Speech
Estimates supported by genetic, archaeologic, paleontologic, and other evidence, suggests that language probably emerged somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa during the Middle Stone Age, hence, the first words by humans were spoken by Africans.
Architecture and Engineering
The African empire of Egypt developed a vast array of diverse structures and great architectural monuments along the Nile, among the largest and most famous of which are the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza. Later, in the 12th century there were hundreds of great cities in Zimbabwe and Mozambique made of massive stone complexes and huge castlelike compounds. In the 13th century, the empire of Mali boasted impressive cities, including Timbuktu, with grand palaces, mosques and universities.

