Science is boring. Africans are not good at doing boring things. What for?? All the inventions that we did not make have been made anyway,so shida iko wapi? The truly enjoyable things in this world,to scientists and laymen,geniuses and ordinary wananchi are the same,sex,food,beer,a good time with friends and family etc. Sitaumwa na kichwa for all the things my ancestors did not invent neither will I be turning in my grave for the non inventions my progeny with make. I enjoy life here and now with whatever I got. If there are people who find thinking hard and making inventions fun good for them,I have no problem buying an iPhone when all the thinking,and research and designing is done, all I want is to enjoy the music.

Weusi wa nywele za mshtakiwa zaonyesha ujinga alio nao

The African is neither shy nor deficient in matters scientific.

I was already beginning to despair and accept that maybe-just maybe- there was a modicum of truth in the assertion that the African has a serious allergy to science.

Until on Oct 1st 09.

It was on this day that I got an invite to attend to attend a Microsoft Africa cocktail hosted by their Africa Chairman.

And there was one - Dr Cheick Diarra,an accomplished African scientist from Mali with a PhD in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Howard University,Washington DC. Not a number,nor an abstract statistic but a real African who had overseen 5 (repeat 5) NASA missions to Venus,Mars,Jupiter and been navigator for Mars Pathfinder Mission.

http://www.microsoft.com...phies/cheickDiarra.mspx

What if I hadn't met him? How many more such forums by different African scientists have I missed,as I neither knew about them nor was invited?

So the scientists are there - only that we never get an opportunity to meet them,and we hasten to conclude that none exist.

But we need to invest in R&D so that those ingenious inventors we get to read about in the science congreses across the country get a chance to further their scientific ideas




..there's nothing,absolutely nothing really,that I can't do if I put my mind to it.

They should award it to Usain Bolt for discovering that Yams give you lightning speed...

Could he be considered African??

@mozenrat. That's not what i said.Re-read my previous post. Going by 'invention is the mother of inventions' my argument was why haven't Africans came up with inventions to fight the elements,now that it's them who in a dire situation?
Why haven't we had working systems like governance,education,health,trade etc?

My point is,let's not try finding blame for our shortcomings. Does one need to be freezing in an igloo to make a watch? compose some track? extract oil? learn how to read/write?

If some posts below are anything to go by,how can science be boring to the extend of not making guns for security when slave trade was booming?

When the first European arrived in Japan with a watch,the Japanese sought to have it.The next time the Europeans paid them a visit after some years,the Japs had their own working watch.

If science is that boring to Africans,how about some outstanding pieces of art? a painting,a composition? How about a great game to pass all the time in the world since comfort was abundant? For such a school of thought,shouldn't Africans be dominating everything non-scientific? But then again,the point of discussion here is SCIENCE!

To cut the whole debate short,Africans have to realize they've been in a deep slumber and the continued use of all manner of excuses don't help anyone.Not even themselves.The talk of 'This Africa/Kenya' blah blah blah doesn't advance our cause. We got to do things the way they ought to be done.

If you are a leader,do what a leader is ought to do.Be responsible for your followers/subjects. For the followers/subjects,don't wait for the leader to fix your leaking sink,do your part and be responsible,socially,economically,academically,environmentally.All spheres of life. Don't ask what the nation/world does to you,ask yourself what you do the nation/world. Desist from always pointing fingers[you can see the present day African leaders have elevated that into some sort of art].

To rest my case;
The evidence is compelling,Africa has not made any significant scientific advancement. Still stuck in pre-industrialization age. A gifted person always shows manifestation of their talent. Where is Africa's manifestation of science?
We simply don't show any,and that's where i draw my conclusion.
Africa is science-deficient.

This typing is making me dizzy.

When i see my purple,you see it not.

.