ABSTRACT
Many of the problems of development come from misconceptions of problems and the inability of development professionals to understand the complex African systems of modus operandi. This problem and largely stems from the assumption that ‘development’, as defined by capitalist economics, is a linear process of modernisation that has manifested itself by careful manipulation in western Europe, some parts of Asia and the United States of America. The central assumption of capitalist development theory is that pre-capitalist economies must be transformed into capitalist economies which will bring access to all modern basic needs and more. Pre-capitalist are low down in the linear development scale and need to be pushed up the ladder. One of the most famous anthropologists of modern times says: It is difficult to see any intellectual value in a concept of ‘development’ which defines it as GNP per capita.
