The AI Chess Game: Africa's Technology Sovereignty at Stake

The recent US restrictions on AI chip exports have brought into sharp focus what I've been hammering on about - Africa's technological dependency. It's like watching a chess game where we're not even players, just pawns being moved across the board.

Last week, I wrote about moving beyond the AI hype in Africa, and barely seven days later, we're seeing exactly why that conversation matters. The US has just announced export controls on AI chips to approximately 120 countries, while conveniently exempting 18 allies including Japan, Britain, and the Netherlands. Let that sink in.

Huawei's warning about these restrictions' impact on Africa isn't just corporate posturing - it's a wake-up call. Edison Xie, Huawei's director of media affairs for Southern Africa, puts it bluntly: this could hurt Africa's growing technology industry. But here's what keeps me up at night: we're worried about access to chips when we should be worried about not making them in the first place.

Think about it. We're not just talking about computer parts here. We're talking about the building blocks of modern civilization. AI chips are to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th. When we don't control their production or have alternatives, we're essentially accepting digital colonization.

The US move, while dressed up as protecting technological leadership, is really about power. And power, as we know, doesn't exist in a vacuum. When we talk about "having a seat at the table," we need to ask ourselves - what are we bringing to this feast? Right now, we're showing up empty-handed to a potluck dinner.

This is exactly why I've been advocating for moving beyond surface-level AI discussions. We need to build, not just buy. Create, not just consume. The global semiconductor industry isn't just some distant Silicon Valley concern - it's the backbone of every piece of technology we use.

The irony? Africa has the raw materials, the young talent, and the market size to be a serious player in technology. What we lack is the strategic vision and political will to invest in fundamental technology infrastructure.

So here's the real question: How long will we continue to dance to tunes we're not composing? The US-China tech war shows us that technology independence isn't just nice to have - it's essential for survival in the modern world.

The choice is clear: we either start building our technological sovereignty now, or we resign ourselves to being perpetual consumers in a world where producers make the rules.

Wake up, Africa. The game is changing, and we're not even on the board.