Which is why part of me is almost pathetically grateful for Google's hands-on approach in Africa. On the other hand, it seems that Google really has set its sights on Africa and is determined to take over the continent ... digitally in any case. Granted, the search giant is being very nice about it.
Previously colonists arrived with small pox, their religion and inappropriate political systems, and took natural resources, people and equality. Google is arriving with free technology, promises of better caching and other broadband infrastructure, and workshops on how to make money from all this cool stuff.
One of the main things that it's very politely asking for in return - our data - might seem a small price to pay for accessing university lectures thanks to YouTube EDU. Not to mention the ability to translate any webpage to Afrikaans, Arabic or Swahili. Let us not forget being able to read Google's pages in more than 38 African languages. And of course the extent that Google Maps has covered Africa (leaving aside the snafu around Morocco's borders), including releasing street view in South Africa in time for the World Cup, and earlier than many other countries around the world.
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