Africa’s high-tech boom boosts the continent’s competitiveness
Africa's "Silicon Savannahs" are on the rise as tech hubs spring up around the continent. Aiming to diversify the continent's economies, provide jobs and spur growth, the progressive ICT hubs show the continent is open for business.
World Bank investment in Africa at record levels
The World Bank Group has announced it spent a whopping US15.3-billion on development projects in sub-Saharan Africa during the financial year from July 2013 to June 2014 – a new record – most of it in zero-interest credits and grants from the International Development Association, the bank's fund for the poorest countries.
Connecting small business to the world can help Africa thrive
Once a modest microfinance project, Kenya's highly successful M-pesa mobile money transfer service is now to be introduced to Europe. A technology pioneered in one the world's poorest regions will be imported into one of the richest.
CNN’s Richard Quest examines the rise of Africa
The debate was lively when straight-talking CNN anchor Richard Quest hosted Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola, Telkom chair Jabu Mabuza and Goldman Sachs MD Colin Coleman at a breakfast forum discussing African economic growth on Tuesday 13 May.
#BringBackOurGirls shows the power of social media in Africa
Social media's potential as a powerful agent for change and conflict resolution in Africa is being demonstrated by the hugely viral #BringBackOurGirls online campaign to rescue 276 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram Islamist militants.
Seven reasons to be optimistic about Africa
As business and government leaders from across the globe gather in Abuja, Nigeria, for the World Economic Forum on Africa, KPMG International's global head of corporate citizenship Michael Hastings reflects on reasons to be hopeful about the future of the continent.
How Africa tweets
Johannesburg and Cairo are the most active on Twitter, according to new research by Portland Communications. English, French and Arabic are the most common languages, accounting for over 75% of all tweets on the continent. But African languages, notably isiZulu, Swahili, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, are making an increasingly strong showing.
Rwanda finds a path out of history of horror
Instead of taking the route of vengeance and punishment, Rwanda has chosen admission, reconciliation and forgiveness. This way, it has missed a "justice of ashes". But to build a stable and prosperous country has required draconian legislation and curtailed personal freedom.
Death penalty declines in Africa
Most countries in Africa have either abolished the death penalty, or are on the way to doing so. But a handful of countries has led the number of "state-sanctioned killings" to rise, according to Amnesty International. Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan accounted for more than 90% of these in 2013.
Benin gallery keeps African art in Africa
Contemporary African art is carving a niche in the West African town of Ouidah, Benin. Known more for its slave trade and voodoo roots, the region is starting to draw visitors more interested in the arts and culture. It is also offering a space for expatriate artists to show their work at home for the first time.
