Within the Internet lies Africa’s clay of wisdom

by Philip Emeagwali

According to history books, gun-wielding European slave traders kidnapped one in five Africans and transported them across the oceans to the Americas. A less visible, but no means less drastic technological tool of suppression, is the compass, a device used worldwide for navigation. In the same way that Britain used its maritime knowledge and the US harnessed its intellectual capital to rule the world, the early slave traders used the simple compass to wreak havoc on civilization.

It is a sad fact that the innocuous navigation tool originated during and was fuelled by the Atlantic slave trade. The technological development of the innocent compass, invented in China for religious divination 2,000 years ago, allowed Africa to be ravaged in unspeakable ways.

It was the compass that created the Atlantic slave trade, enabling the early colonial navigators — and their blood merchants — to chart an accurate course from Gorée Island, off the coast of Senegal, to Brazil; paving the way for the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which began on August 8, 1444. This trade in human merchandise covered four continents and lasted four centuries, and serves as a shameful beacon for the depravity of human greed and conquest.

The compass became the de facto weapon of mass destruction, which led to the de-capitalization and decapitation of Africa. It created the African Diaspora with one in five people taken out of the motherland. It was the largest and most brutal displacement of human beings in human history. 

Today, it is hard to imagine that such destruction and the wholesale abduction of a race could result from a tool as common as the compass. Yet, as a people who survived the slave trade, we must draw our strength from lessons learned from the past and draw our energy from the power of the future. And the power of the future lies in “controlling” technology and harnessing it for the benefit of mankind, not for his destruction.

The people of Africa must take note that the Internet is our modern-day compass, and within it resides our own clay of wisdom. As we prepare for our great journey into the cyberspace of the future, with its technological promise — its clay of wisdom — we must understand the strategic value and potential of this all-important tool. Our image of the future inspires the present and the present serves to create the future.

Africa’s lack of substantial technological knowledge of the Internet and its potential may lead it to be assaulted or manipulated in unexpected ways, just as it was devastated generations ago for the lack of a simple compass. We didn’t recognize the power of the compass then; the danger is that we don’t recognize the power of technology today. While Africa merely contemplates the future, the West, the quickest off the mark to wield technology’s weapons, actually makes the future.

This fact, and how the power of technology can be wielded against the poor, was brought home to me clearly when I received the following email recently:

“About a year ago, I hired a developer in Africa to do my job. I am paying him $12,000 a year to do my job, for which I am paid $67,000 a year,” the sender wrote. “He’s happy to have the work and I’m happy that I have to work only 90 minutes a day. Now I’m considering getting a second job and doing the same thing.”

Technology in the hands of others has been used to exploit Africa for centuries. But now it's time for Africa to grasp technology and finally embrace the modern age’s clay of wisdom and advancement. Africa has the chance to show the world how technology can be used for good, not evil. And the people of Africa can use today’s technology, not to mimic their own exploitation, but to right the wrongs of the past and empower themselves with the same tool that has been used to oppress them in the past. Africa can provide a shining example for the world in using technology for its own upliftment and the benefit of mankind.

This time, it is our choice.

Transcribed from a speech delivered by Philip Emeagwali at the African Diaspora Conference in Tucson, Arizona. The entire transcript is posted at emeagwali.com.

Robot  # 1 | 15.01.2009 11:36

images/stories/Authors/Emeagwali.Within the Internet lies Africa’s clay of wisdom by Philip Emeagwali According to history books, gun-wielding European slave traders kidnapped one in five Africans and transported them across the oceans to the Americas. A less visible, but no means less drastic technological tool of suppression, is the compass, a device used worldwide for navigation. In the same way that Britain used its maritime knowledge and the US harnessed its intellectual capital to rule the world, the early slave traders used the simple compass to wreak havoc on civilization. It is a sad fact that the innocuous navigation tool originated during and was fuelled by the Atlantic slave trade. The technological development of the in...Read the full article.

NWANZA  # 2 | 15.01.2009 13:05

Africa’s lack of substantial technological knowledge of the Internet and its potential may lead it to be assaulted or manipulated in unexpected ways, just as it was devastated generations ago for the lack of a simple compass. We didn’t recognize the power of the compass then; the danger is that we don’t recognize the power of technology today. While Africa merely contemplates the future, the West, the quickest off the mark to wield technology’s weapons, actually makes the future. Thank you once again for pointing out the importance of "INTERNET" and "Information Technology" to AFRICAN governments & businesses. The benefits of data storage and safe keeping cannot be overstated in this time and age, especially in areas of accountability, skill development, and national security. It is stunning to note the lack of innovation in NITEL over the years of monopoly, and the failure of the private sector to revive it profitably. Even with the massive infrastructure and reach in their disposal, they could not articulate a business model that can be competitive in the market. Governments in Africa should capitalize on this technology to better deliver services to their people, and generate revenue. Nigeria for instance, could deploy machines to monitor revenue and tax collection processes. Nigeria can effectively make taxes the number one source of revenue instead of oil. There is no better tool for project management than information technology through computers and associated software’s. With use of these tools comes the ultimate gain in knowledge and human capital recourses. Governors, Ministers, and Administrators can be kept honest to the task of recourse management of public funds. Rectify the abuses taking place in our highest offices and big corporations. May God help us & bless Africa.

udokaamah  # 3 | 15.01.2009 15:24

Philip Emeagwali has a passion for the renaissance of leadership in Nigeria and Africa that is hard to ignore. He embodies all that Nigeria is and can become; experienced a patricidal war, grew up in a refugee camp, recruited as a child soldier, went to school on scholarship and overcame all the prejudices and natural handicaps of a black man to become one of the best mind in mathematics and information technology in the world. He should be celebrated. I see him and his ilks as the new face of leadership in Nigeria and Africa. A critical mass is taking place. It is a revolution of brillance and excellence. No shot will be fired, however all the shameful statusquos will be undone. I hope that Nigeria will see fit to pull him in. I hope our universities will extend professorship and sabbaticals to him. I hope civil organisations and youth groups will see fit to have him come speak at their gatherings. I hope he is good enough for national honors in Nigeria. I hope so. Because in he is on a constant speaking gig in the Carribean, Canadian Universities cannot get enough of him, American educational system invite him to speak to kids in grade school (primary school) and even Hollywood is about to immortalise his story in a new movie.

dele26  # 4 | 15.01.2009 16:46

What we desperately need now is not technology but an Africa with a human heart. The soul of the continent is crying for servant leaders not brutes, defensive soldiers not killing machines, and a protective police force not savages.

NWANZA  # 5 | 15.01.2009 19:31

=dele26;313614>What we desperately need now is not technology but an Africa with a human heart. The soul of the continent is crying for servant leaders not brutes, defensive soldiers not killing machines, and a protective police force not savages. Please explain what you mean by not technology. Some African leaders can do a better job through modern technology and internet. We need an educated electorate to make neccessary changes that can move their countries forward. I am trying to understand you, but sense a load of ignorance!

akuluouno  # 6 | 16.01.2009 03:09

Sir, Esteemed Villagers, It is a global fact that the critical mass of Nigerian leaders have won the dubious distinction of being the 21st century Luddites. We are anti-modernity, technology and anything scientific. All of you in the diaspora can ciontinue wasting your time. The owners of Nigeria want it to go back to the middle ages. That is why we opposed the ordinary polio vaccine, sabotaged the NICOMSAT because it will conflict with the Moon in the Sky, killed education and science because of the use of Guinea Pigs in experiments and rape women under 11 years because a paedophiliac god cliamed so and practised it. Ordinary roads and basic construction in the 21st Century in Nigeria is done by expatriates, white men. We were all in Nigeria when TBS Tafawa Balewa Square was built and designed by a Nigerian, ditto Enugu Stadium and other landmark projects. Nigerian leaders are afraid of the internet and computer because it may close the doors to waste and looting. Churches and Mosques are also afraid of them because it opens the doors to informaton and enlightenment to a greater number of ignorant people. That is why they made sure that electricity is comatose since these gizmos need power to function:idea::idea::idea: This is Akuluouno's first law of Luddism and Dark ages appraoch to Nigerians development:clap::clap:

Pa Bj  # 7 | 16.01.2009 04:23

Nice Vision!! The key question is- how does one get started, without basic electric power supply???:cry2::cry2::cry2: Pa Bj

allaccess  # 8 | 16.01.2009 04:57

=Pa Bj;313802>Nice Vision!! The key question is- how does one get started, without basic electric power supply???:cry2::cry2::cry2: Pa Bj India is a good example of how you can do things, even from the SLUMS. India has more poverty among its 1 billion people than Nigeria has, they just don't always show it on CNN and BBC like they do about Africa because India is now a western economic partner and so gets less negativity than Africa. I saw people living in worse condition in my 3 week stay in India than I saw in Benin Republic, Nigeria and Togo. In spite of lack of drinking water, proper housing and electricity, many Indians still manage to educate themselves in IT courses. Old buildings, secondary and primary schools were used in the weekend to teach courses like programming, software development, web design and database technology. I don't see why we cannot teach career courses than can be used by Nigerians anywhere in the world and on cyberspace, afterall the curriculum is the same globally. We do not to wait for electricity as the courses can be delivered during the day.

denker  # 9 | 16.01.2009 05:19

=allaccess;313815>India is a good example of how you can do things, even from the SLUMS. India has more poverty among its 1 billion people than Nigeria has, they just don't always show it on CNN and BBC like they do about Africa because India is now a western economic partner and so gets less negativity than Africa. I saw people living in worse condition in my 3 week stay in India than I saw in Benin Republic, Nigeria and Togo. In spite of lack of drinking water, proper housing and electricity, many Indians still manage to educate themselves in IT courses. Old buildings, secondary and primary schools were used in the weekend to teach courses like programming, software development, web design and database technology. I don't see why we cannot teach career courses than can be used by Nigerians anywhere in the world and on cyberspace, afterall the curriculum is the same globally. We do not to wait for electricity as the courses can be delivered during the day. nnaa, my bruder, reading you dis days am really tempted to question the sanity of your mind...i no go lie, at all...:confused1

allaccess  # 10 | 16.01.2009 06:29

=denker;313821>nnaa, my bruder, reading you dis days am really tempted to question the sanity of your mind...i no go lie, at all...:confused1 Denker, I no fit blame you afterall you may be "the" typical Nigerian. some things are alien to you as you have your set ways of thinking and doing things. It is not your fault you were raised that way. I recently had a discussiion where I made my case that God does not exist, I was accused of insanity by some Nigerians with limited scope like you.

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