As global competition intensifies to secure lithium supplies for batteries, Africa is increasing its capacity for in-country lithium refining, with a surge in investments after several countries banned exports of the raw mineral. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | After banning exports of raw lithium in the face of …
Read More »Cheaper data coming
New satellite internet roll-out offer faster speeds SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s data market is experiencing a reset, with the aggressive rollout of satellite internet and intense competition promising faster and cheaper services, including markets with some of the world’s most expensive data plans. A year after the introduction …
Read More »Rise of digital activism in Africa as smartphone adoption surges
With Africa’s youth increasingly taking to smartphones to engage in a variety of activities – including civic and political activism – on social media, smart handset shipments are on the rise across the continent. They have now overtaken feature phone shipments for the first time, according to new reports. SPECIAL …
Read More »The rise of Africa’s Gen Zs: From TikTok, X to the streets
Kenya’s creatives take to the streets as Africa’s Gen Z finds its voice on national issues – transforming the face of demonstrations by leveraging the power of technology SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | On June 18, 2024, thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets to oppose proposed tax …
Read More »Africa enters into multi-country visa regime
In a move inspired by Europe’s Schengen Visa, African nations are expanding their regional visa programs to streamline multi-country travel experiences. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa is moving towards a multi-country visa system, with individual countries and regional blocs working to remove their borders to promote intra-Africa tourism. …
Read More »Global tech giants in Africa AI gold rush
Multinationals are opening a new battle front to shape the development, use, and governance of artificial intelligence in Africa, as African countries rush to create their own AI policies. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Global technology giants including Microsoft, IBM, Huawei, Nvidia, and Google are lining up to tap …
Read More »Arms race: Made-in-Africa military drones on the rise
Although Africa is a significant importer of drones, six countries are taking the lead in developing security self-reliance by increasing local production of these small unmanned aircraft. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) become increasingly critical for modern armed forces, African countries are investing in …
Read More »Africa‘s most populous countries eye private investors to tackle housing challenge
As populations surge and urbanisation accelerates, African governments are betting big on investors in a new policy shift that targets private investment to scale the production of affordable housing units. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | A wave of government housing policies is set to change the urban landscape across …
Read More »Kenyan-made dramas, comedies rival foreign sports in viewership numbers
Twin growth in the number of talented young filmmakers and private investors is powering Kenyan production and viewer interest. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY| Kenyan viewers are beginning to show a strong preference for locally-produced content, regional giant MultiChoice has revealed, with the appetite and consumption of Kenyan-made films now …
Read More »Visa-free regimes to boost African tourism
As more countries tear up visa requirements, major African markets are beginning to record rising numbers in Intra-Africa tourism, a trend expected to extend through 2024 SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | African countries are set to record an increase in tourism numbers in 2024, as more countries continue to open …
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