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Africa has been in the spotlight this week. That happened as two global leaders—Germany’s Angela Merkel and the UK’s Theresa May—visited countries on the continent around the same time. Both leaders came bearing gifts, but in the long run, they will be hoping for reciprocal benefits.
Merkel’s talks at each of her three stops in Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria focused on stemming the flow of migrants heading to Europe in search of a better life. The German chancellor, with nearly a dozen German CEOs in tow, pressed for increased investment to create jobs which will offer locals viable livelihoods and disincentivize migration. And she had some success: German car giant Volkswagen announced plans to expand operations in both Ghana and Nigeria promising more investment and jobs in two of West Africa’s largest economies. But there’s some political upside for Merkel too. Having come under pressure for her handling of the growing migrant influx in Germany, reversing the trend will be crucial for her party during the next federal elections.
British prime minister Theresa May was more unabashed about the purpose of her first ever Africa tour with stops in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. As Brexit looms, May is looking to “deepen and strengthen” the UK’s “global partnerships,” even if it requires busting out awkward dance moves. May signed trade deals, pledged more direct government investment and touted the UK’s private sector’s interest as well. Beyond trade, the prime minister also pledged military support to combat terrorist groups Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab in Nigeria and Kenya respectively. But, as Africa has increasingly looked East rather than West over the past decade, the UK is ultimately playing catch-up to China as the Asian superpower is now heavily invested in trade, infrastructure, and even the military on the continent.
And platitudes about maximizing “shared opportunities” aside, it is unlikely that increased UK-Africa trade will make up for potential Brexit losses: in 2016, UK’s trade with Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria combined was less than 2.5% of the value of its trade with the European Union.
— Yomi Kazeem, Quartz Lagos correspondent
Stories from this week
British universities are being condemned for valuing “profit” over human rights in Egypt. Scholars from universities including Oxford and Cambridge have criticized British officials and university managers’ continual push to explore higher education and research collaboration with Egypt. The debate is an example of how Cairo’s current crackdown on dissent continues to raise concerns worldwide.
Tidal launches in Africa—in nations known for banning music. In partnership with Africa’s largest mobile company MTN, the streaming service was unveiled in Uganda and will soon head to Nigeria. Lynsey Chutel discusses the significance of this launch in an age when African musicians are challenging the socio-political establishments in their respective countries.
Senegal’s futuristic city that might, or not, ease its congestion problems. If all goes to plan, by 2035, shiny Diamniadio will be the most modern urban center Senegal has ever seen. From Dakar, Ilaria Maria Sala highlights why this might be an answer to the capital’s decongestion plans or could just be a case of misplaced ambitions.
Nigeria’s fintech startups are gaining global traction. Nigerian payments company Paystack announced an $8 million Series A round this week, less than two years after raising $1.3 million in seed funding. Yomi Kazeem explains why this big-ticket investment boosts their importance on the global stage.
The Chinese handset maker that is dominating Africa’s mobile market. A decade after it first set course for Africa, Transsion Holdings became the continent’s top smartphone maker in 2017. Reporting from its factory floor in Addis Ababa, Abdi Latif Dahir analyzes how the Shenzhen-based company’s “glocalization” strategy helped fuel its success across the continent.
The ancient African grain set to be the new quinoa. Senegalese chef Pierre Thiam is on a mission to build a global supply chain for fonio, Africa’s oldest cultivated grain. Dubbed the “seed of the universe,” Kemi Lijadu looks into the cultural and economic significance of this “super grain.”
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China’s “soft power” in Africa doesn’t look so soft. In this episode of Quartz News, Nikhil Sonnad travels to Kenya to understand why China’s infrastructure projects have been met with allegations of racism and segregation—and what can be done to fix relations.
Chart of the Week
Uganda’s “regressive” social media tax will only harm its economy. The introduction of the levy has coincided with the growth of social networks into formal political platforms—enough to mobilize the release of Ugandan lawmaker Bobi Wine. But besides putting an undue burden on the poor, the ad-hoc levies are also set to reduce mobile operators’ income and jeopardize thousands of jobs in the digital sector.
Other Things We Liked
The magical tree that is helping offset the impact of climate change in Africa. Farmers across the Sahel and West Africa have been growing canopies of gao, or winterhorns, in a bid to help crops flourish in barren lands. In The Guardian, Ruth Maclean travels to Niger to show how the tree is helping regenerate degraded land, create a cooler micro-climate, and ensure better yields in drought years.
A sublime outing with Africa’s first Nobel literature winner. At eighty-four years of age, Wole Soyinka has remained in secluded retirement, occasionally attending book launches or events to honor his work and life. Kola Tubosun visits the writer in his residential estate, and tells in Popula, of Soyinka’s choice of home, his art and antique collections, and his thoughts on the late V. S. Naipaul.
A glimpse into the news desert that is Eritrea. Seyoum Tsehaye was once a celebrated photographer and documentarian capturing the Horn of Africa nation’s independence struggle and nation-building process. But Tsehaye has been missing since Sept. 2001, a story, Salem Solomon writes in Foreign Policy, that symbolizes isolated Eritrea’s crackdown on journalists and media freedom.
Keep an eye on
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Sept. 3-4). African leaders are trooping to Beijing to attend the high-level summit amid increasing diplomatic, economic and bilateral ties.
Seamless East Africa (Sept. 3-5). Over 800 payments and banking professionals are gathering in Nairobi to discuss the future of fintech and the key innovations defining the sector in Africa.
Mali presidential inauguration (Sept. 4). After winning an Aug. 12 runoff vote and an election challenge at the constitutional court, president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will be sworn to a second five-year term.
*This brief was produced while listening to Mr. President by African China (Nigeria).
Our best wishes for a productive and thought-filled week ahead. Please send any news, comments, suggestions, Chinese handsets, and fonio grains to africa@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter at @qzafrica for updates throughout the day. This newsletter was compiled by Kemi Lijadu, Yomi Kazeem, and Abdi Latif Dahir.
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