Professor Louis Leakey argues that Africa was important in the development of mankind in three ways.

First, some thirty or forty million years ago, the basic stock which eventually gave rise to both man and the ape came into existence in the vicinity of the Nile Valley.

Second, some twelve or fourteen million years ago, the main branch which was to lead to the development of man broke away from the branch leading to the ape.

Third, about two million years ago, in the vicinity of East Africa, true man broke away from his now extinct manlike cousins.

The present species of man-Homo Sapiens--developed through a complex process of natural selection from a large number of different manlike creatures-hominids.
One of the most numerous of the early hominids was Australopithecus Africanus who originated in Africa.