Neo-colonialist, perennial underdog, or smart influencer: India in The Gambia and Ghana

Since the mid-2000s, India has substantially increased its presence in Africa and is now active right across the continent. Despite this expansion, India still lives in the shadow of China and the west in Africa. Equally, the presence and influence of India in specific case studies in Africa is under-researched. This article takes evidence from fieldwork in The Gambia and Ghana and finds that India is regarded by some as just another neo-colonialist and by others as under-resourced with poor capacity and limited public relations. Others, however, saw India and its various manifestations as a smart actor which uses the resources and attributes it has – including a common language, Bollywood, and various nuances of its presence – sometimes to good effect, allowing India to punch above its weight. The article thus considers India's influence in The Gambia and Ghana, in particular in comparison to China.