Denis Cogneau, responsible for research at the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), explains that these inequalities in Africa have a well-defined historical origin : 
Denis Cogneau, anayehusika kwa utafiti katika Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Maendeleo (IRD), anaeleza kuwa hali hii ya kutokuwepo usawa barani Afrika ina asili ya kihistoria inayoelezeka :