Nigerian-American journalist Dayo Olopade, author of forthcoming book “The Bright Continent” thinks so.

CNN spoke with Olopade: “I think in general in the 21st century there’s a very important recognition that we need to all do more with less, and where better to look that the place that has been doing this for centuries?” she said.

“It’s about recombination, recycling, innovative use of existing objects,” she adds.

Watch the video below: