What's the point?

I was told this story about the differences in European and African culture by the head of the Ndere Cultural Dance troupe:


One day the World Bank is examining its records and realises that Uganda tops two of its lists: natural resources and debt. The president of the bank travels to Uganda to determine why a country so rich in natural resources would be so unable to repay its debt to the bank. When he arrives, he asks President Museveni what kind of resources the country has. "Well," Museveni replies, "we have the largest freshwater lake in Africa and it's filled with fish."

So the president of the world bank travels to the shore of Lake Victoria to see what's up. He encounters a Ugandan man in torn clothes lying in the shade by the lake shore. He greets the man and asks what he does.

"I am a fisherman," the Ugandan replies without getting up.

"Why aren't you fishing?" demands the president.

"I caught 3 fish yesterday."

"What did you do with them?"

"One my family ate, one I gave to my neighbours, and one we will eat tonight."

The president, obviously at a loss, asks, "Why don't you catch more fish now?"

The fisherman replies that there's no reason to- let the fish live one more day.

"But you could catch more fish now!" the president of the world bank exclaims.

"And then?"

"And then you could sell the extra ones"

"And then?"

"And then you could by a net to catch more fish!"

"And then?"

"And then you could sell those and make enough money to by a boat with a bigger net!"

"And then?"

"And then you could sell all the fish you catch with your big boat and make lots of money!"

"And then?"

"And then you can relax!"

The Ugandan, still reclining by the shores of Lake Victoria, stares at the President of the world bank for a while before replying, "And what exactly do you think I'm doing now?"