For a long period of time, mankind has advanced tremendously in terms of technology, from the use of animal-driven technology to machine-automated technology, up to now where we speak of robotics and artificial intelligence. It is without a doubt that this advancing technology has elevated the position of mankind in the world to a better place than he was centuries past.
Still, we cannot ignore contributions made by generations that existed many years past towards the development of present technology. They are the founders of this technology we use, and through them, man's insatiable desire to uplift his living conditions and to understand his environment is highly shown. This past generation gathered a lot of knowledge, which has been of importance in developing present technology. For example, even before the advent of the telescope, early mankind appreciated that there were celestial bodies, and they gathered every piece of information they could, storing it for the next generations to build upon. This made it possible for us to speak about the solar system, planets, and the moon with clear clarity and understanding. It is these past glories of mankind that the present technology was built upon, emphasizing the dire need for intergenerational coordination.
It is worth noting that during those past times, there was no distinction whether an invention was by a black, white, or yellow man; it was considered part of human ingenuity. With a lot of shame and disappointment to former generations, I am embarrassed to report that the innovativeness, creativity, and ingenuity of mankind have been downgraded as a black, white, or yellow man's invention.
During the humiliating colonization, Africans were considered as barbarians, regardless of their ancestors being key contributors to the technological advancement of mankind due to their uniqueness in a way of life different from the colonizer. The African was then forced to tow the line of his colonizer, detaching him from his roots, leading to the notion that technology was a reserve of the other races except black. The black man was even made to be lower than the master's dog, as all hard menial tasks were heaped upon him during slavery, leading him to be considered as part of the beasts among master's beasts. Machines later emancipated him as they could perform his tasks without masters catering for food, clothing, medicine, and shelter if at all they were provided.
With the black man disconnected from his roots and also not educated in the white man's viewpoint of technology, he was therefore pushed to the bottom of technological advancement. But with a lot of zeal, undefeatable passion, and great ingenuity, the black man was able to maneuver all obstacles laid against him and made generation-breaking inventions like Pluto being made a dwarf planet, large-scale shoe manufacturing machines, train lubrication systems.
The present world is within the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions, but Africans have completely isolated themselves from these advancements. This is attributed to many years of subjection of Africans to Eurocentrism's view of technology, which demeaned any pride a black man could have on his part in the development of technology. It is hardly possible to hear any African youth, with whom our future is tied, give a faintest sense of ownership of present technology to their ancestors as they hold them to have been backward. If I may ask, which is the first invention by mankind? It was fire, which was discovered here in Africa, enabling mankind to colonize any place in the world, irrespective of the climate in the area.
What then is Africa's place in technology? Africa is again playing an essential role independently in driving the industrial revolutions through providing necessary raw materials. This is happening while masses of Africans are seething in technological backwardness, with some areas facing challenges accessing even 2G networks, let alone 3G, while the world is moving to 5G networks. What then should be done to address this? We Africans have to first acknowledge that we were made to look upon others for technological advancements, and as a result, we lack confidence in ourselves.
The time is ripe for us to believe in ourselves and develop our technology. The government should sponsor technological innovation education to equip youths with skills to put Africa in its rightful position in world technology. Also, those learning courses aimed at the development of technology should aim at building Africa independent technology and stop being satisfied in using others' technology. It is possible, it is doable. Youths, let's rise to this historic challenge. Upcoming technicians, we have faith in your ability to revolutionize technology; take up the task.
