DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 6 -- A YEAR can be “good” on paper and still feel harsh in the market, at the bus stand, or at the pharmacy. That is the real question behind a striking 2026 headline now circulating in global business commentary: Africa may grow faster than Asia possibly for the first time in modern history.

The forecast logic is simple. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to edge up in growth while parts of Asia, especially China, continue a long, gradual slowdown.

If that crossover happens, it will be symbolically important, because for decades “Asia” has been the default shorthand for global momentum: Factories, exports, productivity and rising household incomes that reshaped daily life. But growth rankings are...