Some decades ago, Brazilian President's visit and pronouncements in Africa would have been treated as empty rhetoric. Not anymore. China started on similar low key trade engagement with Africa of just under $40 billion in 2005 that suddenly shot up to over $106 billion in 2009. Brazil's trade engagement was at $5 billion in 2003 and edged slightly above $26 billion in 2009. The goodies that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's presented to Africans are an indicator of planned big game coming. They ranged from Visa exemptions; food security initiatives; debt cancellation; trade partnerships; diplomatic training and exchange; technology transfer and tourism boost among others.

There has been a significant increase in the number and nature of Africa-South cooperation arrangements since 2000. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is the best-known and most elaborate template. The South has started offering the continent a diversified economic menu in the global arena. Of much significance is the South's willingness to avoid lecturing Africa - at least for now; a great departure from the Westerners who are ever keen to mould everything they touch in their own image. 

President Lula da Silva's just concluded Africa tour is a wake up call upon the continent to widen its economic menu. In so doing, Africans must not lose focus from the fact that the soft approach employed by the South will eventually turn into hardball engagement once they gain ground. Courtesy of it's over reliance on the West, the continent never invested in think tanks and institutions that could analyze and evaluate Western country maneuvers. The absence of such specialized institutions is giving the South an upper hand in penetrating the continent at the cheapest rates.

Brazil boasts of over 97 million people of African origin. Acknowledging that Brazilian society was built on the work, the sweat and the blood of Africans- the millions of slaves who were brought to Brazil between the 16th and 19th centuries, Da Silva notes that Brazil "is in debt to Africa"- a debt which the country intends to repay by strengthening its solidarity and cooperation. China on its part has produced evidence that its people first landed on the African soil long before Europeans - but never sought to colonize Africans. Sweet words indeed; but is Africa prepared to engage in a meaningful way with their Southern counterparts? 

The global recession has seen Africa lose on support from its traditional Western partners. Since putting all eggs in one basket is disastrous, the continent must consequently go multi-polar and seek win-win business relations with other partners. Already, China, India and Turkey have made inroads. Brazil is the latest entrant. As Western countries engage in policies of insulation against poor nations, the Southern engagement appears keen to bring down the walls to facilitate free movement of people. It is time Africa invested in specialized institutions to study, and analyze all the country-civilizations they engage with.