‘Africa Is the Homeland of Humanity’: Genomics Pioneer Calls for Data Sovereignty in AI Era

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.