The Africa Rising discourse maintains that economic growth, spurred by the BRICS, comes with improved governance, and that diversifying Africa's international relations will lead to radical change in the global order. Ian Taylor examines these claims and argues, rather, that deindustrialisation and jobless growth have accompanied the BRICS' investments, that they have a vested interest in maintaining the current balance of power, and that Africa must fashion its own independent path if it is not to reproduce anew the current state of underdevelopment.