If you're an investor, you can consider this your official wake-up call on Africa.  When companies like McDonalds and Wal-Mart make a big foray into a market, they are telling you that they've done the homework and the population of that market is ready to join the rest of us in the 21st century. 

Wal-Mart is moving into Africa.

In the not too distant future the headline, "Chinese Labor Unions Seek Protection Against Low Wages in Sub-Sahara" will no longer be found only at The Onion.