This paper extends the analysis of African economic growth in two directions: first by challenging the assumption that growth effects of particular explanatory variables are the same in Africa as elsewhere; and second, by measuring indirect contributions to growth of initial conditions as they influence explanatory variables in a basic growth regression. Robust regression analysis shows that for Africa, being closed to trade is more costly to growth, natural resource abundance is more detrimental to institutional development, and several factors that reduce population growth and enhance institutional quality outside Africa fail to show such beneficial effects within Africa. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.