A Paradigm Shift for Innovation and Creativity in Africa in the 21st Century

Abstract

Innovation has for many years been associated with growth and development of organizations and nations. Creativity is closely associated with innovativeness and indeed, without creativity there can be no meaningful innovativeness. The developed world has been associated with innovativeness for many decades, long before there was anything meaningful in the Developing world such as the African Continent .Thus, most inventions that we know today came from the developed world. Using a narrative and descriptive approach of the past and the present trends in both the developed and the African continent, the author seeks to demonstrate that in spite of the myriad of challenges, innovation and creativity are driving economic development in Africa and will continue to do so in the 21st century. Africa is on the rise and holds the future in terms of innovation and creativity, and will shape the 21st century as far as innovation and creativity is concerned. Africa has the potential and the capacity to host the innovations of the 21st century and beyond, just as Europe hosted the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The author argues that with a young growing population with a huge untapped natural resources, Africa presents the best opportunity for creativity and innovativeness in the 21st century. The author is cognizant to the fact that Africa is very diverse and cannot be lumped together as one big entity, but recognizes that a majority of the countries therein suffer the same challenges, which will be the main triggers to creativity and innovation in the 21st century Keywords: innovativeness, Creativity, economic development, African continent DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-01 Publication date:July 31st 201