An emerging market is a market that is developing but not yet developed, so it has few characteristics of a developed market but lacks those such as the level of market efficiency and rigorous accounting and regulations on stocks compared to developed economies. Emerging markets will typically have a financial infrastructure that includes banks, a stock market, and a currency. The economy could be a developed market of the future or a developed market in the past. The term "emerging markets" was first coined in 1981 by Antoine Van Agtmael, an economist who worked at the World Bank. About ten years ago the term "BRIC countries" was first heard, the acronym stands for the names of some of the fastest and largest emerging economies. The acronym later became BRICS, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and new member South Africa. More recently the acronym CIVETS was introduced. Columbia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Türkiye and South Africa are the countries included in this latest acronym. The CIVETS are emerging economies, similar to the BRICS, that have a diverse and dynamic economy combined with a growing young population. India and China are the two best examples of emerging markets; they are large markets that are not yet fully developed. They have the advantage of relaxed regulation with intermediate risk factors for investors. We constantly hear about the world's economic superpower in the news, but more and more we're starting to hear terms like BRICS and CIVETS and headlines about emerging markets. This is because every year emerging markets are becoming more and more influential in today's economic scene, but why? What is causing this growing importance in the emergence...... middle of the paper ......ca, which can produce the supply that can meet the demand. This will increase Africa's dependence on South Africa and increase South Africa's political and economic influence on Africa. South Africa should focus on investing with Africa rather than BRICS and/or CIVETS as the dark continent's economic leadership position will help develop our nation faster. The BRICS and CIVETS have their advantages, but they are exploiting the inclusion of South Africa in their respective acronyms to try to gain access to Africa. We could better benefit Africa and ourselves if we limited BRICS and CIVETS investments that could be harmful or particularly resource-draining to Africa and only allowed BRICS and CIVETS investments that would not exploit its people and resources, investments such as manufacturing projects. We must see Africa's development as our top priority.