Emergence and culture : implications for Africa

Abstract

“What if Africa were to become the hub for global science?” is the title of a recent BBC News report. It is inspired by “real, serious scientific work ... taking place now in sub-Saharan Africa,” which raises the question “how significant a part ideas from Africa will play within the future of global scientific research.” The present chapter takes stock – even if non-exhaustively – of how far Africa has come in this connection. In other words, there is no doubt about Africa’s decisive role within the global scientific enterprise, the only question relates to tackling the hurdles that may unduly hamper or compromise said role. The envisaged role involves much more than the mere hosting of global collaborative projects. If the next big shifts in scientific thought will quite likely come out of Africa, then what manner of conditions, perspectives and self-understandings should prevail in Africa for this eventuality to materialize?