Africa can ride out of food price surge this time

On the financial side, a little bit of inflation will help push up domestic debt yields in the region's frontier markets, making bonds more attractive to foreigners and thereby giving currencies a boost.

But in contrast to the Food and Agriculture Organisation's global food index hitting 2008 crisis levels last week, maize, Africa's predominant staple, is showing few signs of stress, suggesting a repeat of the unrest of two years ago on the continent is unlikely.