ABSTRACT
Brazil's interest in Africa is in no way accidental. The oil crisis of 1973 forced Brazil to consider the benefits to be derived from closer association with the larger oil-producing countries of Africa, namely, Angola, Nigeria, and Gabon. Brazil made its moves armed with a reassuring rationale: Its ties with Africa were rooted in history and culture. One learns how Africa can benefit from Brazil's technological expertise and how Brazil can most effectively conduct its business dealings in Africa. The Brazilian presence in Africa is not confined to goods alone, but extends to experts and technicians at work on a variety of projects, including road building in Mauritania, construction of tile and brickwork factories in Ghana, and improvement of telephone communication networks in Nigeria. In June 1980, the president of Guinea-Bissau, Luis Cabral, went to Brazil. And President Figueiredo himself went to Africa in 1981, the first Brazilian president to do so.
