edwin Smith has a lunch to remember with Xavier Rolet, the former head of the London Stock Exchange, (with a superb illustration by Russ Tudor), and I have the pleasure of travelling to Mustique – to explore this Caribbean island, the only place where Princess Margaret ‘could truly relax’.
Finally, we also have our 2020 Reputation Managers Index, and we look at the latest trials of the house of Windsor. Thanks to everyone involved, not least our cover artist Adam Dant.
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Alec Marsh is the editor of Spear’s
