Web3 and Cryptocurrencies / NET8 Coin : Africa has no right

Web3 and Cryptocurrencies: This time, Africa no longer has the right to lag behind. The call for awakening and commitment is more resounding than ever

From the pre-colonial era to the present day, Africa has unfortunately lagged significantly behind in several major global revolutions, whether technological or economic. This mismatch is often the result of a combination of historical, political and economic factors.

Here are the main revolutions where Africa has lagged behind:

1. The Agricultural Revolution (c. 10,000 BC): Although agriculture emerged independently in several parts of the world, including Africa (with centers of domestication of plants and animals), the development and adoption of intensive agricultural techniques and more advanced tools was slower in some parts of the continent compared to Eurasia. This had implications for population growth, sedentarization, and the emergence of complex social structures, although powerful kingdoms and civilizations flourished in Africa.
2. The Urban Revolution and the Metal Age (c. 4000-1000 BC):  The formation of large cities and the widespread adoption of bronze and then iron marked major turning points in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and later China. Although Africa has experienced significant urban developments (such as in ancient Egypt and in the Niger Basin with cities such as Djenné-Djeno) and mastered iron metallurgy very early on (even before Europe in some regions), the diffusion and large-scale integration of these innovations into economic and political systems comparable to those of other continents has been uneven.
3. The Scientific Revolution and the Renaissance (16th-18th centuries): While Europe was experiencing an intellectual revival and major advances in science, philosophy and the arts, the African continent was increasingly impacted by the transatlantic slave trade and the beginnings of colonization. These dynamics have slowed down internal developments and disconnected Africa from the major currents of innovation and knowledge accumulation that characterized other parts of the world.
4. The Industrial Revolutions (eighteenth-twentieth centuries): This is probably the most significant turning point where Africa has been left behind, and even exploited:
• First Industrial Revolution (late eighteenth - mid-nineteenth century): Characterized by steam power, coal, textiles, and mechanization. Africa, then under the growing influence of colonization, became a source of raw materials (ores, rubber, cotton, etc.) and a market for European manufactured goods, but did not develop its own industrial base. Rather, its economic structures were reshaped to serve the needs of the colonial powers.
• Second Industrial Revolution (late nineteenth - mid-twentieth century): Marked by electricity, oil, steel, automobiles, chemicals and mass production. During this period, Africa was largely colonized and its economies were designed for the extraction and export of resources, with no real investment in diversified industrialization or the transfer of advanced technologies. Infrastructure (railways, ports) was built mainly to facilitate the export of raw materials.
5. The Green Revolution (mid-twentieth century): This agricultural revolution transformed food production in many parts of the world, including Asia and Latin America, through the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides. Africa, on the other hand, has not benefited from the Green Revolution in the same way, due to factors such as lack of irrigation infrastructure, inadequate agricultural policies, limited access to inputs, and challenges specific to African soils and climates. This has contributed to persistent food insecurity issues in some areas.
6. The Digital and Information Revolution (late twentieth - early twenty-first century): Although Africa is catching up at an impressive speed, especially with the massive adoption of mobile telephony and mobile payment (often by "skipping technological steps"), it initially lagged significantly behind in internet access,  computers and the necessary digital infrastructure. The "digital divide" has long limited opportunities for education, employment, and participation in the global economy.
7. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) or Industry 4.0 (current): This revolution encompasses artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics, blockchain, 3D printing, etc. Africa has the potential to leverage these technologies to "leapfrog steps" in development. However, it faces major challenges such as the lack of investment in education and training in digital skills, the infrastructure deficit, and the need to develop appropriate industrial policies to be not just a consumer of technologies but a producer and innovator.

Africa's delay in these revolutions is often attributed to a combination of factors:

• The impact of the slave trade and colonization: These periods disrupted societies, plundered resources, and set up dependent economic structures.
• Political instability and conflict: These hinder long-term development and investment.
• Lack of infrastructure: Energy, transport, and connectivity are often insufficient.
• Education and health challenges: Underdeveloped human capital can hinder the adoption and creation of innovations.
• Dependence on raw materials: Economies remain vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices and have fewer incentives to diversify and industrialize.

Despite these historic challenges, many African countries are now experiencing rapid economic growth and adopting innovative technologies, actively seeking to close the gap and shape their own futures.

Web3 and Cryptocurrencies: This time, Africa no longer has the right to lag behind. The call for awakening and commitment is more resounding than ever

The Neophyte and Special OUDI