There are several ancient precedents, but appropriate technology -- at the right time and place -- is always advanced.

The Rolex Awards for Enterprise Journal, No. 15 (1.2 mb PDF file) has more photos and details about Mohammed Bah Abba's invention. He received the Rolex Award in September 2000:

The use of porous clay pots to cool water by evaporation dates back at least to ancient Egypt. An Egyptian temple painting depicts a slave fanning large storage jars to chill their contents. The jars cool as the water slowly leaks through the porous clay and evaporates from the surface. Water and wine were cooled in this way. The city of Qena in Upper Egypt is renowned even today for its porous-clay cooling vessels.These traditional pots continue to be the principal means of cooling water in most Egyptian households – a tradition spanning more than three millennia.

From the History Channel's History of the Refrigerator:

Around 500 B.C. the Egyptians and Indians made ice on cold nights by setting water out in earthenware pots and keeping the pots wet.

Gizmo Highway's The History of the Refrigerator:

The Romans used terracotta pots in water fanned by slaves to cool their food...

For a nice juxtaposition, terra cotta water coolers are available that will look great in today's modern office (the IT department seems like a good spot). When the backup generators finally run out of gas and the screens go dark, we can still get a long, cool one.