Africa is Far Behind Technology and Innovation, I Get it and Here’s Why.
Growing up as an adolescent in Africa has been a challenge especially to those of us whose interest is into technology and innovation.
There has been numerous cry out about the so called “millions of opportunities” to do business in Africa. We’ve heard a lot. On the TV’s, the radio’s, internet, technology conferences and a lot more to keep mentioning. In fact, we’re excited about that. But upon all these racket, the future of millions and millions of the youth in Africa today is easily unpredictable — maybe this is a global problem but I’m punching more on the matters of technology and innovation in Africa. If you happened to be by my side as am simultaneously shivering and pressing the keyboard on the issues of this subject, you would’ve run to buy paracetamol for me on the reason that I’m suffering cold.
When I first heard about Facebook was around 2009, I was amazed how someone could sit and create something of that sort. So I started to make research about that particular human being who has designed that magic.
Fortunately for me I discovered a young person called Mark Zuckerberg whose name is undoubtedly a home brand name. Immediately, my interest in technology was agitated, I was then looking for ways and means how that thing called Facebook was invented. From then on, I started reading blogs about technology and technology companies. You know as curious as I was growing up. I then came across other world changing technology companies and their founders. I didn’t even know that what I was using to do my research was eventually invented by someone and that the name is called Google search which is one of the dominant foundation product of a company called Google. And so my research went on and on until I had discovered many giant technology products and brands I know today.
After all my research, I was surprised and said oh so there’s not a single of these that belong to an African? Wow! So I began to keep my earlobe wide opened, figuring out what really is the problem about Africans? What is causing us not to be creative enough that we can do the things that those white guys are doing to enrich themselves, changing their continent and holding mountain of powers and controlling the lives of billions of people across the world with their product and services. I think to say this and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s because of this giant mountain of technology and innovation spearheading in the valleys of the United States of America that’s why their leaders have superpowers and not even that alone the country America itself.
Kudos to China. In fact I really admire their rising. Why? I’ve learnt that they were in our shoes some few years ago. The name China was nowhere near the name of their rival counterpart — USA, but now if you mention the countries highly innovating and if not copy-catting to transform their continent as far as transcend it, I don’t think you’ll put China in the bottom line.
With the likes of Alibaba and Tencent whose product including Wechat — china’s messaging platform battling whatsapp, Weibo china’s version of Twitter, QQmusic battling Spotify,Instagram and others on music streaming tech and user growth respectively, Baidu — china’s version of Google search and a lot more others to reserve. Haha, I’m pretty sure you’re surprised if you aren’t aware of these before.
Come to think of it they’re the product and services making china to be what it is today.
My question is, if they were to be overly reliant on those foreign products and services would they have been able to get to where they’re today? Self-answer.
Africa on the other hand I’ve learnt it’s about 54 nation states which is of course a great continent and a home for entrepreneurs who have competitive, innovative and scalable businesses to start and build global business ventures.
Before I hammer on the issues of this topic, let me briefly take your mind to concisely explain what innovation itself is. Maybe you may later take your time to make more research on this word ‘innovation’ to add flavor to what I’m about to tell you.
According to the Advanced English Dictionary defines innovation as a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation. Again it stated that it’s the creation of something in the mind or the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new.
Hmm! interesting right? No doubt.
From the pre-defined statements above, considering the first definition comes to mind an obvious reason to think and start creating. And there’s no deny the fact that china is a true definition of this concept of fact. They (China) believe that by creating the same thing and offering some slight experience, a new way of getting users engaged with their product and services without actually sitting for years and worrying about what to create can enable them to have a market share in whatever business or industry they’ll venture.
In contrast, these are the reasons Africans can neither innovate nor create anything related to technology that is able to compete in the global market;
· Africans worry about security a lot.
· Africans fear competition
· Africans believe that technology product and services are only developed by the white people.
· Africans do not believe in themselves.
I’m sure you are thinking to add more, I love that.
Let me take some minutes of your time to elaborate the reason for my points. In the first place, before a technology product would be released into the African market, the comment about whether it’s safe to use or where it is even coming from will make you wonder whether we Africans are serious and looking for prosperity for our people and continent. Africans worry about security a lot. This is not good, there are loop holes, it can be hacked and a lot more unnecessary comment about that particular product or service will lead to putting that particular powerful product or service into jeopardy if care is not taken. Come to think of it, those who complain about such issues are the ones who doesn’t even know what the f*ck such product and services are built. I bet you to even give them the tools to hack or destroy it and you’ll observe their ignorance. I don’t know. Maybe could be jealousy or witchcraft.
Moreover, Africans fear competition. “This thing exist”, “we don’t need such thing again” and those other shit are the statements made by very few people who do not even know the fuck it takes to build a business nor compete in the market. Come to think of it, they don’t even know what you have built or starting but will just give out cruel comments. I don’t blame them because as the good book says lack of knowledge my people perish. The truth is those people will achieve nothing until they die.
Last but not least, Africans believe technology product and services are only developed by the white people. Be ashamed of yourself if you have this negative mindset. The white people are humans like us. It’s their skin color and language that differentiate us. The truth is we can do whatever they do. So far us you are a human being, God has given you too the power to create. You only have to seed in your mind the concept of possibility and make happen for yourself. Turn your passion into purpose and serve others. That is the greatest life you can ever live. Believe me those white guys whom we use their product on our phones and computers only had a passion for whatever they did and they turned that into useful and thriving product and services we use today.
Finally, Africans do not believe in themselves. If a curious young African starts to do something on their own, before the thing succeeds people will put fear in them as if what they’re doing is irrelevant. “Oh look at them, even Google spends millions of dollars on such things but you”. These are the statements about the negative people who’ll leave the hell of their lives I think to say.
My encouragement to those young Africans with dreams, vision and aspirations to do something for themselves and to serve people and make money, as Alibaba’s Jack Ma said “Africa has a future and there’s no expert for the future, you the entrepreneur are the expert of the future and you should listen not to those who claim they’re expert”.
With this in mind you’ll become creative, fearless, unstoppable, innovate and create to transform Africa and the world.
I am Abe Ansah, Cofounder of Lexep. An independent platform for Creators, Storytellers and entrepreneurs to create and distribute their content across all social channels, websites and apps on commercial and non commercial scale without hustle.
You may contact me: ansahadeabaj45@gmail.com
