From the coffee in your cup to the diamonds on your ring, Africa’s influence is everywhere—even if the world doesn’t realize it.
Africa’s contributions to global culture, economy, and innovation are vast. But they are often overlooked, misattributed or misappropriated.
In this post, we’ll discover some of the words, products and cultural practices that originate in Africa. We’ll also learn about emerging African alliances that are shaping the continent’s future. Table of Contents:
Words That Root Us in Africa
African etymology illustrates the extent of the continent’s influence. Consider these words with cultural roots in African languages:
Safari: Derived from the Swahili word for journey, which itself has origins in the Arabic word safar with the same definition.
Gumbo: Named after its main ingredient, okra, which is known as gombo in the Bambara language. This is the tongue of enslaved people from West Africa brought to Louisiana in the 18th century.
Zombie: In Haiti, a zombie is a dead person revived by witchcraft. And, of course, the Haitian people can trace their origins back to West and Central Africa.
We all use African-origin words regularly. Have you ever said that you’ve lost your mojo? The word can be traced back to the language of the Kongo people of Central Africa and refers to the spirits that live in lucky charms.
Products We Owe to Africa
Key African resources include:
Food and agriculture: Staples of African agriculture like yams, okra, and coffee are enjoyed all over the world. In fact, seven African countries feature in the world’s top 20 coffee producers (2022).
Luxury goods: African leather, gold, and diamonds are prized worldwide. Yet despite eight African countries featuring in the top 10 diamond producers worldwide, these products are often marketed under European or American brands.
Wellness products: Shea butter and argan oil, used frequently in body care products, originated in Africa. The argan tree is mainly found in Morocco, which is responsible for 95% of the argan oil production worldwide.
Technology: Africa is rich in cobalt and coltan, which power modern devices like smartphones. Over 70% of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC is also one of the globe’s leading producers of coltan.
What’s more, it was African American Lewis H. Latimer who held the patent for the first carbon light bulb filament, not Thomas Edison, as widely believed. More recently, Kenyan Charity Wanjiku invented solar roof tiles for use in her home country. They’re now used by Tesla in the UK and US.
Cultural Contributions Misattributed Elsewhere
Cultural appropriation continues with these items:
Fashion and textiles: African textiles and dyes are marketed as “global” fashion trends but have cultural roots on the continent. Ankara, a traditional wax print fabric, is closely linked to batik, which originated in Egypt in the 4th century BC. Indigo dye also has roots in Egypt via India. Recently, the patterns of high-end fashion brands have also been attributed to African tribal patterns. Louis Vuitton is a prime example. It’s claimed that Europeans stole the design from the mask and textiles of the West African Kuba tribe.
Music and instruments: African music has shaped genres like jazz, blues, rock, reggae, and hip-hop. Meanwhile, instruments like the banjo and marimba can be traced back to Africa.
Herbal remedies: Skincare ingredients and herbal remedies of African origin like shea butter, moringa, and hibiscus tea are often rebranded under Western wellness trends.
Modern African Alliances and Their Implications
African alliances continue to evolve, furthering their aim to achieve economic independence and regional and African unity.
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) were formed in the 1980s to promote regional economic integration and participation in the African Economic Community (AEC).
These regional alliances, and others on a smaller scale, reflect a resurgence of African solidarity and self-determination. They align with the narrative of reclaiming Africa’s contributions.
They embrace a range of sectors, including manufacturing, financial services and tourism. So, they promote economic development and African independence in their regions and throughout the continent.
Recently, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso established the Alliance of Sahel States to strengthen bonds between them and build on independence from colonialism.
These unions naturally feed into Pan-Africanism, cementing the bonds between African nations and achieving a global impact.
Why This Matters
Africa has offered countless contributions in language, culture and products to the world. Yet the origins of these gifts are little known beyond Africa. Our world is becoming increasingly universal, and cultural recognition is essential for any global citizen.
Acknowledging Africa’s roots is the start of empowerment for the continent and for you as a citizen of the world. Inspire pride within the Black diaspora and challenge stereotypes by digging deeper into the African heritage of everyday items.
You can support African businesses and initiatives too. Help them achieve economic independence and cultural pride and witness them thrive in your local community and beyond.
Help Reclaim African History
African contributions form the foundations of global culture, economies, and innovations. They continue to help the continent achieve economic independence too.
And Africa’s story is far from over. As alliances grow and awareness spreads, the world will see that much of what we do, use, see, believe comes from Africa.
You have a part to play. Help enhance African pride by exploring more about African culture and supporting initiatives that give credit where it’s due. Share this blog and educate yourself on the roots of everyday products.
Reclaiming history and promoting cultural awareness is everyone’s responsibility.
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