By Juma Amasai
African innovators are working in a fast-changing world shaped by what many call the Fourth Industrial Revolution. New technologies are reshaping business, government, and daily life. Amid this shift, one idea is gaining ground: Africa could unlock a new wave of progress by fully embracing open-source technology.
Open-source software is built by communities. It is free to access, free to modify, and free to improve. Much of the global internet already runs on foundations such as Linux. Around the world, major companies build products on top of these tools, customise them, and turn them into powerful commercial solutions.
Africa is slowly increasing its participation in the open-source movement. But experts say the continent could go much further. Faster adoption would not only reduce technology costs. It would also allow countries to build systems that work together across borders a crucial factor for trade, finance, health, and education. With open-source tools, African developers could shape their own digital infrastructure, from AI models and blockchain networks to cybersecurity systems and public data platforms.
Three groups could help drive this shift.
Governments can create laws and policies that welcome open-source use. Such support would build confidence among investors, developers, and technology buyers, accelerating innovation across sectors.
Corporations, especially large ones, can lead by example. When they build or adopt open-source systems, they help set new standards for entire industries. They also encourage local talent to explore, test, and improve these tools strengthening the wider ecosystem.
Educational institutions play an equally important role. Teaching open-source technologies exposes students to global best practice while giving them room to experiment. Over time, this builds a generation of creators, not just users.
If widely adopted, it could move Africa from the sidelines to the centre of global tech creation. It offers a path for the continent to shift from being a consumer of technology to becoming a producer and a competitive one.
