The Origin of Man Gets a New Twist
“Mom, where do babies come from?” An inquisitive young one would ask.
In their own infinite wisdom, parents in African societies, where sex conversations were virtually considered a taboo, would have varying escapism responses to this big questions. One of the most difficult conversations for parents in most African societies to have with their children is where do babies come from. Indeed, conventional parental wisdom, in the young neo-modern African society, has led to the development and sharing of anecdotes that tell of babies being dropped by overflying aircrafts or being picked up from the market. As we grow up, the question where do babies come from grows into more complex questions and concerns. We are concerned about more important queries, such as where man in general, came from. The quandary experienced in explaining where babies came from to inquisitive children, now exists in explaining to adults, conclusively, where man came from.
Christians will argue that they were created in God’s own image! Archeological scientists and subscribers to Darwinian Theory will put forth evolution theory-based arguments to explain the origin of man! Other scientists will put forward other equally evidence-backed theories to explain the origin of man. Which is the most acceptable theory, has been a concern for many, for a long time. Africa, aptly named the Cradle of Man, has made its fair share to building and giving credence to the evolution and Darwinian Theory of origin of man.
Over the years, in different parts of Africa, different fossil hominid material, skeletons, and ape-man fossils have been discovered in different parts of Africa, particularly, South Africa and Kenya. The findings in sites, such as Sterkfontein in South Africa, and Turkana in Kenya, have given credence to the evolution theory; man evolved over the years from their close cousins, apes! Most recently, in Kanapoi in Turkana, Kenya, the discovery of the 4.2million years old skeletons of one of the smallest monkeys ever recorded, the Nanopithecus browni, sheds new light to the evolution theory and an understanding of human physique. From the study of the skeleton, scientists argue that the monkey weighs approximately or less than one kilogram, terming it as a member of the smallest among modern Talapoin monkeys found in different parts of East and West Africa.
Dr. Fredrick Manthi, a renowned paleontologist involved in the find, announcing the finding of the specimen, observed, “The discovery of Nanopithecus browni reaffirms Kenya’s, and by extension, Africa’s contribution to understanding the evolution and diversity of Pliocene fauna and the environmental contexts in which they lived.” The monkeys are predominantly found in tropical forests, particularly those currently found in heavily forested areas of central Africa, giving rise to the questions, what was the kind of habitat of the area, currently an arid area, in which the monkey lived in then. The findings subsequently shed light into the fact that dwarfing in the primate family, under which man is categorized, is not an entirely new phenomenon. Most importantly, the findings also provide an indication of potential changes in the climate and environment of the regions over eons. It is an important discovery that makes major contributions to science.
For those in the journey to discover or rediscover themselves, the National Museum in Nairobi, where these fossils are housed, is a must visit. The Nanopithecus browni could be the link in your journey to understanding your ancestry. Once again, Africa stems its position as the Cradle of Mankind!
Important Links: Leakeyfoundation ; Citizentv.co.ke
