I know slavery was inhumane. I know it is one of the greatest atrocities ever committed by human beings to other human beings. 

But life demands that we draw lessons from every experience. Possibly, draw humour, too, for humour makes burdens more bearable. So, walk with me closely here because this write-up is not about slavery.

One of the most exciting parts of being a scholar under the African Union Scholarship program has been the privilege of learning courses like the History of Africa.

In this course, we went deep into the natural history of Africa as told by Africans. Regarding slavery, several interesting theories were unearthed that left me thoughtful. 

One theory with substantial support from literature argues that slavery was an invention of the Africans. We are told in the theory that Africa had already mastered the art of enslaving one another when the colonizers arrived.

The invention was so good that the colonizers saw its scalability and global impact. Their first instinct was to fund the innovation through capital and technology. Of course, some selfish African policymakers at the time made this even easier. 

Slavery was both cruel and impactful. It led to a shift in global economics and introduced a new social dispensation. A common practice on the continent defined how we relate to each other even today. Slavery, the invention of Africans, changed the entire world.

Dear young African scientist, innovation is written in your genetic code. You, today, are the essence of innovation, and the world awaits to behold your solutions. You hold the answers to the challenges we face today.

The challenge for Today: There is that innovative idea you shelved. It could be a solution addressing digital health systems, FinTech, climate mitigation, or Web 3.0. That solution deserves to see the light of day. Remove it from that shelve!