Seven out of the ten fastest-growing economies are in Africa. Behind that is a surge in healthy young people and an emphasis on local markets.

An economic renaissance currently underway in Africa is providing hope to a billion people there and creating a sense of optimism among youth. And it contains real lessons for us to learn and absorb here at home. Long seen as at the margins of global economic activity, Africa is increasingly looking like an important key to its future.

"Youth culture is driving Africa. We want everything that people have in the West, but we want to create it and we want to control it," adds Marquis.

As Africa’s economy continues its rebirth, those may be words that we all increasingly learn to live by.