In the last two months, I attended the Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town conference in South Africa and the African Bitcoin Conference in Kenya. I also explored Bitcoin circular economies in both countries, including Bitcoin Ekasi, Afribit Kibera, and Bitcoin Witsand. These experiences revealed to me that developers, community leaders, and everyday individuals across Africa are leveraging Bitcoin to drive change in their lives, embodying the spirit of the early cypherpunks.
An African Bitcoiner’s Manifesto
In “A Cypherpunk’s Manifesto,” Eric Hughes stated:
“Cypherpunks write code. We know that someone has to write software to defend privacy, and since we can’t get privacy unless we all do, we’re going to write it. We publish our code so that our fellow Cypherpunks may practice and play with it. Our code is free for all to use, worldwide. We don’t much care if you don’t approve of the software we write. We know that software can’t be destroyed and that a widely dispersed system can’t be shut down.”
This mindset is mirrored by builders in Africa. While not all of them are coding, they are pursuing their work independently and without seeking permission.
Based on my observations during my recent trips to Africa, including a visit to Ghana in late 2023 for the African Bitcoin Conference and Bitcoin Dua, I envision an African Bitcoiner’s version of Hughes’ manifesto might read as follows:
“African Bitcoiners just build with Bitcoin. We recognize that someone must take action to create change, as the promises from NGOs and governments have often fallen short. We share our proof of work online so that fellow African Bitcoiners can use it as a model and adapt it to their unique contexts. Our proof of work and/or code is freely replicable across Africa and beyond. We do not seek approval from authorities; however, we are open to collaboration if they recognize the value in our projects and visions. We understand that our work harnesses the immutable and uncensorable nature of Bitcoin, along with the relentless spirit of humanity, making it unstoppable.”
Here are some examples of projects that embody this spirit:
**Bitcoin Ekasi**
Bitcoin Ekasi stands out as a prominent example of the cypherpunk and Bitcoin ethos in Africa. Launched in 2021 in Mossel Bay, South Africa, it has become a model for Bitcoin circular economies across the continent. Founded by Hermann Vivier, who also organized the Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town event, the project aims to raise funds in Bitcoin for The Surfer Kids non-profit, which Vivier also established, while onboarding local shops to Bitcoin. Project Community Leader Luthando Ndabambi has excelled in this endeavor, employing both formal and creative strategies to enhance community engagement.
