The Top 10 African Countries for Etiquette
Southern Africans are among the most courteous and civil people in Africa. They enjoy the best democracies, infrastructure, and levels of transparency on the continent. I can attest to this assessment based on my travels throughout Africa, where I have witnessed firsthand the differences between Southern, West, Central, East, and North Africa.
East and Southern Africans are the least likely to emigrate illegally and commit crimes compared to other African communities in the diaspora. In contrast, West and Central Africa account for the majority of illegal African immigrants in Europe, Asia, and North America. Southern African passports are considered the strongest in Africa, reflecting the credibility and etiquette of the nations in that region.
Kenyans top our list of the top ten countries. Kenya, known as the “Harambee” country, exemplifies its motto, “community self-help,” and demonstrates a level of civility that rivals some of the world’s best. Following closely behind is Botswana, recognised as Africa’s most democratic state. Its recent election was marked by a lack of deaths, violence, or manipulation, making it freer and fairer than the most recent U.S. elections.
In third place is Senegal, a West African nation noted for its strong democratic traditions. Senegal has a long history of electing and un-electing presidents, and humility is a foundational aspect of Senegalese culture.
South Africa, Namibia, and Angola share the fourth position, distinguished by commendable etiquette. South Africa and Namibia citizens hold some of Africa’s strongest passports. Unlike those from West and Central Africa, they rarely emigrate illegally, which helps maintain their countries’ reputations.
While the list features various African countries, the differences in their rankings are often relatively minimal. The two North African countries included are Egypt and Morocco, and island nations like Seychelles and Mauritius also made the top ten.
If the list included all of Africa, Nigeria would likely be found in the bottom half. Nigeria in the 1970s was vastly different from today. Back then, Nigeria had a strong reputation, a thriving economy, reputable educational institutions, and high standards of etiquette. Unfortunately, these attributes began to deteriorate in the late 1980s. Currently, Nigeria produces the highest number of illegal African immigrants to Asia, Europe, and North America. Its citizens have one of the highest crime rates among African immigrants on average.
By Ikechukwu ORJI
