THE NEW, INDEPENDENT AFRICA: A Long Way from Modern Civilization

SINCE 1956, more than 100 million Africans have won their independence. In the U.N. Assembly, they carry considerable weight. Their attitudes are considered part of "world opinion," their allegiance is eagerly sought by East and West, and their new nationhood is widely celebrated as progress. Yet by any measurement, material or spiritual, most of the new Africa still is a long, heartbreaking distance away from modern civilization.

In Nyasaland last week, some of the world's leading economists discussed African economic and social problems. Among the greatest obstacles, they agreed, are abysmal shortages of capital and human skills. Though most countries are friendly to the West, their determination to be rid of colonial or "neocolonial" influence increases their difficulties. Moreover, most are not "nations," but uneasy groupings of diverse peoples, with little understanding of democracy--hence the need felt for strong, one-party governments.

TIME here surveys 24 independent new states and three near-independent territories below the Sahara--where statistics hardly exist. Nonetheless, what data can be gathered illustrate a battle far bigger than the fight for independence: a battle to establish a minimum of order, education and material wellbeing.

Culture Political Maturity Problems & Prospects

1. NIGERIA (Br.) Pop.: 42,000,000. Size: 356,669 sq. mi. Literacy: 24%. School attendance: * 55%. College graduates: ** over 5,000. Christians: 20%. Five universities, plus widespread adult literacy classes. Together with Ghana has more college graduates than all other black African states combined. Witchcraft, female circumcision still common in rural areas.

Political parties: 9. Voters: /- 85%. Nigerians lead all other African peoples in basic comprehension of self-government, particularly where British ruled indirectly through tribal authorities and democratically elected councils. Political campaigns are fierce but free. In Northern Region, voting restricted to males.

Exports: Cocoa, palm products, peanuts. Per capita income: $88. U.S. aid (1961): $13,200,000. Moderate Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa holds together three disparate regions and 250 tribes that lack a truly national outlook. G.N.P. has soared 50% (to $3 billion) in decade.

2. GHANA (Br.) Pop.: 6,700,000. Size: 92,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 25%. School enrollment: 600,000. College graduates: 4,500. Christians: 28%. Most people practice old animist religions, but violent rites largely gone. Some 5,000 Ghanaians studying in West, reflecting increased college attendance in African nations.

Political parties: 2. Voters: 54%. From tribal institutions and British rule, most Ghanaians comprehend representative government, but Moscow-leaning Kwame Nkrumah misrules country as autocracy. Opposition has only eight members in 112-seat Parliament, many more are in jail.

Exports: Cocoa, timber, diamonds. Per capita income: $220. U.S. aid (1961): $22,600,000. Soviet aid: $196 million. Grows one-third of world's cocoa, but ran $100 million trade deficit in 1961. Volta Project (U.S. loans: $133 million) will enable Ghana to exploit rich bauxite deposits.

3. SIERRA LEONE (Br.) Pop.: 2,600,000. Size: 27,924 sq. mi. Literacy: 10%. School attendance: 20%. College graduates: 450. Christians: 30%. Capital city, Freetown, boasts University College, affiliated with Britain's Durham University since 1876. Literacy below 5% in hinterland, where pagan rituals common.

Political parties: 2. Voters: 70%. Until recent reforms, political scene was dominated by seaboard's sophisticated Creoles, mostly descendants of freed U.S. slaves and deported English prostitutes. Conservative Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai's People's Party is first to represent aborigines as well.

Exports: Iron ore, palm kernels, diamonds, cocoa, coffee. Per capita income: $70. U.S. aid (1961): $600,000. Margai favors moderate African bloc, thwarted Red infiltration. Diamond boom brought prosperity. Nation needs foreign capital to raise living standards.

4. GAMBIA (Br.) Pop.: 280,000. Size: 4,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 20%. School attendance: 10%. College graduates: 50. Moslems: 85%. Savage customs are rare and fast dying out.

Political Maturity Political parties: 5. Voters: 72%. Tribal democracy. Gambians outside their only city will have barest knowledge of self-government when they win independence.

Exports: Peanuts. Per capita income: $50-$70. U.S. aid (1961): None. Britain's smallest, poorest, oldest West African settlement. Mav federate with Senegal.

5. SENEGAL (F.) Pop.: 2,973,000. Size: 76,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 25%. School attendance: 32%. College graduates: 850. Moslems: 70%. Senegalese are among Africa's most advanced; one in 150 students attends university.

Political Maturity Political parties: 1. Voters: 71%. Politically aware, elected first deputies to French Assembly in 1848, has able civil service. President Leopold Senghor, 55, termed visiting Lyndon Johnson "weak-minded."

Exports: Peanuts. Per capita income: $177. U.S. aid (1961): $3,600,000. Senegal has little save glittering capital city of Dakar. Bordering Marxist Mali and Guinea, nation faces long-term Communist threat.

6. MAURITANIA (F.) Pop.: 727,000. Size: 419,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 6%. School attendance: 6%. Moslems: 100%. Nomadic natives until recently had almost no schools, even had capital in Senegal.

Political Maturity Political parties: 1. Voters: 82%. Effective rulers are nation's dozen tribal chieftains. President Moktar Ould Daddah, 37, is popular conservative who reflects Arab rather than African policies. No daily press.

Exports: Negligible. Per capita income: $46. U.S. aid (1961): $100,000. Rich iron ore, copper deposits to be developed by West-financed, $190 million project. Neighboring Morocco claims whole country.

7. MALI (F.) Pop.: 4,100,000. Size: 945,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 10%. School Attendance: 6%. College graduates: 100 plus. Outside Timbuctoo and other towns, population largely nomadic, 60% Moslem.

Political Maturity Political parties: 1. Voters: 38%. Though Communist Party is proscribed, Strongman Modibo Keita's Union Soudanaise spouts Marxist line; only two Cabinet members are considered nonCommunist.

Exports: Peanuts, cotton, rice. Per capita income: $33. U.S. aid (1961): $2,500,000. Also aided by Reds. No industry; 1960 break with Senegal cut off Mali from its port. Signs of disillusion with Red barter deals. Syphilis rate 15%, as in most of ex-French Africa.

8. GUINEA (F.) Pop.: 2,900,000. Size: 95,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 10%. College graduates: 60. No more cannibalism or ritual torture, but witch doctors flourish. Campaign against polygamy failed because of officials own insistence on multiple wives.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 99%. Marxist-minded President Sekou Toure carried on French policy of eliminating tribalism, has party official in almost every village. Despite assiduous voting record, people have little interest in national problems.

Exports: Fruit, coffee, bauxite. Per capita income: $58. U.S. aid (1961 ): $200,000. Rich, undeveloped forest, mineral resources. For $125 million Red aid, Guinea exports farm surplus to Communists at rock-bottom prices. Government is cool to West, but Soviet political meddling has made Toure think twice about Communism.

9. UPPER VOLTA (F.) Pop.: 3,635,000. Size: 113,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 3%. School attendance: 6%. College graduates: Under 10. Moslems: 17%. Less than 0.4% get secondary education.

Political Maturity Political parties: 1. Voters: 63%. Almost no understanding of democratic government. President Maurice Yameogo's governing party controls legislature.

Exports: Livestock. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961): $2,000,000. Firmly anti-Communist despite overtures from Ghana and Guinea.

1O. IVORY COAST (F.) Pop.: 3,300,000. Size: 125,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 16%. School attendance: 40%. College graduates: More than 600. One in every 225 citizens gets higher education. Abidjan is black Africa's most pleasantly Frenchified city.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 92%. Benevolent and anti-Communist Dictator Felix Houphouet-Boigny leads moderate Brazzaville bloc of twelve former French territories. Though unified by Houphouet, villagers have little interest in self-government.

Exports: Coffee, cocoa, bananas, timber. Per capita income: $160. U.S. aid (1961): $2,100,000. Ex-French Africa's strongest economy, world's third largest coffee producer. Houphouet is increasingly irked by U.S. aid to left-leaning neighbor, Ghana.

11. TOGO (F.) Pop.: 1,440,000. Size: 19,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 15%. School attendance: 42%. College graduates: More than 100. Christians: 25%. Witchcraft, savage ritual still prevalent.

Political parties: 3. Voters: 42%. Government still based on tribalism. President Sylvanus Olympic avowedly neutralist but warm friend of West, faces resistance from Ghana-backed northern tribes.

Exports: Cocoa, cotton, coffee. Per capita income: $73. U.S. aid (1961 ): $1,400,000. Needs foreign aid to develop phosphate industry. Main trade ties with France. Ghana's claims to Togo are threat to stabilitv.

12. DAHOMEY (F.) Pop.: 1,934,000. Size: 44,695 sq. mi. Literacy: 20%. School attendance: 35%. College graduates: More than 100. Dahomey has sent many civil servants to neighboring countries. In wild north, tribes still emulate King Dan. Dahomey means literally "belly of Dan," after 17th century ruler who devoured victims.

Political parties: 3. Voters: 42%. Government still based on tribalism. President Sylvanus Olympic avowedly neutralist but warm friend of West, faces resistance from Ghana-backed northern tribes.

Exports: Palm products, peanuts. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961): $3,100,000. Heavily reliant on France, which is financing $20 million development program. Shaky government flirts with leftist Mali and Red Chinese but is antiCommunist.

13. NIGER (F.) Pop.: 2,870,000. Size: 450,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 2%. School attendance: 3%. College graduates: less than 10. Lowest school enrollment rate in ex-French Africa. People mostly nomadic Moslems whose life has not changed in centuries.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 60%. Unrest led jolly, ultra-conservative President Hubert Maga, 45, to jail opposition leaders last year. Western-style politics barely understood outside two main cities.

Exports: Peanuts. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961): $2,000,000. Outside southern farming zone, huge land is mostly desert. Only 18,000, wage earners in whole country. Niger needs everything, survives on French aid.

14. CHAD (F.) Pop.: 2,675,000. Size: 495,752 sq. mi. Literacy: 3%. School attendance: 22%. College graduates: Under 10. Christians: 5 %. Pagan blacks in south rule nomadic Moslems in north, who refuse to be taught by better educated southerners.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 80%. Popular, ultra-conservative Francois Tombalbaye rules country as President, Premier, Minister of Defense and Justice, head of only political party. Strongly pro-French.

Exports: Cotton, rice, cattle. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961): $100,000. Though twice as big as France, parched Chad has no ports or railways, few roads; thus its agricultural exports cannot compete on world markets, go mostly to France.

15. CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. (F.) Pop.: 1,227,000. Size: 238,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 8%. School attendance: 20%. College graduates: 10. Outside one real town, river port Bangui, primitive population untouched by West.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 65%. Moderate President David Dacko, former schoolteacher who did not finish high school, is slowly trying to build centrally administered state.

Exports: Cotton, coffee, timber. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961 ): None. Big, landlocked country is manfully diversifying agricultural economy, but 60% of its budget comes from French aid.

16. CAMEROUN (F. & Br.) Pop.: 4,907,000. Size: 166,800 sq. mi. Literacy: 15%. School attendance: 78%. College graduates: More than 100. Christians: 20%. Moslems: 20%. Natives mostly spirit-worshiping animists. Its 80 tribes range from Arabs to Pygmies.

Political parties: 7. Voters: 77%. Only former French dependency with strong political opposition. Communists outlawed by fanatically anti-Red President Ahmadou Ahidjo. Well-trained African civil service.

Exports: Coffee, cocoa, aluminum. Per capita income: $70. U.S. aid (1961): $2,100,000. Despite disease (malaria rate: nearly 100%), tribal terrorists, lack of transport, agricultural economy thrives; trade balance healthy.

17. GABON (F.) Pop.: 440,000. Size: 103,089 sq. mi. Literacy: 6%. School attendance: 80%. Graduates: Under 10. Christians: 40%. Coastal region civilized; cannibalism, female circumcision still common.

Political parties: 2. Voters: 75%. Docile tribal society has little comprehension of politics. Autocratic Leon M'Ba, leader of Fang tribe and former Assemblyman, heads government.

Exports: Oil, timber. Per capita income: $135. U.S. aid (1961): $100,000. U.S. Steel developing rich manganese mines; huge ore deposits also promising. Problems: backward hinterland, inadequate civil service.

18. CONGO, Brazzaville (F.) Pop.: 900,000. Size: 132,046 sq. mi. Literacy: 15%. School attendance: 85%. College graduates: less than 20. One of ex-French Africa's highest literacy rates. Despite efforts to stamp out savage ways, there is occasional cannibalism.

Political parties: 1. Voters: 76%. Little comprehension of self-government. President Fulbert Youlou, a high-living priest and close ally of Katanga's Tshombe, tolerates no opposition; is friendly to U.S.

Exports: Timber, palm oil, peanuts. Per capita income: $40. U.S. aid (1961): $100,000. High-deficit agricultural economy subsidized from France, but projected hydroelectric and aluminum complex is planned.

19. CONGO, Leopoldville (Bel.) Pop.: 17,000,000. Size: 905,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 20%. School attendance: 50%. College graduates: 35. Christians: Nominal 47%. In interior, population is almost totally illiterate; sorcery, ritual killings, tribal warfare persist. Less than 10% are serious Christians; 504 priests, 121 nongraduate doctors serve one of Africa's biggest populations.

Political parties: 9. Voters: 40%. Black Africa's most headlined country has almost total ignorance of Western- style government. Only minute proportion of people even aware Congo is nation. Political parties are inexperienced and on strictly tribal lines. Westward-leaning Cyrille Adoula is ablest Premier yet, but still insecure in nearly bankrupt country.

Exports: Normally cobalt, copper, diamonds, palm oil, bananas. Per capita income: $90. U.S. aid (1961): $13.1 million. U.N. force defeated Communist efforts to infiltrate Congo, but has failed to end copper-rich Katanga's secession after two years. Even if once-prosperous country is reunited, it will take years to create a nation.

20. RWANDA 21. BURUNDI ( Bel.) Pop.: 3,000,000. Pop.: 2,500,000. Size: 11,000 sq. mi. Size: 10,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 25%. School attendance: 30%. College graduates: 60 plus (excluding priests). Christians: over 50%. Fewer than 2% attend secondary schools. Savage customs prevalent; natives venerate cattle.

Political parties: Rwanda, 4; Burundi, 3. Voters: Rwanda, 75%; Burundi, 52%. Belgians restrained political awareness before granting independence last July, when territory split into two states. Rwanda's main political issue is bitter conflict between giant Watusi and Bahutu majority, who were their serfs. Tribalism not acute in Burundi, but people unready for self-rule.

Exports: Coffee. Per capita income: $35-50. U.S. aid: $7,500,000. Both countries are heavily overpopulated, heavily dependent on foreign aid. Rwanda looks to neighboring Uganda for trade outlet. Rwanda is republic with moderate austerity regime. Burundi is monarchy with moderate regime under merry Mwami (King) Mwambutsa IV.

22. TANGANYIKA (Br.) Pop.: 9,404,000. Size: 362,688 sq. mi. Literacy: 15%. School attendance: 40%. College graduates: 50 plus. Christians: 50%. First university now open. Critical school shortage; over 1,000 new teachers yearly. Witchcraft, female circumcision common.

Political parties: 3. Voters: 85%. Statesmanlike Julius Nyerere's monolithic Tanganyika African National Union Party is making big effort to teach principles of self-government. Nyerere has resigned from government but retains dominant influence.

Exports: Sisal, cotton, coffee. Per capita income: $55. U.S. aid (1961): $4,300,000. Less than one-third of vast land is usable. Disease is rampant. Government is pro-Western, hopes for federation with Kenya and Uganda when they win independence.

23. KENYA (Br. colony) Pop.: 7,000,000. Size: 224,960 sq. mi. Literacy: 50%. School attendance: 75%. College graduates: 400 plus. Christians: 15% ( + 15% nominal). LInder British, who expect to grant once Mau Mau-ridden colony freedom by 1964, Kenya is spending one-sixth of budget on education. Its Kamba witch doctors are famed.

Political parties: 7. Voters: 80%. From long constitutional wrangling, urban population is steeped in theory of self-government, but country is still split between Jomo Kenyatta's Kenya African National Union (KANU), representing two biggest tribes, and Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), supported by pastoral tribes.

Exports: Coffee, sisal, meat. Per capita income: $96. U.S. aid (1961): $2,100,000. Communist infiltration may increase with independence, but U.S. has won high esteem through famine relief. Main problems: replacing 4,000 European civil servants; settling Africans on land, healing tribal schisms.

24. UGANDA (Br. protectorate) Pop.: 6,597,000. Size: 93,981 sq. mi. Literacy: 40%. School attendance: 50%. Christians: 38%. Only 3,845 secondary school students. Most Ugandans consult witch doctors. Despite high murder rate (800 yearly), ritual killings rare.

Exports: Coffee, cotton, copper. Per capita income: $68. U.S. aid (1961): $200,000. Rich land has no white-settler problem, with independence in October, will have moderate, pro-Western government. Major problem: lack of cohesive, national outlook.

Political parties: 2. Voters: 66%. British have largely governed through four tribal kingdoms, whose peoples still owe allegiance to tribe rather than nation, vote as leaders tell them but are accustomed to democratic debate.

25. SUDAN (Br. & Egyptian)Pop.: 12,100,000. Size: 967,500 sq. mi. Literacy: 5%. School enrollment: 318,000. College graduates: 200 plus. Christians: Less than 2%. Moslems: 80%. Strongman Ibrahim Abboud seeks unified Moslem state. Few savage practices.

Political parties: No elections since 1958. Parliamentary democracy was suppressed by military regime in 1958, two years after independence. Benevolent dictatorship faces mounting opposition, but its reforms could provide basis for full democracy.

Exports: Cotton, gum arabic. Per capita income: $95. U.S. aid (1961): $9,400,000. Africa's biggest country has made impressive economic gains, with foreign aid. Regime unlikely to step down before Seven Year Development Plan ends in 1969.

26. SOMALIA (Br. & Italian) Pop.: 2,000,000. Size: 246,000 sq. mi. Literacy: 10%. School attendance: Under 5%. College graduates: 100. Moslems: nearly 100%. Nomadic peoples are mostly illiterate. British and Italians educated small cadre to take over government. Few savage customs.

Political parties: 3. Voters: 90%. Despite such heroically padded election figures, there is little interest in politics. Ruling, radical Somali Youth League is run by Moslems who could hold their own in Chicago-style politics, have wheedled mighty loans from East and West.

Exports: Bananas, livestock products. Per capita income: $42. U.S. aid (1961): $4,200,000. Somalis of Arabian origin, hope to annex ethnically linked areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, French Somaliland into "Greater Somalia." Strong resistance to Communism.

27. MALAGASY REPUBLIC (F.) Pop.: 5,487,000. Size: 227,800 sq. mi. Literacy: 20%. School attendance: 50%. Graduates: 150 plus. Christians: 20%. Nation (formerly Madagascar) boasts old civilization; 10,000 were literate in 1835. Africans in remote uplands practice savage rites.

Political parties: 7. Voters: 76%. Keen racial-political rivalry between Africans and old, elite Hova tribe from Malaya. Conservative, democratic President Philibert Tsiranana is one of ex-French Africa's ablest leaders.

Exports: Coffee, vanilla, rice. Per capita income: $75. U.S. aid (1961): $500,000. World's fourth largest island, it is seriously underdeveloped, underpopulated. Staunchly anti-Communist nation is key member of moderate Brazzaville group.

* Percentage of eligible children attending primary schools. Br.: Formerly British-ruled. F.: Formerly French-ruled. Bel.: Formerly Belgian-ruled. **Estimated. /- Percentage of registered voters participating at last national election.

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