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96K views 550 replies 46 participants last post by  BenjaminEli 
#1 · (Edited)

Kwadwo Safo
is a Ghanaian inventor born in 1948 and the father of Ghana’s first home made cars. In 1971, he founded the Kristo Asafo Church which has since then fundamentally contributed in developing and promoting science and technology of local origin in Ghana.

In 1998, he manufactured the Kantanka Saloon car. In 2006, the Kantanka Onantefo I (4x4) was manufactured and an improved model was produced in June 2007 called Kantanka Onantefo II (4x4). On December 30, 2007, the Kantanka Obrempon (a black 4x4 limousine), which is 26 meters long, and a yellow excavator with caterpillar tracks were exhibited as well.


 
#53 · (Edited)
Norbert Okec


Norbert Okec is a former bio-chemistry engineer from Uganda who has designed and built a solar-powered traffic light controller system. Traffic lights are not many in his city (Gulu, in Nothern Uganda), and the current ones do not always operate effectively. It is from this observation that Norbert Okec decided to develop his system that is essentially composed of recycled materials.

 
#55 · (Edited)
William Kamkwamba


This young and talented African inventor was born in 1987 in Malawi, his country, in a village called Masitala, a hamlet in Kasungu District. At age 14 (in year 2001) he built an electric windmill out of junk. His dream that has since come true was to bring electricity and running water to his village.

 
#56 · (Edited)
Tsengue Tsengue


Tsengue Tsengue is an inventor from Congo-Brazzaville who heads Challenge Futura, an industrial company specialized in the fields of energy, water and agri-food. This engineer from Ecole Centrale de Paris has a great deal of experience in oil production and refining, construction, electrical energy production, sugar production, as well as in the processing and marketing of agricultural products.

One of Tsengue Tsengue’s inventions is a cassava production line which enables the mechanical preparation of chikwangue or cassava bread. This device consists of a peeler, a grinder and a dough mixer. At the end of the production line, the dough is cut into cassava bread and packed by hand in plant leaves. This device increases, in a more hygienic way, the production of chikwangue while continuing to meet the culinary expectations of consumers. The selling price of the equipment varies between 1 and 6 million CFA francs (1,524 and 9,146 euros) depending on models.

Tsengue Tsengue and his team have also developed, a few years ago, a marine current turbine (tidal turbine) of 15 kilowatts manufactured entirely in Congo. A marine current turbine is a submarine turbine that uses the kinetic energy of ocean currents or rivers, just like a wind turbine uses the kinetic energy of the wind to produce electricity. This marine current turbine could be used to manufacture mini hydro-electric dams. Tsengue Tsengue has also worked on a feasibility study of the Mutsora hydro-electric dam in North Kivu (Congo - Kinshasa) that was financed by the European Commission.

Another invention made by Tsengue Tsengue is an adjustable solar dryer for which he received, at the 35 International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the gold medal from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) awarded to an inventor from a developing country, and the Swissolar prize from the Swiss Association for Solar Energy.
 
#57 · (Edited)
Patrice Tognifodé is an inventor from Benin. Based in France since 1990, he is a professor and engineer in mechanical engineering, as well as the inventor of a pluvial-electric power plant (CENTRATOG) that produces electricity from rainwater. Patrice Tognifodé asserts that his device can store electricity by collecting rainwater, and that it operates continuously; which brings back the debate about energy conservation on the table.

 
#58 · (Edited)
Kelvin Doe from Sierra Leone, born in 1996, is a self-taught engineer who built his own generator and radio transmitter (radio station) when he was 13 years old. 3 years later, he built a dry cell battery that generated enough power for his radio station. The battery was made of acid, soda and metal parts that he got from trash bins. Thanks to the radio station that he sat up, he was also able to broadcast news and music within his community.

 
#59 · (Edited)
Brou Koffi

One of his recent inventions is a box that protects electronics appliances and stabilizers in the event of a serious disruption at the mains. This box is plugged into an outlet. Then one can connect other devices to it. Once connected, the box puts the voltage (220 v) on hold. This phase is indicated by a flashing red LED located on the box. After 30 seconds the red LED goes off and the box releases electricity to devices connected to it. This phase is marked by a green LED.

 
#62 · (Edited)
Colbert Tchakounte is an inventor from Cameroon, born in 1968. He is the owner of a patent with the OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization) entitled " Dispositif de connexion et de déconnexion automatique du câble coaxial (antenne TV) du téléviseur ". The patent was filed under Number 1200900409 in December 08, 2009 and granted under Number 14916 in December 30, 2010.

 
#63 · (Edited)
Amadou Dembele is a Malian inventor and electrical engineer who was revealed to the public at the 6th edition of the Salon Africain de l'Invention et de l'Innovation Technologique (African Invention and Technological Innovation Exhibition) held in Mali from October 28 to November 1, 2009. The exhibition was organized by OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization). Amadou Dembele exhibited a miniature prototype of an electrical barge with a modular electrical system called Bargelec.

 
#64 · (Edited)

Djerassem Le Bemadjiel
is an inventor from Chad who has developed a system and method for the autonomous production of fluid and electricity. This geological engineer and expert in stimulation and production of oil wells, and young minister (38) of Energy and Oil since January 2013, is not at his first invention. But this one is exceptional, if not revolutionary. Thus, it has already been patented, like in Australia for example.

 
#66 · (Edited)
Abdoulaye Toure

This Senegalese inventor has designed and developed solar ovens. His first prototype was designed in 1990, although it is in 1992 that he really started developing and spreading the solar oven technology in Senegal. This former teacher is now detached from the education body in order to popularize his invention for which more than 250 models have already been manufactured in Senegal.

 
#67 · (Edited)
Guy Nankamp is a Cameroonian inventor who has designed "variable index sowing seeders" that come in two models (portable and coupled) and an automatic system for railway safety (CASF in French), among others. The seeders are patented since September 30, 2005 by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) under No. 12884.



 
#71 · (Edited)
In 1993, Sanoussi Diakite from Senegal, a professor of mechanical engineering, manufactured a husking machine that produces 5 kg of fonio in 8 minutes. Before this invention, it took about 2 hours to pound 2 kg of fonio. It is now possible to produce about 75 kg in 2 hours, thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity by 3,650%. This shows the impact and importance of the mechanization of agriculture to improve productivity in Africa.


 
#73 · (Edited)
Jules Logou



Jules Logou is an electronics engineer, researcher and inventor from Togo who has designed and built the Foufoumix. It is a mixer or blender made in Togo that eases the cooking of a popular African food: fufu. This invention is innovating because fufu preparation is rather painful, especially for African women to whom this chore is usually reserved.




Besides the Foufoumix, Jules Logou has developed other inventions including, but not limited to a burning mobile Water Closet, as well as a climbing platform which allows working more easily, even in a sitting position, on an electric pole or else.


 
#74 · (Edited)
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Asidu Abudu is a Ghanaian inventor who started inventing mechanical instruments at a young age. He is CEO and MD of a small company named Foresight Investments Ltd. and holds a degree in mechanical engineering. He has invented numerous devices that are designed to ease people's lives. Although they are still prototypes, they are quite fascinating.

One of them is a fufu pounding machine which could ease the lives of African women in villages and cities in food preparation, for instance. Another one is an automatic eating machine that can help the disabled, among others.

Just like other African inventors on the continent, Asidu Abudu has also conceived devices that use telecommunication technologies. One of them is a surveillance camera embedded in a mobile phone. No matter the distance, within seconds, the owner can see his car on his mobile phone. Thus, if someone opens a door, the camera will signal it to the owner who will then be able to see who is opening the door.

Another example is a device that enables you to stop the car engine using one's mobile phone or somebody else's phone. If, for instance, a car that is equipped with "the car tracking system" is stolen, wherever the owner is, all he has to do is to dial his code from any other phone (mobile or landline) that will send a signal to the car and the engine will stop running.


A lack of a serious industrial strategy in most African countries is the biggest hindrance to economic and social developments. Such a young inventor is only an infinitesimal representation of the creative genius of Africans. All they need to better help their continent are "support" and "recognition".
 
#75 · (Edited)
Morris Mbetsa is a young Kenyan genius from Mombasa who is gifted in electronics and has invented an anti-theft device called Block and Track. Block and Track is an SMS-based vehicle security system that enables car-owners to monitor their vehicle from a distance. The system he has invented brings the whole concept of vehicle security into one’s hand thanks to the mobile phone. Morris Mbetsa had just graduated from high school when he came up with this security device.

All that a car-owner needs is a phone in which Morris Mbetsa will install a program. Under the hood, he also connects wires and the like to the engine. Once the device is set up, the car-owner can lock the doors by just sending an SMS. In case the car has been stolen, there is no need to panic. All the owner needs to do is to send an SMS with a code to stop (immobilize) the car wherever it is located provided there is network coverage from the mobile operator. The system is also fitted with a tracking device that will locate, on a map, the location of the car.

This system invented by an African when he was 18 year old is very simple as it does not, at least at this stage, require a computer or monthly subscription fee. All that one needs is a mobile phone with airtime.

Morris Mbetsa got the idea of the system when a few years back a friend of his was carjacked. Without formal training in electronics, he decided to work on the system. This was possible because for a long period of time Morris Mbetsa used to dismantle gadgets (devices) in order to create new devices.

Morris Mbetsa would like to start up a company that will manufacture and install the system. All that he needs is someone or a company that will put up the necessary funds to take the system to another level.

This young and talented African proves once again that Africa has the answer to a lot of its problems. Unfortunately, Africans tend to always knock at doors that are far from Africa to get expensive solutions. One thing is certain: this is a world premiere from Kenya.

 
#77 · (Edited)

Alain Brice Niama
, from Congo-Brazzaville, has designed and developed a non-polluting system that converts wood into renewable oil. He filed his patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office on March 30, 2009 under application number 12/383,613. His patent was published on September 30, 2010 under publication number US2010/0242340 A1.


 
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