https://en.sputniknews.africa/20251027/africa-is-the-homeland-of-humanity-genomics-pioneer-calls-for-data-sovereignty-in-ai-era-1079836235.html
‘Africa Is the Homeland of Humanity’: Genomics Pioneer Calls for Data Sovereignty in AI Era
‘Africa Is the Homeland of Humanity’: Genomics Pioneer Calls for Data Sovereignty in AI Era
Sputnik Africa
Genomics deciphers life’s blueprint, linking genes to health, adaptation, and ancestry. As sequencing scales and computation sharpens, genomic science promises... 27.10.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-10-27T10:00+0100
2025-10-27T10:00+0100
2025-10-27T10:00+0100
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‘Africa Is the Homeland of Humanity’: Genomics Pioneer Calls for Data Sovereignty in AI Era
Sputnik Africa
Genomics deciphers life’s blueprint, linking genes to health, adaptation, and ancestry. As sequencing scales and computation sharpens, genomic science promises tailored therapies, smarter disease surveillance, and deeper insight into human origins. Its potential hinges on representative data, inclusive research, and tools that reflect the diversity they aim to serve today. Yet much of global genomics has been shaped by datasets with scant African representation, producing gaps in diagnostics, drug efficacy, and predictive models. Closing those gaps requires focused investment across the continent, from data infrastructure and bioinformatics education to ethical governance and the deliberate application of AI that learns from African genomes, not around them.
Its potential hinges on representative data, inclusive research, and tools that reflect the diversity they aim to serve today. Yet much of global genomics has been shaped by datasets with scant African representation, producing gaps in diagnostics, drug efficacy, and predictive models. Closing those gaps requires focused investment across the continent, from data infrastructure and bioinformatics education to ethical governance and the deliberate application of AI that learns from African genomes, not around them.In a discussion with Global South Pole, Professor Emile Chimusa, the co-chair of the state of data science for health in Africa, argued that Africa must lead the generation, stewardship, and interpretation of its own genomic data. He said the continent’s strength lies in building broad capacity, practical training in bioinformatics, scalable computing, ethical data-sharing, and AI systems trained on African diversity. For him, reclaiming Africa’s genomic narrative is both a scientific and moral imperative.To listen to the whole conversation, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole.
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‘Africa Is the Homeland of Humanity’: Genomics Pioneer Calls for Data Sovereignty in AI Era
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
Genomics deciphers life’s blueprint, linking genes to health, adaptation, and ancestry. As sequencing scales and computation sharpens, genomic science promises tailored therapies, smarter disease surveillance, and deeper insight into human origins.
Its potential hinges on representative data, inclusive research, and tools that reflect the diversity they aim to serve today. Yet much of global genomics has been shaped by datasets with scant African representation, producing gaps in diagnostics, drug efficacy, and predictive models. Closing those gaps requires focused investment across the continent, from data infrastructure and bioinformatics education to ethical governance and the deliberate application of AI that learns from African genomes, not around them.
In a discussion with Global South Pole, Professor Emile Chimusa, the co-chair of the state of data science for health in Africa, argued that Africa must lead the generation, stewardship, and interpretation of its own genomic data. He said the continent’s strength lies in building broad capacity, practical training in bioinformatics, scalable computing, ethical data-sharing, and AI systems trained on African diversity. For him, reclaiming Africa’s genomic narrative is both a scientific and moral imperative.
“Africa is the homeland of humanity […] all genetic variation found elsewhere in Europe, Asia, America, Oceania, different continents, you [will find] it in Africa. So, to understand human variation in terms of drug response, treatment variations, and the risk variation in the risk of disease or susceptibility of diseases, my view is to actually analyze complex data and the complex genetic variation data [that] is in Africa,” Professor Chimusa said.
To listen to the whole conversation, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole. 
