Accumulating African data revives interest in modern human origins models. Discussions remain discipline-specific without cross-field integration. Geneticists demand explicit parameters to test demographic models. Four models outlined for Homo sapiens origins in Africa. Models drawn from paleoanthropology and genetics literature. Genetic data patterns expected under each model. Schematics illustrate each model's demographics. Qualitative histories enable specific genetic parameters. Perspective contextualizes human origins debates in special issue.