(CNN) -- Contrasting Barack Obama's upcoming visit to Africa with Chinese president Xi Jinping's recent tour indicates seismic shifts not only within Africa but also in terms of global power. On this visit, only Obama's second to Africa since he became president (Xi visited Africa during his first foreign tour as head of state, in March this year), he will be visiting a continent which feels increasingly less beholden to American dictates. China's growing economic influence in Africa, which generated more than $160 billion in bilateral trade in 2011 (when U.S. merchandise trade with Africa was worth just $95 billion), plays an important role in this shifting sentiment.President Obama visiting an Africa 'increasingly less beholden to American dictates'Chinese influence growing in Africa, U.S. influence waning, says Ross AnthonyChina offers trade and aid without interfering in African internal affairsAfrica is site of struggle for geostrategic influence between U.S. and China, says Anthony
As the _ proverb goes: "To get rich, build roads first!".