From Lagos to Nairobi

In early February 2026, Google Research Africa, working with several African universities and community organisations, unveiled WAXAL, an open speech dataset built to tackle one of African tech’s most stubborn problems: language exclusion in artificial intelligence. Named after the Wolof word for “speak”, WAXAL brings together more than 1,250 hours of transcribed speech and studio…

Airtel Africa has pushed its fibre optic footprint past 81,500 kilometres, a milestone that says a lot about where Africa’s connectivity race is heading. The expansion, completed by the end of 2025, adds thousands of kilometres of fibre to the company’s network across its 14 African markets, quietly reinforcing the infrastructure that powers mobile data,…

French media giant Canal+ has set its cost-cutting machine in motion at MultiChoice, the South African pay-TV powerhouse that owns DStv, GOtv, and Showmax. Since completing its acquisition of MultiChoice last year, Canal+ has been vocal about extracting more than €400 million in annual cost synergies by 2030 to stabilise the business and improve profitability,…

Africa’s startup ecosystem is thriving, with innovation hubs in cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Cairo. Yet, for many early-stage startups, turning an idea into a scalable business is a steep climb. While opportunity abounds, founders face unique challenges that test creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness. One of the biggest obstacles is access to funding….

Nigeria’s fintech sector is often described as one of Africa’s most innovative, but behind the rapid growth is a growing concern among operators. Rising compliance costs and regulatory obligations are increasingly shaping how fintech companies build, launch, and scale products. Evidence from industry surveys and regulatory reports suggests that while regulation is necessary, its current…

Algeria is making a calculated push to reshape how startups access capital, signaling a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive and dynamic innovation economy. Rather than relying solely on grants or bank financing, authorities are now positioning the country’s capital markets as a viable funding route for early stage and growth focused companies. The…