For at least four reasons, Africa in 2010 has an unprecedented opportunity for transformation and sustained growth. First, until the onset of the global economic crisis, economic growth was averaging 5 percent a year for a decade, accelerating to 6 percent for 2006-8. Growth was widespread: some 22 non-oil exporters had 4 percent or higher growth from 1998-2008. While Africa was badly hit by the global crisis, thanks to prudent macroeconomic policies and financial support from multilateral agencies, the continent avoided an even worse growth shortfall in 2009, and has rebounded in 2010...

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRICA/Resources/Africa_s_Future_and_the_World_Bank_s_Role_in_it.pdf