This paper proposes a new variable to explain contemporary democracy in Africa: parliamentary experience independence defined as the difference between the Parliament’s date of birth and independence. In doing so, this study explores a potential transmission channel of the Acemoglu et al. (2001) thesis concerning the colonial origin of institutional quality. Taking into account this new variable leads to a negative relationship between the lack of parliamentary experience at the time of independence and the quality of democracy in a sample of 42 countries. By combining variables of the theory of modernity, historical, geographical and socio-cultural variables, we provides a robust evidence that the negative dynamic of the contemporary democracy in Africa is explained by the lack of parliamentary experience at the time of independence.