Alexandra Bruce
Forbidden Knowledge TV
February 23, 2009
This clip shows how a gift economy flourishes in Mali, Africa one of the poorest nations on Earth, in materialistic terms. Theirs is a culture of constantly giving to their neighbor, with no immediate expectation of return. Their cultural belief is that
by giving, you will also be given to and be taken care of. Hoarding is frowned upon, so people avoid it.
It works in the small villages that dot this vast, mostly arid land. Medical care, education, Social Security and other things that many Westerners think are supposed to be provided by the government are handled on a personal basis and somehow, everybody gets what they need.
