Africa's Middle Class

Several times, I have written about Africa's up and coming middle class (or in some cases returning middle class, since many who are in middle class have relocated to Europe or North America). Since many African nations have seen significant growth in their middle class sector, places to cater to this group are sprouting all over, like malls, fast food restaurants, and classier bars. Here's an example in Nairobi, from CNN International.



Now, don't get me wrong. Many of these places have been in Africa for a long time, but some have fallen to decay or completely closed due to many African nations losing their middle class to political unrest. However, some have survived and are seeing a new or returning class and more of these places that mark the existence of a middle class are popping up.

Aside from commercial venues, certain industries that define an upper middle class are booming as well. One in particular is cosmetic plastic surgery. I just read an article about plastic surgery in Kenya (currently there are five plastic surgeons in Nairobi). What is most interesting to me is not that there are plastic surgeons in Kenya, but that they schooled in UK or North America then returned seeing that there is a market for plastic surgery (usually they school there and stay there). On top of that, some are even teaching plastic surgery at the University of Nairobi.

Cosmetic plastic surgery is no only booming in Kenya, but in Nigeria (despite it's conservative culture), South Africa, and Ghana (but more so for medical tourists than Ghanaians). Maybe this may mark the end of Africa's "brain drain?" It might be too premature to say that, since it doesn't look like Africa's middle class is returning in troves currently, but with all this new and returning developing, definitely a new middle class is emerging.