After a long reflection on the causes and strategies for leading African countries out of a state of underdevelopment, development theorists in general and Africanists in particular have become overwhelmed by a growing afro-pessimism. What are the new questions, new theoretical and conceptual approaches and methods that are being formulated on the dawn of the 21st century for addressing, in a less utopian manner, the problem of African development? Three fundamental concepts — attitudinal changes, rational management of time and resources, and increased productivity — are presented as a possible key to a new vision of the future of Africa.