When our ancestors discovered fire back in time, they made a quantum leap in the history of human development.
Through fire, they unleashed an accelerating wheel of innovation and creativity. Tools were made, shelters were built, and food was improved through cooking.
I see the internet in our time as equivalent to the historical event of fire discovery. The internet has become an indispensable part of our life. From shaping democracies to fighting social biases, organizing donations —there is no part of our life, that is of significant value, that the internet has not touched.
Internet is shaping economies
According to a new report, by Google and the World Bank’s IFC, Africa’s internet economy is expected to reach $180 billion by 2025. Which will account for 5.2% of the continent’s GDP.
The growing number of tech talents is among the factors contributing to the booming internet economy in Africa. Many tech-based solutions have been developed to solve challenges in education, healthcare, and finance. That’s how the internet is impacting our lives and why it is so important.
Internet is for everyone
The internet does not care about your background. Whether you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth or you were raised by a struggling single mother, whether you can afford a meal at a Masaki restaurant or you just eat Kwa Mama Kibonge at Buza, whether you grew up watching Tom and Jerry or chasing your grandparent’s stubborn goats somewhere in rural Geita.
The internet doesn’t care about all that. It rewards good efforts and authenticity. It exposes every one of us to a global marketplace of whatever it is we are trying to sell or be known for.
We have seen people rise from virtually unknown SoundCloud rappers to mainstream artists. YouTubers who scored zero in class but now making millions. Lifestyle bloggers making a living by doing what they love. Comedians who came out of nowhere and took the internet by storm. The list goes on.
The most important thing is that the internet is making gatekeepers even less relevant. I will give you an example. Idris Sultan, a Tanzanian comedian, actor, and activist (I made the last title up) went to pitch his TV series idea, DANGA, to major TV stations in the country. The TV owners, or the gatekeepers, in this case, said NO. Then Idris went on to publish the show on YouTube.
It turned out, DANGA is one of the best TV shows we have ever seen in Tanzania. The internet quickly picked the show and became the most talked-about and positively acclaimed show in the country. Without the internet, Idris would have left with no choice but to listen to the TV owners who said the show wasn’t good for the Tanzanian audience.
So whether you want to excel in your career, connect with people, to grow your business online —there hasn’t been an ultimate tool to help you achieve absolutely anything other than the internet. I hope you are making the most out of this great invention of our time.
Useful Links
