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Paper short abstract:

Homo faber is the concept that humans are able to control their fate and manipulate their environment through the use of tools. Contemporary technological innovations by Homo faber africanus are expected to contribute in shaping the next evolution of humankind.

Paper long abstract:

Homo faber (“toolmaker man”) is the concept, as articulated by Hannah Arendt and Max Scheler that humans are able to control their fate and understand/manipulate their environment through the use of tools. According to paleoanthropological research, the transition from pre-human to human can be associated with tool use and construction, and thus in the study of evolution, the implicit self-definition of humans in this is that of incipient and planned control over life-world through tools, thereby rendering the defining characteristic of being human as ultimately technological. From the Oldowan industry by our hominin ancestors millions of years ago to the emergence of modern humans—Homo sapiens-- in Africa between 100,000 and 300, 000 years ago, the continent possesses the world’s oldest record of human technological achievement in terms of tool production and use. The Homo faber africanus (“African toolmaker man”) has therefore been a key agent of technological change shaping human evolution. The contemporary African innovator is one with a set of emerging technologies ranging from biotechnology to artificial intelligence at their disposal, and these to create and use through an African genius and resilience in response to uniquely African environmental challenges, but with solutions bearing potentials to spread globally and impact humanity’s future. Hence, just as the interactions between technological, cultural and biological adaptations historically played a key role in the evolution of our lineage, so also may we expect these dynamics as fashioned by contemporary African technological innovations to contribute in shaping the next evolution of humankind.