What is the main premise of the Out of Africa hypothesis?

The main premise of the Out of Africa hypothesis is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and then dispersed to other parts of the world. This theory is supported by genetic, fossil, and archaeological evidence showing that modern humans evolved from earlier hominids in Africa before spreading to Europe, Asia, and beyond.

This hypothesis contrasts with other theories that suggest human evolution occurred simultaneously in multiple regions or that early humans evolved in Europe. The genetic evidence indicates a relatively recent common ancestor for all modern humans who left Africa, reinforcing the idea that Africa is the cradle of modern human evolution. This migration occurred in waves, with the first Homo sapiens leaving Africa around 60,000 to 80,000 years ago, leading to the eventual replacement of local hominin populations, such as Neanderthals, in other parts of the world.