Africa

Founder Kamal Budhabhatti’s winning strategy targets corporate clients.

Companies have ordered hundreds of EV buses — but they won’t arrive for years.

Traditional internet in Zimbabwe is slow, unreliable, and expensive. Elon Musk’s satellite service sold out within weeks of launching in the country.

The world’s most popular messaging platform is synonymous with the internet for millions of people.

From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions stood out for their impressive growth this year.

Rest of World contributors from Dhaka to Buenos Aires share their highlights, low points, and key takeaways from covering technology in 2024.

From AI-powered classrooms in Mali to EV taxis in Vietnam, people worldwide are seeing opportunities from this year’s biggest tech shifts.

President-elect Donald Trump pledges to escalate the trade war, but non-Western nations have targeted China with tariffs, too.

But experts fear long-term success may not follow as Nigeria lags other African countries when it comes to EV adoption.

A network of 171 bot accounts is using AI to write political posts.

Shesha was launched as a fair-minded local competitor to Western companies in South Africa. It has acquired an ugly reputation for intimidating drivers and passengers.

From sharing vital information to fundraising for medical bills, informal unions have become a lifeline for South Africa’s delivery workers.

With 350,000 followers, she’s putting a spotlight on one of Nigeria’s minority religions.

The tech entrepreneur-turned-bureaucrat spoke to Rest of World about his year in government, his administration’s priorities for advancing AI in Nigeria, and the difficult task of choosing between allies.

The local gig workers’ union defends the practice, which Uber forbids, as a form of peaceful pushback against low earnings.

Bolt has suspended inter-country requests between South Africa and Nigeria as users book hoax rides to prank drivers.

A crop of content creators are building fame on MrBeast-style content.

Inside the emerging virtual-preaching economy in internet-obsessed Kenya.

In just two years, M-Kopa has become the biggest financier for EVs in East Africa’s largest market.

Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of gas and diesel cars. But the country has only around 50 charging stations.

More than 40,000 Kenyans have downloaded Zello since protests began against the government’s plan to raise taxes.

Yanmo Omorogbe of Nigerian wealth management firm Bamboo talks about navigating government regulations and the role of longevity.

Joseph Nsengimana of the Mastercard Foundation says global companies are starting to recognize the value of Africa’s talent.

Jit Bhattacharya discusses the challenges and opportunities of building an EV company in Kenya.

Locally known as sangomas, spiritual guides are gaining fame online, but they face criticism from their peers.

Awarri has been tapped to help increase the representation of Nigerian languages in AI.

Many drivers in Nigeria who attempted to win health care said they’ve become ill while doing so — and still can’t afford treatment.

South Africa is one of TikTok’s biggest markets in Africa. Creators are using it to drive political engagement among young people.

Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy talks about the most surprising user behavior on the music streaming app.

Global tech leaders share 12 books to add to your must-read pile.

More than 100 Glovo delivery riders took to the streets of Lagos to protest the company’s unreliable insurance policy.

With crime statistics already high in South Africa, older gig workers find themselves easy targets for theft, hijackings, and attacks.

Rest of World spoke to 50 older workers around the world who see gig work as a lifeline — or a last resort.

Ampersand hopes to replicate its small-market success in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy.

Months after Jumia Food’s shutdown, delivery workers in Nigeria and Kenya say they’re still missing their final paychecks.

Dozens of new AI training startups are filling the gap, offering online courses, hackathons, and job placement help.