Ten Inventions By Young Africans

Africans do not get the recognition they deserve.

Listed below (this list is not a ranking) are ten individuals who are of African descent and their recent inventions or contributions;

1.

Aged 11, Kenyan Richard Turere had enough of lions attacking his family's cattle. He invented the Lion Light. He observed lions and found out that they are naturally afraid of people. He decided to take LED bulbs from broken flashlights and created an automated lighting system of five torch bulbs around the cattle stockade. The bulbs were wired to a box with switches and to an old car battery charged with a solar panel that operates his family's television set. The light points outwards into the darkness. The lights flash in sequence, giving the impression that someone is walking around the stockade. No lion has attacked the house since. 

Richard has installed the same Lion Lights for his neighbours. 

2. 

When he was 14 years old, Tony Hansberry II of the United States, created a surgical technique for performing hysterectomy. This surgical technique can be used to reduce risk of complications and the duration of the hysterectomy procedure. 

Tony was also honoured for his medical contributions to aiding in and strengthening the African American community. 

3.

Kelvin Doe aka DJ Focus is 16 and from Sierra Leone. He searches trash cans for broken electronic devices and uses them to create something himself. He's made his own battery to power the light in people's houses and he's even made his own FM radio transmitter and a generator to power it. With his own radio station, he plays music and goes by the name 'DJ Focus'.

4.

Kelvin Macharia Kuria of Kenya, was 17 when he experimented mixing extracts from shrubs to keep ants out of his family's home. The ants were killed and he invented a home-made insecticide known as Aloemexhot. He is still developing his insecticide and claims it is organic and does not contain any synthetic chemicals.


5.

When he was 18, Morris Mbetsa of Kenya, invented an anti-theft device known as the Block and Track. It is an SMS-based vehicle security system that allows car owners to monitor their vehicle from a distance. The system enables car owners to lock their car doors or stop their car when it's stolen... via text! 

6.

At age 21, Ludwick Marishane invented a 'bath without water' formula; DryBath, which is an anti germicidal skin lotion/gel. DryBath is used by people who either don't want to have a bath or live in conditions where water availability is unpredictable. 

Ludwick was also the first African to win the Global Student Entrepreneur Award for his invention. 

7.

26-year-old Verone Mankou of the Republic of Congo, invented the Way-C tablet; the first African iPad rival. The Way-C Tablet is affordable and available in Congo. With his invention, Mankou wants to bring Internet access to as many people as possible. 

Verone has since also created a smartphone known as Elikia.

8.

Aged 18, Joel Mwale suffered from dysentry. As he was recovering, he was thinking of an idea to make drinking water safe. After being released from hospital, he invested his life savings and build a borehole in his village. He and local volunteers and tradesmen, eventually found water. They put in pipes, infrastructure and a mechanical system to extract the water. Four years on, the project still provides clean water to about 500 households. 

Joel also won the Azisha prize, an African award for innovation that comes with a $30,000 prize. 

9.

24-year-old Arthur Zang, a Cameroonian engineer, invented the Cardiopad. The Cardiopad is a portable, touch screen device that enables heart examinations such as the electrocardiogram to be performed at remote locations while results of the test, are transferred wirelessly to specialists who can interpret them.

Arthur Zang also became a finalist in the 2012 CPS Distinguished Award for the Sciences. 

10.

After nearly three years of development, 25 Students of Makerere University in Uganda, unveiled an electric car known as the Kiira EV. The Kiira can gain speed of 100km/h and cover 80km before it needs charging. 

The Kiira EV team are currently working on an electrical bus. 

For a list of African inventors and also updates on inventions, visit: Kumatoo. Special thanks to Positive Black Stories for giving positive black people a platform.