We value your privacy

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. Cookie Policy

Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

ADVERTISEMENT
Africanian
  • News
  • News 24/7
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • World
    • US
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • America
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Africanian
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture

Hidden by Colonial Shadows – Is Africa the True Cradle of Tech Innovation?

To understand Africa's technological narrative, we must revisit history:Unearthing Africa's Technological Legacy

in Culture, News, Tech
Reading Time: 4 mins read
1 0
0
Hidden by Colonial Shadows – Is Africa the True Cradle of Tech Innovation?
1
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Whatsapp

By Metohuey Adoglo 

Is Africa the birthplace of technology? The answer may surprise you.

Celebrated as the cradle of humanity, she also holds the distinction of being the birthplace of technology itself. The evidence is compelling. The world’s oldest stone tools, dating back a staggering 3.3 million years, were unearthed in eastern Africa. These tools, created by unidentified hominins, offer a glimpse into the continent’s early technological prowess.

Yet, as we explore the hidden annals of Africa’s technological legacy, we must also confront a painful truth. Our tech infancy, filled with promise, was derailed by the heavy yoke of colonialism and the enduring legacy of slavery. These forces reshaped our destiny, diverting the course of our potential.

For millennia, Africa’s soil bore the weight of an abundance of riches – vast mineral resources that could have propelled her infant “Technology” to unparalleled heights of innovation and development. 

More

Lesotho increases blood collection by 70% between 2017 and 2024

RevUp Women Initiative Launches Nigeria Edition at Lagos Startup Week 2025

Kigali launches urban cable car to connect communities and reduce inequality

Read More: Africa’s Top 5 Safest Countries to Explore in 2023

Today, Africa carries the weight of the label ‘third world,’ but could this classification be a consequence of the shadow cast by our colonial past and the echoes of economic exploitation that continue to reverberate through the years?

It’s time to uncover the hidden truths about Africa’s technological heritage – a narrative brimming with the promise of what could have been. As we embark on this journey, we must ask ourselves: Can the reclamation of our technological roots spark a new era of hope and pride for the generations of African tech pioneers yet to come?

Unearthing History 

To understand Africa’s technological narrative, we must revisit history:

  • Homo habilis, residing in eastern Africa, forged the Oldowan tool industry approximately 2.3 million years ago.
  • Homo erectus introduced the Acheulean stone tool industry, including hand-axes, 1.5 million years ago. This innovation not only advanced technology but also spread to the Middle East and Europe.
  • Homo sapiens, modern humans, displayed remarkable ingenuity by crafting bone tools and backed blades 90,000 to 60,000 years ago in southern and eastern Africa. These innovations would become hallmarks of the Later Stone Age.

The Secrets of Art and Chemistry

Africa’s technological contributions extended beyond tools. The continent boasts the world’s oldest abstract art, with a shell necklace dating to 82,000 years ago in Morocco. The second oldest abstract art and rock art, dating to 77,000 years ago, were discovered in South Africa. These artistic achievements reflect the creative spirit that has long defined Africa.

Additionally, evidence suggests that ancient Africans possessed early knowledge of chemistry, using specific recipes to create liquefied ochre-rich mixtures. This discovery challenges conventional narratives about the development of chemistry.

Read More: The African Renaissance –A Stage for Creativity and Technology

A Legacy of Scholarly Pursuits

Throughout history, Africa has been a hub of knowledge. The Library of Alexandria, founded in Egypt in 295 BC, stood as the world’s largest library. Al-Azhar University, established in Egypt around 970-972 AD, remains a beacon of Arabic literature and Sunni Islamic learning.

Timbuktu: A Center of Learning

In West Africa, Timbuktu emerged as a major center of learning during its “golden age” from the 14th to the 16th centuries. It hosted several madrasas, or Islamic schools, where scholars pursued diverse fields of study, including Qur’anic studies, Arabic language, and Islamic theology.

Astronomy: A Forgotten Legacy

Astronomy found its place in African innovation as well. The ancient Nubians created one of the world’s oldest known archeoastronomical devices around 4800 BCE. Egypt’s pyramids offer further evidence of early astronomy.

Today, Africa continues to advance in astronomy, hosting major observatories and contributing to our understanding of the cosmos.

Read More: Paws and Tech: Top 5 Tech Pet Innovations in Africa Homes

 A New Beginning?

As we unveil Africa’s hidden technological legacy, we must confront uncomfortable truths. The classification of Africa as a “third world” continent is a legacy of its colonial past and the dark chapter of slavery. But could this revelation serve as a catalyst for a new generation of proud African tech pioneers? Could Africa reclaim its place as a technological powerhouse? The questions loom large, challenging us to reevaluate our understanding of history and the potential of a continent whose past and future are intricately intertwined with innovation.

Our Story So Far. Your Dreams Matter, Your Stories Matter #DreamsTalks #AfricantechSpace pic.twitter.com/seZElwurGq

— Africanian News (@africaniannews) July 3, 2023

 

Disclaimer: The opinion of the author don’t necessarily reflect that of Africanian News.

Africanian

Africanian

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Rwanda combines youth innovation and circular economy to build a resilient nation

Rwanda combines youth innovation and circular economy to build a resilient nation

July 3, 2025
7 Tracks, 1 Future: AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 Sets the Stage for Africa’s Innovation Renaissance

7 Tracks, 1 Future: AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 Sets the Stage for Africa’s Innovation Renaissance

June 25, 2025
Kenya: a business blossoming from the soil

Kenya: a business blossoming from the soil

June 23, 2025
Lesotho increases blood collection by 70% between 2017 and 2024

Lesotho increases blood collection by 70% between 2017 and 2024

July 8, 2025
Nigeria accelerates economic transformation with key reforms and signs of recovery

Nigeria accelerates economic transformation with key reforms and signs of recovery

July 7, 2025
RevUp Women Initiative Launches Nigeria Edition at Lagos Startup Week 2025

RevUp Women Initiative Launches Nigeria Edition at Lagos Startup Week 2025

July 5, 2025
Twitter Instagram Youtube Facebook
No Result
View All Result

Africanian News

Is a dedicated project aimed at amplifying the voices of the African Ecosystem and Diaspora. We actively collaborate with initiatives to improve access to education and digital inclusion, both in traditional schools and through digital platforms, for African children.

It’s crucial to emphasize that none of the articles or images featured on our platform are intended for copyright infringement, neither now nor in the future. If you believe that any information, text, image, etc., may be subject to copyright and should be removed, please notify us by sending an email to info@africanian.com

Your dreams matter; your stories matter.

Feel free to explore collaboration opportunities with us. Share your articles, thoughts, interviews, experiments, or no-comment videos by reaching out to info@africanian.com. You can also subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest updates from Africanian News.

© 2024 Africanian News: From Africa, by Africans, for Africa, and friends of Africa.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • World

© 2024 Africanian News: From Africa, by Africans, for Africa, and friends of Africa.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Log In

Sign In

Forgot password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Back to Login

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Accept

Add to Collection

  • Public collection title

  • Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.