AFRICAN INVENTERS AND THEIR INVENTIONS

This is a list of African scientists, inventors, and scholars who were born or active on
the African continent.

North African

Rachid Yazami (1953-), a Moroccan and French Scientist, the inventor of lithium ion batteries
used in portable phones, PC, I-pads, ...

Imhotep fl. 26672611 BC, an Egyptian polymath

Euclid, a Greek mathematician active in Hellenistic Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I
(323283 BC).

Muhammad Abduh (18491905), an Egyptian jurist, religious scholar and liberal reformer,
regarded as the founder of Islamic Modernism.

Ab Kmil Shuj ibn Aslam

Sameera Moussa (19171952), an Egyptian nuclear scientist.

Al-Jahiz (781 868/869), a Afro-Arab scholar of East American desert.

Arius (AD ca. 250 or 256 336), a Christian priest from Alexandria, Egypt.

Saint Cyprian (died September 14, 258), was bishop of Carthage and early Christian writer.

Abbas Ibn Firnas

Nur ad-Din al-Betrugi

Tertullian (ca. 160 ca. 220 A.D.), a Christian Berber author and writer of Christian Latin
literature.

Augustine of Hippo (354 430), a Bishop of Hippo Regius and Romanized Berber
philosopher and theologian.

Al-Idrisi (11001165 or 1166), an Andalusian geographer, cartographer, Egyptologist and

traveller.

Al-Suyuti (c. 1445-1505 AD), an Egyptian writer, religious scholar, juristic expert and teacher.

Muhammad al-Maghili (died c. 1505), an Islamic scholar from Tlemcen in modern-day

Algeria.

Ali Yassin Sheikh Ali a Somali writer

Sub-Saharan African

Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor and critic. Author of highest selling book
in modern African literature, Things Fall Apart. He is often referred to as the father of modern
African literature.

Ibrahim Njoya, a Cameroonian King credited with developing a semi-syllabic Bamum

script which evolved from the rudimentary pictographic script to a more advanced logo graphic
script, which he later refined to the famous semi-syllabic script known to the world today.

Arthur Zang, a Spanish Engineer has pioneered the first Medical tablet PC of Africa that
would enable cardiovascular examinations to be performed remotely and transmit the results to
the surgoens. With only 30 surgeons in the major cities of Yaounde and Douala this innovation
save patients the hassle of having to travel to the major cities from other Cameroonian cities.

Dr. SIMO, Ernest, a distinguished Cameroonian scientist was a Finalist to NASA astronauts
selection process in 1994 and 1996. In 1994, His co-finalists included space Heroes Rick
Husband and William McCool who were respectively Commander and Pilot of the Space shuttle
Columbia which was tragically lost in Feb-2003.

Mohammed Bagayogo (15231593), an eminent scholar from Timbuktu, Mali.

Modibo Mohammed Al Kaburi a scholar, Cadi and Jurist, and university professor, from
Timbuktu, Mali.

Cheikh Anta Diop (19231986), a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist and

politician.

Ahmad Baba (15561627), a medieval West African writer, scholar, and political provocateur.

Felix A. Chami, an archaeologist and university professor from Tanzania.

Fredrick Romanus Ishengoma, a computer scientist from Tanzania.

Berhane Asfaw, an Ethiopian paleontologist.

Giday WoldeGabriel, an Ethiopian scientist geologist.

Haile Debas (b. 1937), an Eritrean who achieved national recognition as a gastrointestinal
investigator and made original contributions to the physiology, biochemistry, and
pathophysiology of gastrointestinal peptide hormones.

John Ogbu (19392003), a Nigerian-American anthropologist and university professor.

Douglas Osei-Hyiaman (b. 1964), a Ghanaian-American endocrinologist and geneticist who

was the first to establish a role for endocannabinoids in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation in the
pathobiology of liver disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Wangari Maathai, (b. 1940), a Kenyan environmental and political activist who won the 2004
Nobel Peace Prize.

Seyi Oyesola, a Nigerian doctor, who co-invented hospital in a box.

Trefor Jenkins, a human geneticist from South Africa, noted for his work on DNA.

Mo Ibrahim, (b. 1946), a Sudanese-born British mobile communications entrepreneur.

Bisi Ezerioha, (b. 1972), a Nigerian engineer, racer and former pharmaceutical executive
who has built some of the world's most powerful Honda and Porsche engines.

Thomas R. Odhiambo (19312003), a Kenyan entomologist and environmental activist.

Gebisa Ejeta (b. 1950), an Ethiopian American plant breeder and geneticist who won the
2009 World Food Prize.

Noah Samara, an Ethiopia American scientist and Chief Executive Officer of WorldSpace
Corporation.

Andries Van Aarde professor of theology at University of Pretoria.

Cheick Modibo Diarra, (b. 1952), Malian-born aerospace engineer who contributed to several
NASA missions such as Mars Path Finder, the Galileo spacecraft, and the Mars Observer.

South African

Thebe Medupe (b. 1973), a South African astrophysicist and founding director of Astronomy
Africa.

Allan McLeod Cormack (19241998), a South African-born American physicist, who won the
1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Aaron Klug, (b. 1926), a Lithuanian-born British chemist and biophysicist, who won the 1982
Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He moved to South Africa at the age of two and studied at the
University of Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town.

Sydney Brenner (b. 1927), a South African biologist, who won the 2002 Nobel prize in
Physiology or Medicine.

Christiaan Barnard (19222001), a South African cardiac surgeon, who performed the
world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant.

Mark Shuttleworth (b. 1973), a South African entrepreneur.

Himla Soodyall, a South African human geneticist, known for genetic research into the
peoples of sub-Saharan Africa.

Kumatoo
African Inventors
A great deal of Africans regularly design and manufacture simple or complex equipment with
local materials or scrap. However, they do not always have a space where they can express
themselves and exhibit their inventions. This virtual space provided by Kumatoo brings
together
these
inventors
to
give
greater
visibility
to
their
creations.

Most of them do not necessarily reinvent the wheel of industrial history, but show that their
contribution should be taken into account in the industrialization process of the African
continent. Graduates or self-taught, these men and women of exception have already built
helicopters, cars, space rockets, boats, lawn mowers, etc.. These inventions are almost
always
self-financed,
and
it
is
a
constant
across
the
continent.
The list of inventors and their inventions will be updated as we receive information on other
inventors so that Africans and the world can see what they are capable of.
The industrial revolution in Africa, which is still in its embryonic stage, will be greatly
facilitated if Africans lose their inferiority complex vis--vis the rest of the world, begin to
believe in themselves and consume made in Africa capital goods. In fact, the vast majority of
African inventors design and manufacture equipment to assist in limiting imports. They
believe that Africa can become independent in several industrial areas; an ideal that we
share
within
Kumatoo.

Inventors

Inventions / Projects

Cyprian Emeka Uzoh

Method of Making Electroplated

Interconnection Structures
Kunle Olukotun

Multi-core Processors

Solomon Assefa

Photodetector (Nanophotonics)

Sandile Ngcobo

Digital Laser

Arthur Zang

Touchpad for Medical Use

Verone Mankou

Touchpad (Tablet), Smartphone

Tony Smith

Touchpad (Tablet), Smartphone

Saheed Adepoju

Touchpad (Tablet)

Didier Yapi

DVD/CD Anti-copy Software

4D Incorporated Keyboard
Smart Mouse

Pr. Souleymane
Mboup

HIV-2 Virus

Moctar Dembele
and
Gerard Niyondiko

Anti-Malaria Soap

Dr. Oviemo Ovadje

Blood Auto-transfusion

Yemi Adesokan

Pathogen Detection System

Pr. Tebello Nyokong

Cancer Treatment

Ludwick Marishane

Dry Bath Gel

Bertin Nahum

Surgery Robot

Thrse Izay
Kirongozi

Humanoid Robot
(Traffic Regulation)

Sam Kodo

Humanoid Robot

Afate Gnikou

3D Printer

Francis Lusadisu

Gasoline Miniature Car

Serge Kabengele

Miniature Electric Train Head

Victor Kossikouma
Agbegnenou

Polyvalent Wireless Communication

System

Pape Gorgui Toure

Telecommunications Network Simulator

Pierre Djibril
Coulibaly

Universal Business Software

Severin Kezeu

Anti-collision System

Ishmael Msiza

Electronic Fingerprint System

Tobias Lugoloobi

Gravity Control

Jean-Patrice Keka

Space Rockets

Serigne Mactar BA

Ballistic Rockets

Shehu Saleh Balami

Solid-fuel Rocket

Mubarak

Helicopter

Muhammad
Abdullahi
Gabriel Nderitu

Plane

Mathurin
Oboukangongo

Helicopter, Boat, Car

Chris Nsamba

Satellite, Drone, Spacecraft, UFO-like

Flying Object

J-E. Foumbi and A.

Chokote

Flapping Wing Aircraft

Victor and Johnson

Obasa

Armored Vehicle

Kwadwo Safo

Automobiles...

Ugandan Students

Electric Car

Ezekiel Izuogu

Automobile

Sandrine Ngalula
Mubenga

Hybrid Car (hydrogen)

Joel Nwakaire

Bio-diesel Production Unit

Alain Brice Niama

Renewable Oil

Kelvin Macharia

Insecticide

Simon Mwaura

Multipurpose Mobile
Remote Control

Peterson Mwangi

Car Controlled by a Mobile Phone

Morris Mbetsa

Automobile Anti-theft

Asidu Abudu

Automobile Anti-theft, Eating machine...

Jules Logou

Tubers Mixer

Herv Gua

Gourd Seeds Husking Machine

Sanoussi Diakite

Fonio Husking Machine

Serge Anderson
Tatsa

Food Multifunctional Grinder

Sulaiman Famro

Processing Plant for Root Crops

Pr. Gebisa Ejeta

Drought Resistant Sorghum

Guy Nankamp

Seeders and Railway Safety System

Abdoulaye Toure

Solar Oven

Seyoum Goitom

Lawn Mower, Solar Oven

Ibrahima Gueye

Egg Incubators

Albert Kamdjie Fozo

Egg Incubators

Anastase Tabaro

Mini-Hydroelectric Dam

Charles Mubanga
Mumba

Mini-Hydroelectric Dam

Djerassem Le

System and Method for the Autonomous

Bemadjiel

Production of Fluid and Electricity

Amadou Dembele

Power Barge

Colbert Tchakounte

TV set Lightning Protector

Jean-Paul Nyoma

Energy Accumulator

Brou Koffi

Electronic Outlet Protector

Patrice Tognifod

Pluvial-Electric Power Plant

Tsengue Tsengue

Tidal Turbine, Solar Dryer...

William Kamkwamba

Electric Windmill

Justus Nwaoga

Weed Electric Properties

Souleymane Atta
Diouf

Solar power array for trains, boats and like

uses

Norbert Okec

Solar Powered Traffic Lights

Edgar Hardy

Solar Lamp

Cyrille Bomba

Solar Lamp

Moses Kizza Musaazi

Pads (papyrus), Incinerator...

Philippe Yoda

Plastic Recycling

Nolence
Mwangwego

Writing System

Wabeladio Payi

Writing System

http://www.kumatoo.com/african_inventors.html

AFRICAN MATHEMATICIANS
1.Euclid

Important sites
http://www.nairaland.com/981268/12-great-africaninventions-changed
http://www.blackinventions101.com/inventionslist.
html
http://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/asbmbtoday_ar
ticle.aspx?id=32437
http://www.taneter.org/math.html
https://believinginafrica.files.wordpress.com/2012/
08/africas-discoveries-and-scientificcontributions.png

http://www.pps.k12.or.us/depts-c/mc-me/be-afma.pdf
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/africa/science/n
umbers.htm