Author: WAJ Reporter

In recent years, digital music has been on the rise in Africa. African digital music producers are strengthening the continent’s already rich musical fabric and helping solidify its position on the global stage. Pioneers like South Africa’s Black Coffee are blending African rhythms with digital music, earning awards and bringing prestige to the continent. This success has opened doors for new African talents. Thanks to the development of music technology on the continent, Africa is now able to offer digital music producers more powerful tools and platforms. These advancements have also made it easier to distribute music and monetize it.…

SpaceX’s satellite service, Starlink, has announced the launch of its operations in Liberia. The company signed an annual licensing agreement with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA). Under this agreement, Starlink aims to increase high-speed internet access in remote, underserved, and rural areas of Liberia. Currently, the country’s internet penetration stands at 30%, and LTA Acting Chairperson Abdullah Kamara mentioned that this agreement could potentially increase the coverage to 100%. To support this goal, the Liberia Revenue Authority has purchased 50 Starlink satellite terminals to improve connectivity across its offices. This investment amounts to $162,000. Abdullah Kamara also highlighted the service’s…

The South Africa-based fintech platform Mukuru has announced the launch of its mobile wallet service in Zimbabwe. The company stated that the Mukuru Wallet offers free cash withdrawals for both local and international transactions. Marc Carrie-Wilson, CEO of Mukuru Send Money Home Zimbabwe, highlighted that the company is now able to reach more people than ever before, both in rural and urban areas. Doug Tait-Knight, CEO of Mukuru Zimbabwe Financial Services, emphasized that the wallet application facilitates more affordable local money transfers while eliminating the need for customers to carry cash, thereby enhancing security. He also noted that the app…

Egypt strengthens its digital transformation agenda with the introduction of new electronic voting systems and government service monitoring applications. This initiative aims to enhance citizens’ access to public services and foster development across the country. The new e-voting platform allows citizens to cast their votes more easily. This technology is expected to increase voter turnout and improve election security. By doing so, Egypt integrates technology into its democratic processes. Additionally, the Egyptian government has launched mobile applications that facilitate the evaluation of government services and direct complaints. Through these apps, citizens can establish direct communication channels with government institutions, creating…

Mastercard opened an office in Accra, Ghana, to expand its operations in West Africa. With this move, Mastercard aims to accelerate its efforts in providing tailored solutions for Ghanaian stakeholders, foster closer collaborations, and create a positive impact on the country’s financial landscape. Ghana is experiencing growth in sectors such as agriculture, digital infrastructure, and mining. Mastercard’s investment is expected to attract top talent to the country and make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy and technological development. Mastercard is set to benefit from this expansion by broadening its influence and tapping into the potential of the region. Previously,…

According to a study by Flourish Ventures, 86% of African tech entrepreneurs are facing mental health issues. Many are struggling with high levels of stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and burnout. 60% of entrepreneurs experience anxiety, 58% report high stress, and 52% experience burnout. As companies continue to grow, the increasing competitive environment significantly raises entrepreneurs’ stress levels. Female entrepreneurs, in particular, face greater difficulties in maintaining a work-life balance. Due to loneliness and fear of failure, they experience more stress compared to their male counterparts. Entrepreneurs often view investors not as supporters, but as sources of stress. They sometimes avoid open…

Moroccan entrepreneurs raised $70 million, making Morocco the fifth-largest country in Africa in terms of funds raised, behind Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. These top four countries raised a total of $2.2 billion, capturing 84% of the funds raised across Africa in 2024. Kenya ranked first in Africa, raising $638 million, followed by Nigeria with $410 million. Egypt secured third place with $400 million, while South Africa raised $394 million, placing fourth. Morocco, with $70 million, ranked fifth, signaling its intent to become a more significant player in the future. Ghana, which placed sixth, raised $68 million, followed by…

According to a published report, Nigeria has the lowest data costs in West Africa. Across the country, the average cost for 1 gigabyte of data is $0.38, making it one of the most affordable options both globally and on the continent. To give examples from other African countries, the average cost for 1 gigabyte of data is $1.77 in South Africa, $0.68 in Ethiopia, and $0.59 in Kenya. In the United States, this cost is significantly higher, averaging $6. Nigeria has established a cost-effective and competitive data environment nationwide. However, Nigerian telecommunications operators have reported challenges within the sector due…

Startups in Africa raised a total of $2.2 billion in 2024, experiencing a 25% decline compared to 2023. The countries leading the way in securing this capital are South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt. These four countries accounted for 84% of all startup investments on the continent. Kenyan startups led Africa’s tech ecosystem, raising $638 million. In East Africa, Tanzania secured $51 million and Uganda raised $19 million in funding. Kenya played a central role in driving technology forward in the region. In West Africa, Nigeria attracted the most funding, securing $410 million, making it the second-highest recipient of funds…

Last year, Sub-Saharan Africa suffered a loss of $1.5 billion due to internet shutdowns. Globally, total losses from internet disruptions amounted to $7.69 billion, with Sub-Saharan Africa’s share making up 19% of the worldwide loss. A total of 28 countries experienced internet shutdowns last year, 13 of which were African nations. These African countries included Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Algeria, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal, Mozambique, Chad, Mauritius, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Sudan experienced the largest loss, amounting to $1.12 billion. The country faced over 12,707 hours of internet shutdowns. The ongoing internal conflicts in Sudan led to the displacement of 10…

Senegalese startup Nixacom is providing financing for tech products in collaboration with banks. Nixacom is a financing company that makes tech products like smartphones, tablets, and laptops accessible to individuals and businesses. The company has been highly successful without any investments or revenue, with over 3,400 customers signing up organically. Nixacom plans to expand to other West African countries and Bangladesh in the coming years. Once it starts generating revenue, Nixacom will earn through profit margins on products sold, a three percent origination fee for approved customers, and referral fees from co-branded debit card accounts with partner banks. Founded in…

Experts propose 8 different solutions to enhance e-commerce in Africa. The first is improving payment processing. Payment processing is a major constraint for e-commerce in Africa. To address this, local payment systems such as Paystack and mobile money can be used. This can improve transaction success rates and customer experience. Additionally, these applications provide protection against fraud and enhanced security measures. Mobile money services like M-Pesa strengthen e-commerce in areas with limited banking infrastructure. To improve payment processing, it is important to focus on the following: ensuring high security that complies with global standards, improving payment methods, and using data…

South Africa’s tax break plan may direct China to produce electric vehicles in Africa. This comes after the president signed a law providing tax breaks for the production of new energy vehicles. Three Chinese automakers have signed non-disclosure agreements with the Automotive Business Council. CEO Mikel Mabasa, who gave an interview on Friday, did not reveal the names of these companies and commented on the situation as follows: “With good government policies, we will attract new investment, we will increase and retain investment.” The country will offer a 150% tax deduction on investments in the production of electric and hydrogen-powered…

Drug-resistant infections are increasingly leading to fatalities, with a significant number of these deaths occurring in Africa. Insufficient water consumption, the misuse of antimicrobials, inadequate vaccination, and poor sanitation are the primary causes of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Reducing AMR is crucial for addressing the continent’s health challenges in a lasting way. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR refers to the inability of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and parasites to respond to antimicrobial drugs. This occurs due to the misuse or overuse of these drugs for treatment, control, or prevention in living organisms. The African Union’s AMR Landmark Report estimates…

Starlink, the satellite internet provider, announced that it will implement a subscription fee increase effective January 27, 2025. New customers will be charged the updated rates, while existing subscribers will see the changes reflected in their next billing cycle. With the updated pricing, the lowest subscription tier is expected to rise from ₦38,000 to ₦75,000, while the mobile global roaming service will cost ₦717,000 per month. Starlink stated that the fee increase is aimed at expanding its operations and improving its infrastructure. The company’s previous request for a price increase was rejected by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). However, NCC…

Condia asked 8 African tech leaders for their reading lists and compiled a list of the fiction and non-fiction books they recommended. Two of the respondents recommended Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. Other books included Ben Horowitz’s The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Simon Sinek’s Start with Why, Ronit Ghose’s Future Money, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s Metaphors We Live By, Annie Duke’s Quit, and Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perr’s What Happened to You? Raenest CEO Victor Alade recommended Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa. He said: “As a fintech founder,…