Humanity is African.

Australopithecus ramidus is the oldest direct ancestor of humanity, living around 4.4 million years ago. They lived across the east side of Africa and up towards the Nile Valley.

Australopithecus afarensis was the next ancestor, evolving from ramidus about 4 million years ago. The most famous afarensis fossil specimen discovered is that of Dinquinesh (meaning “you are marvellous” in Ahmaric) also known as Lucy. Dinquinesh was discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia.

Multiple pre-humans evolved across the continent in the next few million years, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus (Homo meaning “same” in Greek). Erectus was the first of these pre-humans to leave the continent and from this ape came the Neanderthals. Meanwhile back in Africa, we evolved.

The oldest known Homo sapiens (meaning us) fossils have been found in East Africa, just like the ancestor apes 4 million years prior. In Ethiopia, fossils have been found that are 195,000 years old, and in Tanzania, fossils have been found that are 130,000 years old.

For tens of thousands of years, humanity was Black. Once humans spread across the globe into the icy climates of Eurasia, the “races” emerged through natural mutation. Hair became straight and skin became white. But the birthplace of the human race remains one place:

AFRICA