Every human society aspires for a better wellbeing and this accounts for the constant
renewal of its livelihood tools and methods. Cultural elements are borrowed from one culture
to regenerate another. This consequently has an impact on the receptionist society.
Anthropologists have pondered over time through theories on how, why and with what
consequences do these changes occur. The concept of development was developed to design a
positive change (progress) in a society. Its definition differed according to schools of thought.
In 1982, UNESCO produced a generally accepted definition of Development.
Development is a complex, holistic, and multi-dimensional process which goes
beyond mere economic growth and integrates all the dimensions of life and all the
energies of a community, all of whose members must share in the benefits that result
there from. The principle is therefore proposed that development must be founded on
the will of each society and express its profound identity. (UNESCO: 1982).
Nevertheless, the Euro-American model of development based on economic growth is still in
vogue and remains very attractive.
It is in this vein that third world countries had been striving to attain the Western level
of development engaging their finances into great projects which gave birth to “white
elephants”. By the mid 1980s, most African countries were under Structural Adjustment
programmes under the World Bank. Sub Saharan Africa then went through grave economic
crises whose effects shattered different sectors of its economies notably agriculture, industry,
services, finances and transport. For the latter in particular, government intervention although
effective has witnessed great difficulties.