From Community to Isolation: Why Loneliness Is Rising in Africa

Africa, traditionally seen as a continent of tight-knit communities, is now grappling with a hidden epidemic—loneliness. According to a new WHO report, Africa is the world’s loneliest continent, with nearly a quarter of the continent’s population feeling isolated, particularly adolescents. Rapid urbanization, shifting cultural values, and economic pressures are eroding the continent’s once-strong communal bonds, leaving many people feeling abandoned and overwhelmed. Experts warn that rising individualism, technology use, and poverty are deepening disconnection, while social wellbeing remains largely overlooked in health policy. Yet, hope exists: grassroots initiatives like Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench and Cape Town’s AgeWell program show community-based solutions can heal. Experts warn that, without urgent action, the consequences could devastate not just mental health but the societal fabric itself.

The Guardian