Ø     Africans provide labour (usually to cheap odd jobs code named Kyeyo) literally translated to mean sweeping.

Ø     Provision of raw materials to  British  pharmaceuticals, agricultural and clothing industries

Ø     Market for British goods like guns, foodstuffs, electronics

Ø     Research/Study population - Africa is used for both specimens and study area for British researchers, academicians and volunteers who come to train in developing countries to accumulate experience after university.

Ø     Leisure and welfare as they enjoy our flora and fauna

Ø     Moral support in times of crisis and need e.g during calamities, games where Africans support England teams

Ø     Supported Britain during the world wars (Uganda in particular) .

Ø     Employment of experts in donor projects and programmes

Contemporary art is vibrant in Africa and we have a lot to learn from it;

African visual artists are also having a major impact on the world stage – I am thinking of people like Yinka Shonibare who was, I think, on the shortlist for the Turner Prize - possibly last year. His work is in the Tate.

There are numerous other contemporary artists - Sekon Sekongo, Ivory Coast; Efiaimbelo, Madagascar;  Emile Guebehi, Ivory Coast; John Fundi, Tanzania; Zinsou, Benin;  Georges Lilanga, Tanzania; Cyprien Tokoudagba, Benin; Kivuthi MBuno, Kenya; Esther Mahlangu, South Africa; Emmanual Ekong Ekefrey, Nigeria; Seni Awa Camara, Senegal; Gedewon, Ethiopia; Johannes Maswanganyi, South Africa..... the recent exhibition of African contemporary art at the Hayward Gallery would be a good starting point and demonstrates the interest in this.