Is Africa The Dump Site of The World's Technology?

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I have read articles on the challenges of handling waste resulting from ever changing technology, and an important part of this discussion is always the role third world countries play in it. Mostly holding the bag. Computers. Clothing materials. Auto components. All the junk come home to roost (not in the proverbial sense). Home is African countries and other less richer nations.

It's a fairly simple concept to grasp. Because of over reliance on the Western and Asian power houses for basic technology, from USB sticks to car engines, added to very low per capita income of the population, most people in this part of the world have to settle for “fairly used” stuff. The practical middle class in Nigeria, for example, cannot afford a brand new Toyota Camry, much less a German car of similar class. Same applies to phones and computers and most anything.

The alternative is usually to look to China for cheaper alternatives, but usually that comes with its cost: sacrifice of quality. You realize you get a better deal by buying a Mercedes Benz 2005 salon car, which is far cheaper and better than a more recent Kia model, for instance. And that thinking gave rise to a buoyant market of “tokunbo” goods. It opens an outlet for the developed world to cash in on outdated technology, and not have to worry worry less about disposing heavy chassis and toxic diodes. Poor countries hold the bag 😢

Here are some more pictures of what a typical mechanic village looks like in my country. The items in these photos are actually going to be sold and reused... until they just cannot anymore.

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