We write clever apps; we need to make smartphones

 

By Charles Onyango-Obbo

In Summary

• African countries have been discovering oil and gas. But to say we ‘discovered’ them is inaccurate.inShare

Every so often, we invite Africans who are doing cool stuff to come and talk to us at work. And that is how we got Daudi Were, director of programmes at Ushahidi, to come along one morning and talk technology over coffee and sandwiches.

One of the programmes he spoke about is “Gearbox.” Gearbox is Ushahidi’s attempt to do something that, on the face of it, is simple, but is actually quite revolutionary. It is to bring software and manufacturing together.

The idea is to get innovators not only to write up some clever software (say for operating a robotic device), but also build hardware (a mechanical robot); and bring a working product to market.

In a year in which terrorism, conflict, and corruption have dominated headlines in East Africa and the continent, Gearbox is really a broader metaphor for what we need to do not just to grow prosperous, but to find dignity.

Look at it this way: Football is hugely popular in Africa, and occasionally an over the top fan commits suicide when Arsenal is humiliated, or a Manchester United fanatic kills a Liverpool rival during a pub argument.

However, the most prestigious gig in football for African players is in Europe — a Victor Wanyama playing for Southampton. In football term, a Gearbox fix would have, say, Gor Mahia FC being the most prestigious and highest paying club for a Wanyama.

Increasingly international broadcasters these days have a programme showcasing African innovation. Al Jazeera has Innovate Africa and CNN has African Start-Up.

Every now and then there is a chap who blows your mind, but otherwise too many of the programmes focus on a designer doing something with kitenge cloth or making necklaces and bracelets from an otherwise neglected African seed; or mixing up some cosmetic.

They are colourful, and the “innovators” look well groomed or marvellously alternative, but rarely do we see anyone coming up with an original solution to a complex problem. We have never seen an African who makes the cloth for the designers, or one who processes the leather for the shoemakers, or indeed does both.

There are so many clever mobile phone apps that Africans develop, and we have a seen plenty of coverage of that, but not a single story about an African smartphone maker — because there is none.

The problem is more dramatically illustrated with bigger issues. In recent years African countries have discovering oil, natural gas, and other mineral gas deposits. But to say we “discovered” them is slightly inaccurate. It is either a Chinese, European, and American company making the discoveries.

And having done that, African governments do the next thing — they go hunting for Asian and Western oil companies to pump the oil and build the pipelines to take the crude out so they can refine it and sell it back to us.

The chaps at Ushahidi know a thing or two about these things. They make BRCK, the hardy mobile Wi-Fi device, but though it is designed in Nairobi, it has to be manufactured in the US.

The broader concept aims to have all the small pieces put together at home. Fortunately, there is a group of East Africans who can teach us how to Gearbox solutions – it’s the coffee makers.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is editor of Mail & Guardian Africa (mgafrica.com)