.jpg)
Africa is a stunningly beautiful and scenic continent with a very diverse population and an abundance of natural resources. For the longest time, most people have termed Africa as the cradle of civilization. This big continent has had historic civilizations that flourished and left incredible legacies that resound around the world to date.
However, a belief exists that Africa has since time immemorial existed as a place of comfort, a place that did not necessitate its people to make important breakthroughs since the African land and environment provided everything they needed.
In this post, we will analyze the notion that Africa is a comfort zone by walking through history and identifying the dynamic and inventive cultures begotten in the continent despite possessing immense resources and natural resources.
Historical Contributions:
The most famous Civilization on the continent serves as an example to disprove the notion that innovation was not necessary for Africa by posting several innovations and accomplishments. The ancient Egyptian civilization, founded along the productive banks of the Nile River, developed intricate irrigation, architectural, and agricultural systems that enhanced its survival for thousands of years. Their impact lasts till date and is evident through massive constructions like the pyramids and writing systems like hieroglyphics.
Our historical lens on Africa leads us to the era between the first to the seventh century CE, where we find another example in the Kingdom of Aksum, centered in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. This civilization was a strong trade empire and had innovatively created aqueducts, currency, terraced farming, and many more technological advances. Their mastery of sea navigation and long-distance commerce facilitated their interaction with civilizations in the Mediterranean, Arabia, and India, promoting cultural interactions and economic development.
Scientific Knowledge and Traditional Wisdom:
The abundant natural resources of Africa were shared between the African cultures and other beings in the ecosystem. This was realized by the formulation of a Traditional African Philosophy that provided a pearl of wisdom for the harmonious coexistence of all beings. This philosophy helped the cultures acquire a thorough grasp of their environment and incorporate traditional knowledge and wisdom into many facets of life.
The African cultures from all over the continent as a result had a wealth of knowledge on agriculture, herbal medicine, and sustainable land management techniques. due to this knowledge of ecosystems, animals, and plants, they were able to coexist peacefully with the natural world and develop sustainability.
The African cultures also were well politically organized with diverse forms of legal systems that maintained law and order. They also had the concepts of cities which served as trade and administrative centers. For instance, the Great Zimbabwe civilization had sophisticated social hierarchies, exquisite stone construction, and excellent urban planning.
In the same vein, the 14th Century saw the rise of arguably the richest civilization ever known, the Mali Empire under Mansa Musa. This empire was known for its extensive riches, learning, and cultural accomplishments. Being the center of this empire Timbuktu served as a city of learning and attracted intellectuals from all over the Islamic world where cultures shared innovations in a range of academic disciplines.
Contemporary Innovations:
In recent times, the innovativeness and advancement in Africa are still ongoing building from the momentum of past innovations and recent global interconnectedness. African countries are currently making strides in the fields of, renewable energy and agriculture technology, and healthcare.
As an example, Kenya and other nations have emerged as worldwide leaders in financial technology and mobile banking such as M-pesa, revolutionizing how millions of people use financial services. In the entertainment scene, Nigeria's Nollywood film industry is the second largest in the world and is at the forefront of producing captivating films for domestic and worldwide viewers.
Africa has shown perseverance, innovation, and a profound awareness of its environment throughout history, from ancient civilizations like Egypt and Aksum to modern achievements in technology and renewable energy. African cultures have substantially advanced humanity and are still finding ways to do so. Given the pieces of historical and modern evidence, we can comfortably debunk the notion that creativity exclusively results from a lack of resources and further conclude that despite being a resourceful comfort zone, Africa has made significant innovations.
Comments