“The key to an understanding of Africa’s ruling elite today is the examination of its functional relationship to the two main sides of the colonial social structure : the African peasantry and the capitalist West. In that relationship the sacrifices are imposed on the former, the benefits are appropriated by the latter. The function of the elite is to try and get a share of the benefits while avoiding any part of the sacrifices.”

-Ayi Kwei Armah, Masks and Marx