Futurism
Why do we go to space?
Is it solely out of curiosity
or for the progress of science?
You, me and the climate change we caused
we are the highest threat to humanity.
Having humans, plants and animals
on multiple planets is the safest way
to ensure the survival of life
if this planet becomes unliveable.
The human journey is a journey of expansion.
Multiple countries have come together
for the most extraordinary human endeavour
of all times.
Humans have been living permanently in space
since 2003.
Now we are preparing for the next step.
Living on another planet.
Once we colonise our solar system,
Earth could become a protected area,
we could take a lifeless planet
and move all polluting activities away from Earth.
Imagine Earth free of all heavy industries,
a place where everything revolves
around the cycle of life.
Imagine if most of the planet’s surface
was natural parks
and sustainable urban areas.
Nairobi is the perfect example of this.
A place where we can experience
a beautiful blend between
National Park and urban life.
We have to see Earth
and all life on it as one.
It is a finite system with limited resources.
We are all connected by the line of the Sona,
enclosed in,
but protected by the fragile
ecosphere of our planet.
Everything indicates that humanity
will not reduce its consumption
anytime soon.
Outer space is inevitably humanity’s
next frontier.
Astronauts in America and Europe
cosmonauts in Russia,
taikonauts in China,
but
where are the afronauts?
Why should African nations go to space
when it seems
that there are far more pressing problems
to solve here on Earth?
The most pressing reason
is the search for groundwater
deep below this continent,
are vast pools that can be used
as much needed water supply.
It could reduce droughts
and increase agricultural production.
Satellite data is crucial to finding
and managing mineral deposits.
Space exploration does reduce poverty
since it allows us to monitor fisheries,
guard protected areas and natural reserves.
And with the growth rate of our cities,
satellites are crucial to urban planning.
And then there is history.
History repeats itself.
For the first industrial
revolution, Africa provided the rubber.
At the dawn of the fourth
Industrial Revolution,
we are bringing cobalt, tantalum
and other metals to the table
without which computers would not work.
History repeats itself.
One of the reasons Africans were used
as slaves in the Americas
is because they were more resistant
to the tropical diseases
that were killing the Europeans.
They were also resistant
to European diseases like smallpox,
measles or flu
that were killing the indigenous people,
making them ideal
for the demanding conditions.
History repeats itself.
In space, humans suffer from bone loss
because bones no longer have to support
the human body against gravity.
Peer reviewed scientific studies
show that the average bone density
of a caucasian in his twenties is the same
as in African-Americans in their sixties.
Studies also show
that melanin makes us more resistant
to the high levels of solar radiation
outside Earth’s atmosphere.
Melanin and high bone density
increase our chances
of being exploited again, even beyond Earth.
Will history repeat itself in the future?
We are not safe from slavery
as governments and the private sector
prepare for the coming interplanetary land grab.
Humans will mine precious metals
on asteroids and planets.
Outer space is unregulated
and labor laws are not applicable
outside this planet.
Our scientists should be conducting
research on these subjects
since it concerns our own people.
We should be the ones
who understand this matter.
I received an email today about my DNA,
most probably the results
I’ve been waiting for.
But I decided to not look at it
until I reach the cradle of human kind
here in South Africa
This is the region
where humans first started to evolve
into what they are today.
The conditions in these caves
enabled the preservation of the bones,
which allowed us to understand
and reconstruct the hominin family tree.
The Information on the Ishango bone.
The stories behind the cave paintings,
the wisdom of our ancestors,
all this tells us who we are.
All of us regardless of origin
all humans who have ever lived
and will ever live,
DNA traces us all back to Africa.
My child.
This is my last message to you.
The future of Africa will
need to be based on its past.
Our cultures, traditions and values
are what differentiates us.
Inspiration for innovation
will come from those differences.
You cannot plan for what you don’t know.
Learn!
You cannot foresee what you don’t
imagine.
Dream!
You can only grow towards the sky.
Reach up,
and fly!
Approaching the Africa spaceport.
Prepare for landing.
This is where science fiction comes in.
It prepares us for future realities,
for science facts.
Fictional stories like the journey of the Africologist
prepare our children
to become real world Africologists,
and to consider career choices in
science, technology, engineering,
arts and mathematics.
To apply Africology,
an African way of converting
ancient wisdom
into scientific knowledge.
Welcome to the launch pad of the Africa spaceport
Launch control, we have a go.
10, 9, 8, 7,
6, 5, 4,
3, 2, 2001
Mama Africa.
I thank you for the way you raised me.
The beautiful traditions you gave me.
Dear mother Earth,
I am your child.
I promise to always protect you
and the species
on Earth.
All the animals and plants.
Dear mother Earth,
I am about to leave you.
I will fly to the stars.
I will tell your story.
So that nobody forgets
you gave birth to humanity.
On the outer side of the atmosphere,
we have been taking baby steps.
The crawling, space faring species,
but soon we will be
multiplanetary. No doubt.
We are on the brink of a new age
of exploration.
A new exodus.
We will probably start with Mars.
The Red Planet is similar to ours
and close
enough for our technology
to take us there.
For Africa at this point,
there is one big uncertainty.
one question left to answer.
Where will we be when men
puts foot on another planet?
What will be our contribution?
We are Mother Africa,
the original human family.
But our fate
should not be limited by that.
