Burkina Faso’s young captain-turned-president, Ibrahim Traoré, has ignited a wave of hope across the Sahel. At just 36, he is hailed as Africa’s youngest leader and has moved boldly on the issues plaguing his country: security, governance and the economy. His standing-room–only reception at a regional summit – where he received the loudest applause of […]
African countries have long relied on the “Big Three” global agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch) to signal their creditworthiness. These firms use familiar letter grades (AAA down to C) to gauge default risk, and investors treat them as a convenient shorthand for safety or peril. In Africa today 33 countries have sovereign ratings […]
Just beyond the southern edge of Nairobi, a new railway viaduct rises above the scrubby plains and scattered homes—its smooth concrete columns carving a sharp line across the horizon. Trains now glide over terrain once crossed by matatus and livestock, part of a national project to remake the country’s transport network. The Standard Gauge Railway, […]
On a cool morning in West Africa, voters formed a snaking line outside a modest polling station. An elderly woman, wrapped in vibrant cloth, cast her ballot with a trembling hand as the rising sun illuminated the hopeful faces behind her. Such moments of quiet determination are becoming increasingly common across the continent. Yet, behind […]
In a bustling open-air market in Nairobi, a small business owner swipes her thumb across a smartphone screen. There’s no cash exchanged, no point-of-sale machine, just a ping confirming payment through mobile money. A generation ago, she might have been invisible to the formal banking system—one of millions operating in the shadows of the global […]
By Yinka Alakija As debt pressures mount in Africa, the future of education financing hangs precariously in the balance. In 2025, the continent faces a dual crisis: insufficient funding for education and an ever-increasing debt burden that diverts critical resources away from classrooms. For Africa, the youngest continent globally, this is more than an economic […]
In a workshop in Dakar, a group of women painstakingly embroider fabrics with intricate Wolof patterns, each stitch a nod to their heritage. In Lagos, tailors piece together Ankara designs destined for a high-profile fashion week. These scenes, brimming with creativity and history, are part of a quiet but significant revival of Africa’s textile industry—a […]
In the global push for net-zero emissions, Africa’s renewable energy potential offers a tantalizing prospect. Home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources and abundant wind, hydro, and geothermal energy opportunities, the continent seems poised to lead the green revolution. Yet, over 600 million Africans—nearly half the population—still lack access to electricity. This glaring […]
In a dimly lit theater in Johannesburg, an audience erupts in applause as a contemporary dance troupe reimagines the Zulu war dance with elements of hip-hop. On a bustling street in Nairobi, vendors hawk Maasai jewelry alongside replicas of international brands. These juxtapositions capture a continent at a cultural crossroads, grappling with the preservation of […]
Written by: Jeremiah Salaam Many African nations primarily rely on non-renewable energy sources, but how might our experience change if we invested in renewable energy instead? Non-renewable energy resources, once exhausted, cannot be restored. These include coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy. On the other hand, renewable energy harnesses power from limitless, naturally replenishing […]