As the head of one of the world’s biggest tech giants, celebrating its golden anniversary, CEO, Satya Nadella shares his vision on reinvention, AI, and why relevance trumps longevity. Read on for the facts changing our world now.



At 50, Microsoft stands as one of tech’s most enduring success stories. But Satya Nadella, only the third CEO in the company’s history, isn’t interested in looking back. His focus remains squarely on what’s next for the $3-trillion giant. “What got us here is not being obsessed about longevity, but being more obsessed about relevance,” Nadella says. “We are a consequential company. We’re here not because we somehow achieved something in the past. It’s more because we are willing to push ourselves to be relevant again in a different context.” This mindset has driven Microsoft since day one, when Paul Allen rushed into Bill Gates’ Harvard dorm room with a copy of Popular Electronics magazine, sparking what would become the world’s most influential software company. Now, half a century later, that same hunger for relevance is propelling Microsoft into the era of artificial intelligence (AI).



Betting big on AI



Since taking the helm in 2014, Nadella has navigated Microsoft through perhaps its most successful reinvention yet. The India-born executive, who earned his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Mangalore University before completing master’s degrees in computer science and business from American universities, has transformed Microsoft from a Windows-dependent business into a cloud computing powerhouse. Nadella’s connection to Microsoft runs deep. He joined in 1992 during what he calls “the beginning of the client-server era” when Windows 3 had just launched and Windows NT (a completely new, 32-bit operating system) was yet to be named. And during his tenure, Microsoft’s market value has soared past $3 trillion – a testament to his vision of cloud-first, mobile-first computing that has since evolved to embrace AI at every level. “We’re in the very early stages of reconceptualizing what the web looks like for the agentic web,” Nadella explains. “In some sense, you can think of these AI agents or assistants as the new browsers.”



Windows, reimagined



For all the talk of cloud and AI, Windows remains central to Microsoft’s identity. “One of the dreams I have for Windows going forward is what’s the way both the function and the form, or what is a Windows computer in this agentic web?” he says. “Windows is being built for what is going to be the future of agents.” He envisions interactions that transcend traditional mouse and keyboard inputs. “It’s pretty surreal to be able to switch on Copilot and have a full duplex conversation with an agent that also knows the context of what I’m operating on. Copilot is the first app,” Nadella adds, suggesting this AI assistant represents just the beginning of a fundamental shift in how we interact with computers. The transformation of Windows epitomizes this forward-looking approach. Nadella shares how, for example, he recently used GitHub Copilot to build an Altair emulator and BASIC interpreter (the first product Gates created) in just one hour. “Look at it. We’ve come 50 years to be able to do what Bill may have done in a couple of all-nighters. Now anybody can ‘white code’ their way to building,” he says. Even more importantly, this democratization extends to entrepreneurship. “For the entrepreneur, you have unbelievable tools to realize that dream,” he explains. “You now have the ability to change the aperture, the scope and the scale of your ambition.”



Democratizing technology globally



“Our mission is to democratize access to tech,” Nadella emphasizes. “Microsoft has always been that technology company that allowed me to build technology or feel good about creation.”



The company recently announced plans to invest R5.4 billion ($297 million) to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa by 2027, building on its existing R20.4 billion ($1.12 billion) investment that established the nation’s first, enterprise-grade datacenters. This investment aims to enable organizations of all sizes to access cloud and AI solutions, driving innovation across the South African economy. The company has also committed to skilling one million South Africans by 2026 and will pay for 50,000 young people to become ‘Microsoft Certified’ in high-demand skills like AI, data science and cybersecurity analysis. This investment in infrastructure and skills training represents Nadella’s vision of AI as a truly global technology that benefits both developed and developing nations equally. “Having grown up in the Global South, I feel every day that there might be a general-purpose technology that won’t have this distinction between the Global North and Global South,” he reflects. “AI, interestingly enough, probably, is that technology that will help a rural Indian farmer and an entrepreneur on the West Coast of the United States to the same degree.”



What’s next



“As we enter our 51st year, I care a lot more about whether we’re doing relevant things now, versus talking about our last 50 or the next 50,” he insists. “The essence of this industry is it’s pretty harsh for anybody who rests on their laurels or projects way too much into the future,” Nadella says. This is why he is so focussed on the present while building for the future. This is what defines Microsoft at 50 but his enthusiasm for AI’s potential to bridge global divides comes from personal experience. “When I look back, I’m as excited about what we want to work on as I was in ‘92 in terms of the opportunity,” he says with characteristic optimism. The company that revolutionized personal computing is once again at technology’s frontier. “That abundance, that ability to democratize access to tech,” Nadella reflects, “is what we are again, yet again, having a chance to live and build.”

Nadella at work

CEO Strategies: Satya Nadella On Reconceptualizing What The Web Looks Like

Slap fighting is a raw, visceral, little-known combat sport gaining momentum across South Africa. It’s not for the faint-hearted, underscoring the need for greater regulation, even as proponents are trying hard to formalize the sport.



In the pantheon of African sports, where football reigns supreme, rugby commands fierce loyalty, and athletics showcases raw talent, a new contender is emerging from the shadows – slap fighting, a visceral, no-frills combat sport where opponents take turns delivering open-handed blows to each other’s faces.



It’s fast carving out a space in Africa’s diverse sporting landscape. What began as a niche spectacle, propelled by viral videos and grassroots enthusiasm, is now gaining traction with South Africa leading the charge and whispers of interest echoing from Nigeria to Kenya.



The sport’s introduction to Africa coincided with a post-Covid pandemic hunger for powerful entertainment, and local organizers seized the moment.



Founder and CEO of Ultimate Slap Fight South Africa, Bobby ‘The Punisher’ Krisch, discovered the sport while scrolling online.



“In 2020, when we had the first lockdown, my son introduced me to YouTube, and I started looking at all these slap fights. I just fell in love with the sport. I had a bag at the back of my house and every day I would walk past it and slap it. The first time,&nbsp;I hurt myself, so I left it for two weeks. But there was nothing to do and when I went back to the bag and started hitting it again, I thought, ‘flip man, I can do this’.”



Slap fighting’s origins are often traced to Eastern Europe, particularly Russia, where videos of burly men slapping each other senseless went viral a decade before Krisch discovered&nbsp;the sport. It&nbsp;gained further prominence in the United States through promotions like Power Slap, led by Ultimate Fighting Championship president, Dana White, and Slap FIGHT Championship, which formalized rules and attracted millions of online viewers. By 2022, the sport had crossed oceans, and the South African Slap Fighting Association (SASFA) emerged as a pioneer, hosting its first events that year, while independent organizers like Krisch launched Punisher Slap Fighting.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="758" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-758x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65411" style="width:520px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-758x1024.jpg 758w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-222x300.jpg 222w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-768x1038.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-1136x1536.jpg 1136w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-1515x2048.jpg 1515w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bobby-‘The-Punisher-Krisch-versus-The-Block-Image-supplied-scaled.jpg 1894w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bobby ‘The Punisher’ Krisch versus The Block; (Image supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


“I’m a normal guy, maybe a little crazy in the head,” chuckles Krisch.



The sport’s simplicity is its strength: two competitors face off, often across a table or barrel, exchanging slaps until one flinches, falls, or is knocked out. Rules are minimal but strict–strikes must land on the cheek, delivered from shoulder height, with no defence allowed. Matches typically span three rounds, though knockouts can end them sooner. This raw format, paired with its accessibility, has fueled slap fighting’s appeal in Africa, where sports often thrive on passion rather than infrastructure.



Danie ‘Pitbull’ van Heerden, a former boxer and wrestler from Pretoria, South Africa, became&nbsp;the&nbsp;poster child after a 2022 TikTok video of him competing amassed over 17 million views. His subsequent invitation to Power Slap in Las Vegas, where he won by technical knockout, put South Africa on the global slap fighting map. In 2024, van Heerden reached the Power Slap 8 finals, facing off against super heavyweight champion Koa ‘Da Crazy Hawaiian’ Viernes, cementing his status as a trailblazer.



Across South Africa, local events are flourishing, creating a raucous atmosphere reminiscent of&nbsp;the country&#8217;s&nbsp;love for communal celebration. The Afrikaans term snotklap (a hard slap) is ingrained in local slang&nbsp;and&nbsp;tied to&nbsp;it are&nbsp;notions of toughness and settling scores.&nbsp;The sport showcases&nbsp;this and its&nbsp;inclusivity–requiring no gloves, pads, or extensive training–mirroring the accessibility of township football or stick-fighting, traditions that have long thrived without formal support.



With South Africa as its heart beat, the sport is spreading its tendrils across the continent.&nbsp;In Nigeria, a country with a rich boxing heritage and a burgeoning interest in combat sports, social media clips of informal slap contests have begun circulating. Lagos, with its vibrant street culture and appetite for spectacle, is a natural hub. In Kenya, where athletics dominates but wrestling enjoys a following, grassroots interest is emerging, spurred by online exposure to Power Slap and Slap FIGHT Championship. Ghana, too, with its history of physical contests like Dambe, a traditional Hausa boxing style, offers fertile ground for slap fighting’s raw energy.



The sport’s digital footprint is key to its continental growth. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where slap-fighting videos rack up millions of views, are widely accessible in Africa, even in rural areas with limited sports infrastructure. Van Heerden’s viral moment is a case in point; his 17 million views transcended borders, inspiring imitators from Johannesburg to Nairobi. As internet penetration grows, slap fighting’s low barrier to entry and high shareability positions it for a broader takeover.



In Africa, slap fighting’s rise&nbsp;also&nbsp;taps into the continent’s deep-rooted appreciation for physicality and spectacle. From Senegal’s Laamb wrestling to Ethiopia’s Donga stick fights, the continent has a history of combat sports that celebrate strength and endurance. Slap fighting, with its unadorned brutality and immediate outcomes, fits this mold.&nbsp;



Yet,&nbsp;the sport&#8217;s&nbsp;ascent is not without hurdles. Medical experts decry its safety, citing risks of concussions and brain injuries from undefended blows.



In 2021, Polish slap fighter, Artur Walczak, suffered a brain bleed. Krisch counters that of 107 fighters in his events, only two have suffered broken jaws, and medical personnel are always present. Still, scepticism persists, with critics calling it barbaric.



Regulation is another sticky point.&nbsp;Krisch is trying hard to legalize the sport in South Africa.



“It’s a process. It’s been two years and I pray we will be recognized and taken seriously. We are ordinary guys; many of us never had the opportunity to do boxing and mixed martial arts and wrestling.&nbsp;This is a sport for the normal working guy.&#8221;



Van Heerden has called for South African authorities to formalize slap fighting with a rulebook, arguing it would enhance safety and legitimacy. A 2019 draft amendment to the National Sport and Recreation Act could provide a framework, but progress is slow. Elsewhere in Africa, where sports governance is often underdeveloped, establishing oversight will be trickier. Without it, the sport risks remaining an underground novelty rather than a sanctioned discipline.



The sport’s future hinges on its ability to evolve. If it can marry Africa’s love of raw competition with a sustainable model, slap fighting might not just be a fad but a fixture–a slap heard from Cape Town will&nbsp;reverberate&nbsp;across the continent&nbsp;and be heard&nbsp;in Cairo.&nbsp;

Bobby ‘The Punisher’ Krisch getting ready for a fight’ Image supplied

The Hands-On Sport: Is Africa Game For Slap Fighting?

Africa’s agricultural landscape, often vulnerable to the harsh elements and varied weather patterns, is seemingly evolving into a hub of innovation that reaches far beyond its traditional roots.



It was not long ago that farmers on the continent had to rely on birds like the Red-billed Quelea and African Cuckoo for rain predictions. Now, various types of technology are taking their place, equipping agricultural stakeholders with the tools they need to weather the proverbial storms.



For example, thousands of people in West Africa, in particular, are able to receive hyperlocal weather forecasts, via SMS, from sources like Ignitia, to combat the changing climate.



“Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense across Africa, and unfortunately, conventional forecasting weather models—optimized for temperate regions like Europe—struggle to capture heat-driven rainfall dynamics and extremes such as heavy thunderstorms,” explains Andrew Lala, CEO at Ignitia, a company specializing in weather and climate intelligence across Africa, Latin-America and South-East Asia.



“You need to get rainfall forecasting correct at different time horizons, if you’re going to help farmers understand how good or bad the upcoming rainy season will be and how to mitigate any in-season rainfall challenges like a delayed rainy season onset or erratic dry spells.”



Staying alert to problematic weather patterns has profound ramifications.



The floods in Senegal towards the end of 2024 were severe, reportedly submerging 16,000 hectares of crops, including rice, corn, and okra. A report from the Senegal River Delta, stated, at the time, that around 250,000 people were left facing food insecurity.



Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Humanitarian Situation Report from October 2024 indicated that a drought in Zambia has caused food shortages for around 4.95 million people.



The need enrich farmers with information to adapt—while minimizing the risk of yield collapse—and to identify optimal conditions for planting and harvesting is crucial.



“By equipping farmers with six-month rainy season insights, you can help them identify planting windows, and identify drought or flood conditions and pest pressures early so that they can build resilience either through planting shorter cycle crops, investing in drought tolerant seed, or connecting them with crop insurance products in the case of extremes,” Lala tells FORBES AFRICA.



Africa has a history of food insecurity. According to Professor David Luke in How Africa Eats: Trade, Food Security, and Climate Risks, over 340 million people are suffering from this.



UNICEF also reports that one in three children in Africa, under the age of five, lives in food poverty.



This challenge has plagued the continent, with climate change, a lack of resources, and conflict as the main protagonists, highlighting the need for modern tools and predictive technology to counteract potential calamities.



South African-based Aerobotics combines thermal-imagery drones and satellites with artificial intelligence (AI) to identify areas of underperformance caused by irrigation issues, nutrient



deficiencies, pests, and diseases. This provides farms with precision data focused on economically maximizing yield.



Producers can target specific areas of concern through per-plant analyses, resulting in more efficient use of fertilizers and pesticides, while optimizing irrigation, and enabling strategic labor deployment.



“Thermal-imagery drones and satellite analytics are reshaping the future of farming across Africa. By turning invisible stress into actionable data, this technology allows farmers to detect issues like water stress, disease, and nutrient deficiencies earlier than ever before,” says Aerobotics Chief Commercial Officer, Vic van den Berg.



Also among the latest in agritech is smart sensors. Able to measure soil moisture, temperature and pH levels, farmers need no longer play the guessing game as they are supported by real-time data to make informed decisions.



For agricultural stakeholders, knowledge is priceless—spotting disease, optimizing growing conditions, and preparing for harsh weather could even mean the difference between widespread food shortages and national stability.



However, a challenge to the use of tech in Africa is digital literacy and limited access to power and smartphones in rural regions, which can then hinder the potential of smart farming, particularly at the smallholder level.



Without the necessary education and infrastructure, farmers may struggle to adopt modern techniques aimed at boosting productivity and resilience. This digital divide leaves rural communities more vulnerable than ever.



“Millions of farmers can benefit from technology,” notes Lala.



While the revolutionary capabilities of smart farming won’t materialize overnight, the growing trend of equipping farms of all sizes with yield-boosting technologies signifies a noteworthy shift in agricultural practice across Africa.



The seed has been planted; now is the time to support its growth.

Empowering Farming: Farmer’s Technological Touch – Managing and Analyzing the Farm through Virtual Screen on Tablet

When Agri Meets Tech: How Data Is Shaping The Future of Farming

From bean to brew, Coffee in Tanzania is starting to reveal the hidden world of plant communication. 



Picture a coffee bean and you’ll probably think back to the bag you picked up from the artisanal shop to grind at home. You’ll tell your friends or colleagues that these beans are a special blend from some free-trade plantation in Rwanda, Ethiopia or Uganda. You may even show off your connected coffee machine that turns on with an app and knows exactly how you like your next cup brewed. It’s incredibly smart, but what you may not realize is that technology has become an intrinsic part of the coffee life cycle, from farm to Frappuccino.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65358" style="width:391px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Massimo-Battaglia-Image-supplied-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Massimo Battaglia; Image supplied</figcaption></figure></div>


“As a crop, coffee covers 10 million hectares of land. There are over 125 million farmers involved in coffee production,” says Massimo Battaglia, a tropical agronomist and Coffee Research Leader at Accademia del Caffè Espresso in Italy. “And that’s just the farmers, there are also traders, baristas, roasters… the population that is connect- ed to coffee is amazing.”



Coffee is produced in about 70 countries worldwide, but for 12 nations—including four in Africa—it represents their primary agricultural export. This massive industry now faces serious challenges. Unpredictable weather patterns and temperature shifts are threatening not just coffee yields and quality, but the livelihoods of millions of farmers who depend on coffee cultivation.



“Climate change is a reality,” says Battaglia, adding that another issue is the distance between the origin and consumption. Unlike vineyards, which are in good proximity to their end product–it’s possible to drink a glass of wine while looking at a valley of vines–coffee has a geographical issue. “You have to imagine the plantation. But if we can make a wedding between the biology and consumption, I think we can improve the overall value chain of coffee,” he says. “It’s my dream for this technology to help families have a better standard of living.”



Sensors and gatherers



To understand exactly how the environment is changing, you need big data. One of the ways to do this in an agricultural environment is to use Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. Cisco has partnered with the ConSenso Project, a coalition of Tanzanian espresso farmers and Italian plant and technology (PNAT) researchers, to fit 65 solar-powered IoT sensors on the Tunasikia Farm in Utengule, Tanzania. Angelo Fienga, Cisco’s Director of Sustainable Solutions for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), explains that collecting data in a city, for example, where everything is connected, is easy. But on a farm, the challenge is not only gathering data–the type of data you need is completely different. In addition to this, the information is often spread across a large, open environment. You need a solution that doesn’t involve planting dozens of disruptive antennae in addition to your crops. And once this data is captured, it has to be both managed and secured. 


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-65359" style="width:494px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Image-supplied-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


“You have to protect the data coming from the field,” says Fienga. (LoRaWAN, Cisco’s long-distance, low-power consumption radio-transmission technology, is one of the key solutions helping to connect Tunasikia sensors.) Camilla Pandolfi, CEO and R&amp;D Manager at PNAT, a think tank of biologists, designers, and social and environmental scientists in Italy, explains how these sensors can capture data on soil, sun, climate, carbon capture, insects, and–most interestingly–the plants’ electrical energy fields. “We know we will be able to monitor not only water needs but also pathogen attacks, nutrient needs so we can really improve the sustainability of consumption by helping farmers to perform treatments at the right time,” she says. 



“We’re really monitoring what the plants are doing by inserting electrodes that monitor electrical activity. It’s like performing electroencephalograms on plants.” These electrodes detect the subtle electrical signals that flow through the coffee plants, revealing a hidden world of plant communication. The sensors across the farm take measurements every five minutes. This creates a detailed picture of not just the environment, but also how the coffee plants respond to it. “What we are measuring is something very delicate,” Pandolfi adds. “Even if you touch the plant, you introduce a sort of perturbation of the signal.”



Listen up



Of course, building technology that can survive in Tanzania’s coffee fields was no small challenge. The sensors needed to be waterproof, self-powered and small enough to attach to plant stems without causing damage. “We had to trade-off between the amount of data we wanted to acquire and the electricity we had available,” says Pandolfi. PNAT’s solution was to create compact devices with solar panels that can operate for up to a week without sunlight. Early results are promising–the researchers have found clear relationships between water availability and changes in the plants’ electrical behavior and these insights are turning traditional coffee agriculture on its head. “Normally, I fight with my father about his old farming ideas,” laughs Battaglia. 



“But in this case, it’s upside down–we ask the plant what it needs. It’s the plant that helps us find the solution.” As Fienga puts it: “The technology is making the plant talk to the cloud. You’re giving a voice to the plants to tell us ‘I’m thirsty’ or ‘I’m sick’.” For coffee growers facing increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns, direct communication with their crops could be transformative. 



The PNAT team believes this approach will eventually allow them to detect not just water needs but also disease outbreaks and nutrient deficiencies through electrical signals alone. “We can really improve sustainability by helping farmers perform treatments at exactly the right time,” says Pandolfi. For coffee, which requires more than 2,000mm of rainfall annually, understanding precisely when plants need water could help farmers maintain yields even as climate conditions become more challenging. “This is a revolution in agriculture,” says Battaglia. “You don’t impose anything but instead listen to the plant to find the right decision at the right moment.”

There are 65 solar-powered IoT sensors on the Tunasikia Farm in Utengule, Tanzania; Image supplied (1)

Expressive Espresso: Where Plants Have A Voice In Africa

The next wave of Artificial Intelligence doesn’t wait for your prompts. It watches, decides, and acts on its own. Here’s breaking down the difference between today’s AI and tomorrow’s agentic systems- and what may go wrong when AI agents go rogue.



Meet agentic AI–the autonomous evolution of artificial intelligence that’s already trans- forming how businesses operate. Unlike the chatbots and image or video models that sparked the generative AI revolution, these systems don’t just create content when prompted. They independently monitor situations, make decisions and take actions across multiple systems with- out human intervention.



Regular AI tools need you to tell them exactly what to do every time. Agentic AI is a little different. “There will be as many agents as there are business processes. And there is an enormous amount of business processes in the world,” says Richard Riley, General Manager, low-code and agent platforms, at Microsoft. “Think of AI agents like a football team. You don’t want eleven goalkeepers. You need specialists in different positions who understand their role but can seamlessly work together.”



This blend of personal AI assistants and autonomous agents represents a massive shift in how organizations will operate going forward. We’re not heading toward a future with a handful of all-purpose AIs but rather an ecosystem of specialized agentic AI systems. Each AI agent will handle a specific task while collaborating with others. An AI agent designed to detect fraudulent trans- actions needs different capabilities than one scheduling maintenance or providing customer support. This specialization makes perfect sense but creates a new challenge: how do we manage dozens or even hundreds of specialized agents without creating digital chaos?



Eugene De Souza, Regional Cloud Ecosystem Lead at Red Hat, a leading provider of enterprise, open source solutions, breaks down the difference between today’s AI and tomorrow’s agentic systems: “Generative AI is like a chef who creates a fantastic dish based on a reci- pe, but needs you to order it first. It’s reactive and lacks autonomy. Agentic AI is more proactive–like a maître d’ who not only takes your order but decides what dishes to prepare, manages the kitchen, and ensures everything is served perfectly without constant instructions.”



Agents of orchestration



This shift isn’t just about automation–it’s about fundamentally changing who (or what) initiates actions in our digital systems. Today, companies are developing orchestration layers–systems that coordinate multiple agents, manage their priorities, and ensure they work together rather than at cross purposes. These platforms are becoming the command centers for an increasingly autonomous digital workforce.



“AI is giving people expertise on demand,” says Colette Stallbaumer, Microsoft Copilot General Manager. “It’s providing capabilities that individuals wouldn’t other- wise have access to.” What makes this approach different from previous waves of workplace automation is how AI agents enhance human capabilities rather than just taking over tasks. Agentic AI can monitor data streams 24/7, instantly processing information that would take humans hours or days to review. When an agent detects anomalies or opportunities, it can either act within predefined parameters or alert its human counterparts with already-analyzed data and recommendations.



Despite this progress, agentic AI still faces major limitations. It struggles with context–it doesn’t always know when unusual circumstances mean it should break from standard procedures. It also can’t plan long-term very well–it’s good at executing the next step but not at developing complex strategies that unfold over time. And, of course, an AI agent lacks common sense, the background knowledge humans take for granted. Without these capabilities, agentic systems sometimes make decisions that tick all the technical boxes but miss the bigger picture.



“Users need to accept that today’s agents will sometimes get things wrong,” says De Souza. “It’s part of the innovation process.” This acceptance of imperfection is crucial because it changes how we implement AI systems. Rather than expecting perfection from day one, companies are learning to deploy agentic AI in controlled environments where it can learn from its mistakes without causing harm. A great example comes from the manufacturing industry where agentic AI is being used to monitor production lines and automatically schedule maintenance before equipment fails.



Financial institutions are also turning to agentic systems to scan millions of transactions for signs of fraud, flagging sus- picious activity for human review. That said, Riley does acknowledge that many businesses find the concept of agentic AI overwhelming at first. His recommendation is straightforward– begin with existing automated processes that can be enhanced with agentic technology. From there, companies can either empower end-users to build their own agents for specific needs or use the technology to tackle problems that were previously too complex to automate.



Strategic collaboration



“I think the next major evolution will be multi-agent systems,” predicts De Souza. “Think of it as a team of specialists rather than a single assistant. They could function like entire departments working toward a common goal.” This digital collaboration mirrors how human organizations function, with specialized roles working together. The difference is that agentic AI operates continuously, exchanges information instantly, and scales on demand. A system that works for one company can be quickly replicated to a thousand locations, creating consistent operations at a scale impossible with human-only teams.



“The future of AI isn’t one AI doing everything—it’s multiple AI agents collaborating in an open, secure, and scalable way,” adds Riley. As these technologies evolve, we’re seeing a fundamental reimagining of how work happens. The division of labor between humans and machines is being redrawn in ways that go far beyond simple automation of repetitive tasks. Agentic AI is increasingly handling not just the execution but also the monitoring, analysis, and even planning stages of work. The autonomous revolution has begun, and it’s accelerating. The question isn’t whether agentic AI will transform business but how quickly, and whether organizations are prepared for a future where some of their most productive team members aren’t human at all. “Think of agents as the new apps in this AI-powered world. It’s how people will work moving forward,” says Stallbaumer. “Agents exist on a spectrum. Some are very simple, some are highly complex,” adds Riley. “But they can now solve complex business problems that were previously too com- plicated for traditional automation.”

Artificial Intelligence Technology

The Next Critical Frontier: Are We Ready For Autonomous AI?

For Lesotho, every inch on the football pitch has been gained the hard way. Mokhosi Mohapi is overseeing a revolution, from the National teams to improvements in the domestic league, academy and women’s football, all on a relative shoestring budget.



Lesotho is typical of several football nations in Africa that are forever having to punch above their weight, trying to create the ‘small wins’ that will lead to greater success in an industry where money talks.



Lesotho has a population of about 2.3 million. Compared to the bigger economies Nigeria, Egypt or neighbor South Africa, that would barely make up a smaller municipality.



And yet they play in the same international football competitions and strive for the same success as the giants on the continent, with far less resources, both in terms of players to pick from and finances.  



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65345" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mokhosi-Mohapi-image-supplied-by-COSAFA-2048x1363.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mokhosi Mohapi (©Nokwanda Zondi/BackpagePix)</figcaption></figure>



They also do not have the large diaspora of fellow minnows Comoros or Cape Verde Islands from which to pick players who grew up in France or Portugal, so every inch gained on the football pitch is done the hard way.



But they have had success. A 1-1 draw away in Nigeria in the current 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers was a seismic result that shocked the continent’s football.



They also managed a 2-0 win over regional powerhouse Zimbabwe in the same qualification campaign and finished runners-up in the 2023 COSAFA Cup, the southern African championship.



Leading this improvement is no-nonsense Lesotho Football Association (LFA) Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi, who has the unenviable task of taking what resources he has and turning it into gold.



He is overseeing a revolution though, from the national teams to improvements in the domestic league, academy development and women’s football growth, all on a relative shoestring budget.



“We need to get better coaches, players placed in bigger leagues, a better domestic league and better development structures,” Mohapi tells FORBES AFRICA. “It is not that we have nothing, but we need to improve them all dramatically. We need to follow a set vision that places us right into what will be happening (in global football) in the next decade.&#8221;



One area he is targeting is sports science, which has come in vogue across Europe and many of the larger African countries.



“We are just playing football, we are not researching deeper into it,” he says. “I don&#8217;t understand how we are competing without using data and sport science, but we are doing well. Imagine how we will do when we start moving into that sphere like others are doing?



“Others [already using sports science] cannot get better than they are now, but we can. Much better.”



But the continued improvement of Lesotho football can only truly happen with more structured development and talent identification, and Mohapi reveals the country has opened a first academy using its own funds, a rarity on the continent.



“We have a residency academy in the Northern Districts and it is doing very well. They play in the fourth-tier and they haven’t lost a match. Remember, these are 12- or 13-year-olds. We put them there so they can train for a purpose [to play matches].



“While many countries are waiting for FIFA funding to start their academies, we decided to go on our own, otherwise it will still be stagnating like everyone else. So we thought, ‘let’s start it and see where we find ourselves’. 



“I am sure that among the football associations of our size (in Africa), we are the first to start an academy without waiting for FIFA to come and bring resources.”



Many associations around Africa are propped up by government funds, but Mohapi says the LFA have long learned to stand on its own two feet.



“It&#8217;s clear government won&#8217;t help us, the economy is a bit weak in the country,” he says. “It won&#8217;t be able to sustain our dreams, so we have to do it from whatever we have as resources. On that basis, we have to learn how to work within our means, but also dream big,” he says.

Football – 2024 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Mens Championship – Lesotho v Seychelles – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – Gqeberha

Small Country, Big Goals: Landlocked Lesotho’s World Cup Dreams

The human body is comprised of approximately 37.2 trillion cells, and these cells are responsible for processing an astounding number of biological functions. Each of them contains DNA that governs not only basic functions but also responds to what you like, and what you don’t. They are essentially supercomputers, constantly evolving, driving changes in human longevity and wellbeing. Now, AI is accelerating this evolution, but its unequal access and high cost are contributing to a growing disparity, especially in regions like Africa.



The commoditization of ageing isn’t new. From basic access to resources thousands of years ago to the ability to use nanobots to fundamentally change the structure of your DNA today, access to the tools and services that slow ageing and improve health has always been tied to wealth. A fact that has never been more prevalent than today, with wellness clubs that cost upwards of $10,000 a month for hyper-personalized services powered by data and AI. Imagine leveraging data and AI to create a digital twin of yourself to predict how your body will perform under different conditions, enabling you to optimize your health, reverse aging, and push your physical limits.



“There are two arms to this discussion,” says Per Ostberg, Futurist and Foresight Practitioner, to FORBES AFRICA. 



“At the moment, biohacking is more about people experimenting with their health in a less scientific way, while body hacking is where you go in and start enhancing bodily functions. This is the realm of gene editing and epigenetics.”



It is a realm that Dr Divya Chander has discussed at length, more recently at Singularity University in South Africa. She highlighted how the cost of genome sequencing has dramatically dropped from $100 million in 2002 to $1,000 today, and that this is potentially introducing an entirely new dynamic and possibilities in biological innovation, and in fighting off the effects of aging.



In healthcare, AI is in use for drug discovery and development, fundamentally speeding up analysis and insights and accelerating the discovery of drugs. But now that concept can be taken even deeper into the use of nanobots to deliver drugs to distant parts of the body, revolutionizing treatment delivery.



Imagine how cancer treatments could be revolutionized if a nanobot could inject drugs directly into the tumors. This is already happening– research has shown that tumors have a lower pH than healthy tissues so nanobots can be programmed to become sensitive to PH and deliver drugs accurately. Then there’s the applications of these technologies in the war against age.



Imagine, says Ostberg, if it becomes possible to simply switch off the aging gene? “If we can control this switch, we’ve effectively solved the ageing problem. AI is allowing for the discovery of all the variables and mutations that could occur as we experiment with genetics and ageing. A digital twin can be used to see how your body will react to any changes made to your genetic structure so there’s no risk to your health.”



Of course, there’s the Frankenstein dilemma—what happens if tweaking one gene triggers unexpected changes elsewhere? However, on the other hand, AI, data, and digital twins could be used to personalize treatments, such as pain management and drug interactions based on an individual’s size, age, and weight. People are already embracing this vision: they want to be younger, faster, fitter. Age has come to be seen as a burden, and the pursuit of longevity remains one of humanity’s greatest priorities. “Humans have been around for 300,000 years and initially had an average life expectancy of 25 years, by the 1800s it was 40 years, and from 1880 to today, this has doubled,” Paul Pagnato, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Humanaut Health told attendants at Singularity University South Africa. “Today, the number of centenarians is around 40,000 people living quality lives, and over the next 20-30 years, this is expected to quadruple. And most people would be like to be one of those who live these long, healthy lives.”



A Danish study found that only about 20% of a person’s longevity is determined by genes, while the remaining is influenced by lifestyle and environment. This aligns with the principles of the Blue Zones approach to longevity which include: incorporating movement into daily life, reducing stress significantly, having a clear sense of purpose, maintaining a healthy diet, and fostering strong human connections.



These steps represent the surface level of control that human beings can exert over their lives to live longer, healthier lives. However, it’s important to recognize that not all countries and populations can benefit equally from these practices. While they may seem simple to achieve in wealthier nations, many countries with fragile economies lack the resources to even begin addressing these foundational aspects. Take Somalia, for example, which currently has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. As a fragile state plagued by conflict, its people have limited access to healthcare and essential resources. Achieving peace, stable governance, and functional infrastructure are the first crucial steps Africa must take before it can fully explore advancements like biohacking.



As Alexandra Miszewski, Founder and Managing Director of Novita Biotechnology, tells FORBES AFRICA: “The impact is determined by accessibility and affordability, and this is particularly relevant in the African context as the continent is often left behind. This is also one of my biggest concerns – will Africa get left behind?” Miszewski points out that, unlike Moore’s Law, which suggests that as time passes technology gets faster, cheaper and more efficient, the opposite is true in the case of biotechnology.



“We have Eroom’s Law, which basically is Moore’s Law spelled backwards–drug discovery and biotech innovation are becoming more expensive over time and the impact this will have on humanity is astronomical. The average cost of getting a drug to market these days is one to two billion dollars, which means companies need to see a return on their investment.”



This, in turn, means investing in solutions that generate profit. However, there is the positive side of the AI story, which is that the technology has the potential to democratize longevity because it can reduce the costs of drug discovery and testing. It can also be used to manage the regulatory process and ensure drugs are rapidly designed, tested and approved, which will make them more cost-effective to produce while increasing the availability of life-saving treatments. 



For now, however, the art of longevity remains largely in the hands of the wealthy.



Biohacking has become an expensive pursuit, especially for those who want to go beyond simple tools like wearable devices and a good night’s sleep. This raises an important question: will aging become the new determinant of poverty?

Electronic medical

Reverse Aging: Hacking The Genetic Code For Longevity

Twenty-one countries around the world will host F1 RACES in 2025. The African continent is vying to be a part of it too in the near future-for the prestige and profits down the road.



The sound of roaring supercars is hardly unfamiliar in Africa’s emerging urban landscapes; yet, the distinctive rumble of Formula One (F1) engines has not been heard on the continent since 1993.



For context, Jurassic Park was the highest-grossing film that year, Bill Clinton had just assumed his seat in the Oval Office, and South Africa’s Rainbow Nation was not yet in technicolor.



At the 1993 South African Grand Prix, the 72-lap race at Johannesburg’s Kyalami race-track saw Alain Prost take pole position, beating Ayrton Senna. But as the finish line was crossed and typical Johannesburg thundershowers cascaded, it signaled what has now become more than three decades of Africa being the only inhabited continent without a Grand Prix on the calendar.



Twenty-one countries will host F1 races in 2025. Despite there being only 24 fixtures on the annual schedule, both South Africa and Rwanda are vying for a spot for 2027.



“You can’t call it a World Championship if you don’t have a race in Africa,” Motorsport South Africa CEO, Vic Maharaj, points out. “Besides Europe, I think Africa has more of a motorsport culture than just about any other continent on Earth,” claims veteran F1 broadcaster, Sasha Martinengo.



That passion for cars is evident everywhere—from high-performance vehicles to everyday taxis and bakkies (pickup trucks in South Africa) that drivers customize with pride.



Mandla Mdakane, who has been racing since age four and drives for the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team, has witnessed it firsthand.



“You can travel to places and see an old Toyota Cressida, decked out, paint looking lovely. People tuning their exhaust pipes, their rims. We just are car lovers as a nation.”



Seven-time F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, has told the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) that it cannot continue adding other locations to the F1 calendar while “ignoring Africa” and has been vocal about his desire to race in Mzanzi before putting the brakes on his career—a dream that incumbent Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has vowed to fulfill.



“The chance of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in 2027 is the most promising that we’ve had in 20 years,” Martinen- go believes.



It is a sentiment shared by Maharaj, who is a member of the governmental bid’s appropriately-titled Steering Committee. “We were at the altar twice and never got married. This time, we’ve got the rings, the dress, and everything we need”.



The wedding metaphor seems fitting, as any couple who has embarked on the costly excursion would know.



“There’s a commercial rights fee, probably in the region of around $30 million to $40 million per year,” Maharaj explains. “That’s before you’ve even started to put the event on.” Beyond that, there’s the cost of infrastructure, logistics, and operational expenses. The head of Motorsport SA puts it bluntly: “It’s like hosting the Olympics every two weeks.”



In a country riddled with potholed roads, critics argue that these funds could be better spent on infrastructure, electricity, and public services. But others, like Martinengo, feel the returns justify the investment when considering the magnitude of tourism it will generate.



“The amount of wealth and prestige that hosting a Grand Prix brings is astounding. People will come to South Africa, watch the Grand Prix in Johannesburg, then probably head to the Kruger Park or hop on a plane to spend a week in Cape Town. If we do a five-year deal, for example, by the time we do our third Grand Prix, everyone is turning a profit.”



South African political economy analyst, Daniel Silke, believes there is some legitimacy to that, but maintains that transparency is key: “I don’t think we should necessarily ig- nore the concept of a Formula One on the basis that the coun- try’s economy is struggling… that said, I wouldn’t want to see a cost-benefit assessment done by politicians. I would like to see an independently audited cost-benefit analysis.”



What was once considered South Africa’s race to lose has become a fascinating continental competition with Rwan- da. President Paul Kagame, an avid petrolhead, has actively pushed for motorsport in the East African country, even host- ing the 2024 FIA awards ceremony in Kigali last December.



South Africa’s Kyalami track has undergone extensive upgrades and is working towards meeting F1’s strict Grade 1 requirements. “Kyalami is a European-spec track now. It’s undu- lating, technical, and thrilling. Every lap there is amazing,” says Mdakane.



“If Europe and the U.S. can have multiple Grands Prix, why can’t Af- rica?” Maharaj challenges.



Although the financial obstacles cannot be dismissed, Silke can spot glimpses of the checkered flag&#8230;



“It would, I think, be beneficial for Africa as a whole. An event of the global magnitude of a Formula One Grand Prix tends to put a country on the map. Even though South Africa is certainly at a low ebb economically with low growth, an event like this, much like the World Cup, does again provide that lift for a country.”



And while here, why not showcase some of Africa’s deep- rooted—if unconventional—driving culture?



“If you want a real motorsport event in South Africa, I say let’s have a HiAce taxi race,” quips Martinengo. “Now that would be something to watch!” Motorsport encapsulates the spirit of fighting for every inch, overcoming obstacles, and never giving up—charac- teristics that resonate profoundly in Africa. The continent is ready to get behind the wheel. Now, it’s up to F1 to decide if they are too.

F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia

Africa’s Return To Formula One: What Lies Ahead

With a number of notable (and sizeable) solar projects on the continent, could this renewable power source be the solution to economic development, job creation and more?



In a continent where more than half the population—some 600 million people—live without electricity, it seems painfully ironic that Africa is also one of the sunniest places on Earth. The marriage of solar power and the continent feels not only inevitable but long overdue.



“Africa is the region with the most solar potential worldwide–and also the region with the most to gain from the solar revolution,” explains Global Solar Council strategy director, Alyssa Pek.



South Africa, home to 46% of the continent’s new solar installations in 2024, per the Global Solar Council, is a leader in Africa’s ascent towards the utilization of renewable energy resources, followed closely by Egypt at 29%. Both countries could hold the key to Africa’s most ambitious energy projects.



The former boasts KaXu Solar One, a $891-million solar plant covering an area of approximately three square kilometers. According to the Industrial Development Corporation, its output is exuberant, providing clean, sustainable electricity to over 400,000 South Africans while providing job opportunities throughout the construction phase and around 80 permanent jobs during operation.



In Egypt, near the Nile River is where you&#8217;ll find a solar juggernaut: the Benban Solar Park. Stretching across 37 square kilometers, it incorporates 34 solar plants, a testament to the continent’s shift toward large-scale clean energy.



And here lies the smoking gun—a shift away from coal and gas, and towards more accessible solutions.



“When it comes down to financials and economics, what we’re seeing now is that solar is the cheapest form of electricity in the world,” notes Jonathan Hall, Chief Commercial Officer at SOLINK, a technical advisor and project facilitator in renewable energy and battery energy storage.



“How quickly the infrastructure can be built is another plus; when you compare it to a coal power station or nuclear, which can take fifteen to twenty years to build, a large-scale utility solar project can go up in under two years.”



The Global Solar Council forecasts a 42% increase in African solar infrastructure for 2025, illustrating optimism in the continent’s green revolution. Its ability to connect rural areas in Africa, via modular devices, can empower local economies and expand markets.



“More and more, governments across Africa are realizing that solar can be the backbone for realizing a country’s sustainable development goals,” Pek tells FORBES AFRICA, adding that, “solar brings in investment, creates jobs and powers businesses, gives people and communities energy access from urban centers to rural areas [and] can power schools, hospitals and other essential services–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for what solar can deliver for African countries”.



In collaboration with Investec and Rand Merchant Bank, SolarAfrica, an integrated solutions provider in sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable energy sector, secured around ZAR1.8 billion ($96.7 million) in funding earlier this year, giving the go-ahead for SunCentral solar farm in South Africa.



Meanwhile, Egypt&#8217;s Benban Solar Park attracted $4 billion in investments before breaking ground, with major backers reportedly including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Green Climate Fund, and the Dutch Development Bank.



World banks and multinational corporations have leapt onto the African solar sector bandwagon. Not only does this show confidence in renewable energy, but the uptick in investment resembles a shifting global trend in energy demand.



According to the International Energy Agency, global renewable energy demand rose by 38% in 2024, compared to 15% for coal and 11% for oil.



“It’s clear that the socioeconomic benefits of solar make it a no-brainer for policymakers, especially as costs for solar and storage are plummeting rapidly making it one of the cheapest and fastest energy sources to deploy to meet the continent’s surging energy demand,” Pek adds.



From powering local communities to creating jobs, cutting energy costs, and reducing carbon emissions, Africa’s solar revolution isn’t just smart—it’s the future.

Aerial view of solar powered house.

A Green Energy Revolution: The Sun Is Shining On Africa’s Solar Sector

If you don’t hold the trump cards in life, you end up with a mushy future. A future you have no control over. A despicable way of living.



The world is agog with all the terrible things people are saying and doing.



Old loyalties are torn apart, protectionism is exacerbated, and truth has become a matter of opinion.



But one thing holds true as it always has. God helps those who help themselves.



The meek are unlikely to inherit the Earth.



When great powers become one, usually through conquest, exploitation and outright larceny; they offer the lesser ones a motley diet of olive branches, a rule book and a promise to help in exchange of good behavior.



This is a quote often attributed to Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya: “When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible, and we had the land. They said, ‘let us pray’. We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible, and they had the land.”



And we the masses, the mere mortals, fall for it, hook, line and sinker; into believing that the ones who used us so easily will actually be our savior too. If we behave that is.



That is the reality that is being dismantled today.



But change happens out of destruction. Powers shift when hubris sets in. Opportunities open up when schisms occur.



My adopted continent has to therefore understand this. As a wakeup call. As a door that is opening.



If recent world leadership has taught us anything, it is that ‘it’s okay to think for oneself first’. It’s perfectly fine to ‘lie than take things lying down’. And of course, it’s all right to practise ‘might is right’.



African political leadership, mired as they are with the Bretton Woods strait-jacket and forward-sold to the Chinese, believe they have limited options.



But I see a silver lining. Because it’s par for the course to renege on agreements. It’s common to make new friends. It’s acceptable to be tough, hard and unfair, to make Africa Great Again.



And yes, we have some aces too.



Allow me to repeat the seven wonders the continent has–and the world covets.



Resources: for batteries, et al. Africa possesses 30% of the world&#8217;s known mineral reserves, 60% of manganese, 70% of cobalt, and 70% of iridium.



Renewables: to green the world? Africa has an almost unlimited potential of solar capacity (10 TW), abundant hydro (350 GW), wind (110 GW), and geothermal energy sources (15 GW).



Markets: for companies eager to grow. Africa has the world&#8217;s fastest-growing consumer markets and is projected to boast 1.7 billion consumers by 2030.



Politics: need African votes for legitimacy? Africa is 28% of all United Nations members.



Food security: to feed the world. Africa has 60% of the world&#8217;s uncultivated arable land. Farming will be a trillion-dollar industry.



Green house: to absorb the world’s emissions. Africa’s forest resources comprise 650 million hectares, about 17% of the world total carbon sinks.



Immigration and militancy: as youth find few opportunities, they will migrate.



Africa’s population is estimated to almost double in the next decade while its GDP per capita is estimated to only grow by around one-third.



If ‘we the people’ don’t understand the above and realize the bargaining chips we have; then we will keep buying Musk perfume from Europe and never smell the coffee which is ours.



One makes one’s own destiny.



For too long, leadership in Africa has been conditioned to believe it needs alms to survive and accolades to feel good.



Yet, we have strong local businesses, banks and development institutions.



And our reserves (parked in the G7) and our pension savings exceed our total external debt, which in aggregate is around $1.2 trillion. And it’s only a quarter of our GDP.



Yet we suffer from a debt burden because of usurious interest costs while earning peanuts on our reserves. How is that clever and tenable?



Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it, so said renowned Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.



We have been seeds for too long. Buried and alive. Time to come out and build our own shadows. For us to be protected by ourselves.



It is believed that Ernest Hemingway said: “I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.”



Now let’s make our own children and their children happy. Not some outsiders waxing lyrical about their ill-gotten paradise.



The gauntlet has been thrown. Let’s pick it up and run for ‘ourselves’!

African American farmer checking dirt in field

Expert-Speak: ‘Everything Comes To Us That Belongs To Us If We Create The Capacity To Receive It’

Over the past decade, Mauritania has emerged as a region known for its octopus fishery. Can this African desert country, with only 0.5% of arable land and extensive mineral resources, continue to cash in on its coast?



On The extreme northwest corner of the African continent, two nations famous for their arid terrain—Mauritania and Morocco—are enjoying a high tide, thanks to booming prices for their primary oceanic export: octopus. After several down years, following the 2020-21 Covid-19 pandemic, both countries are seeing strong demand for catches of Octopus vulgaris, a species that thrives across a combined 3,000km of Atlantic coastline.



For the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the nation’s official name, that zone stretches out along a shallow continental shelf whose temperatures and salinity are among the best on earth for the eight-armed Cephalopod, which belongs to a family of seafood varieties that include squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses, and whose market prices also are climbing since last summer.



According to a report from trade publication Seafood Media, from August 2024, Mauritania’s octopus prices have skyrocketed by around $500 per ton since the 2024-2025 season opened, with prices for Morocco only slightly behind.



Merchants like Liman Beirouk of Beirouk Fish Trading, a Mauritanian vendor, are savoring the moment.



“Last summer, during the France Olympics, raw octopus was getting almost €15 [$16.18] per kilo at the dock,” he told FORBES AFRICA earlier this month, adding, “we were sell- ing it for twice that amount in Paris”.



Those prices have held up throughout the winter, where weeks of stormy weather kept catches low, effectively raising prices for whatever fishing crews managed to bring to shore. So brisk has the demand been, Beirouk says, that it even made sense to ship frozen octopus by truck, a two-day journey from Africa, costing €6,000 ($6,492) per truckload. Indeed, these are heady times for one of Africa’s least developed countries.



Over the past decade, the country has emerged as a power in the octopus world, thanks not only to Mauritania’s proximity to markets across North Africa and Europe, but also to a special relationship with consumers in Japan, whose fishing expertise propelled Mauritania’s rise among octopus exporters worldwide.



As per Fortune Business Insights, the global seafood market size stood at around $386.73 billion in 2024. According to additional reports, Africa claims less than 5% of this. Yet within that small portion, Mauritania is a giant.



“Fishing now is number one for Mauritania in terms of foreign exchange and employment,” says Isselmou Hmeida, Commercial Director of the Federación Mauritanie des Pêches, the country’s seafood marketing arm.



“Within the industry,” he says, “number one is octopus”.



The country’s rise in octopus fish- ing began around the 1970s, with the Japanese, who were depleting their traditional stock around the island of Hokkaido. They responded by send- ing teams to Africa to teach Japanese harvest techniques to the locals, dropping pots to the ocean floor and trapping octopus much like lobsters.



By the turn of the new century, Mauritania was emerg- ing as an octopus fishery. According to researchers, Assane Dedah Fall and Berchie Asiedu, from 14,000 metric tons in 2006, octopus landings nearly tripled to over 33,000 by 2018. The following year, in 2019, the country’s catch nearly dou- bled, to a record 55,000 tons.



SeaBOS further calculates some 65,000 Mauritanians to- day are actively involved in octopus’ procurement, with an estimated 200,000 more joining the octopus supply chain. Out of a population of just over five million, about one of ev- ery 20 Mauritanians somehow makes a livelihood from the octopus catch.



Yet today, with the world growing hungrier for its catch, Mauritania faces several dilemmas. For one: who should be al- lowed to catch the Octopus vulgaris, and in what quantities? For another: whose needs come first: the fish or the fishermen?



These are not hypothetical concerns. Countries like Mauritania that discover riches just offshore could also find that the temptation to over-produce soon threatens their capacity to produce at all. “For some years now, the octopus fishery has been show- ing signs of depletion as a result of increasing fishing pressure and high levels of exploitation,” Fall and Asiedu concluded in 2024.



“Landings and yields appear to be declining. There are concerns about the sustainability of the octopus stock.”



So, although prices for octopus today are high, an uncertain future looms.



Signs of Mauritania’s decline already can be seen as far away as Japan. “Mauritania is considered number one qual- ity in Japan,” says Eiki Shimizu, CEO of Shimizu Shoten Co. Ltd a fishery product processing business.



“But it’s getting hard to get. More people are demanding more octopus. Prices are going up.” Shimizu says he’s beginning to look for alternatives from South Korea and elsewhere. “Now the supply from Mauritania is changing,” Shimizu tells FORBES AFRICA. “They used to sell us 90% of the catch. Now it’s more like 40%.”



Over-fishing, many claim, has resulted in harvests of smaller-sized fish, which command lower prices from wholesalers. For artisanal fishers, this amounts to a literal race to the bottom as more crews compete for a species that appears to be growing scarcer on West Africa’s coast.



“The majority of the octopus harvested have been smaller in size,” notes Matilde Mereghetti of the London-based industry research publication, Undercurrent News. “This scarcity of larger octopuses has intensified competition among buyers.”



Therein lies Mauritania’s dilemma: how to regulate against overfishing while still allowing Mauritanians a chance to earn a living from the sea.



Mokhtar Ba, for example, runs a company called Kossi Baye Enterprise with 200 fishermen working out of Senegal’s coastal hub of Saint-Louis, which shares land and sea borders with Mauritania. He is a dual citizen of both countries and has his own views on his country’s octopus dilemma. On the one hand, he praises Mauritania for initiating strict harvest rules and for enforcing them. On the other, he recognizes the many ways commercial fisheries can evade those rules. Moreover, Ba says, well over half the workforce hauling seafood along the coast increasingly comes from other African countries, especially Senegal and Nigeria. They are the ones most tempted to flout regulations by fishing in Mauritanian waters but sell- ing their catch elsewhere.



Yet, there are reasons for optimism.



Nicolas Guichoux, Chief Program Officer for the London-based Marine Stewardship Council, has been keeping an eye on Mauritania and holds out hope. “The good news with fishing is that it’s never too late,” he tells FORBES AF- RICA. He points to his organization’s origins, responding in the 1990s to the catastrophic collapse of codfish stocks along the Atlantic’s Grand Banks. What looked like ruin eventually turned to recovery and more sustainable fishing practices. In 2018, Mauritania received funding from a Switzerland-based NGO, the MAVA Foundation, to begin work improving coastal fisheries. The council built what it calls a “pathway project” involving 15 coastal species. Guichoux treats such initiatives as first steps, essentially building technical capacity in advance of an action plan.

Close-up of crab on rock

Tentacle Temptation: Mauritania Is Known For Its Octopus But It’s Not All Smooth Sailing

It was a banner year for Africa’s billionaires, whose cumulative wealth surpassed $100 billion for the first time ever. Africa’s 22 billionaires saw their fortunes rise to a total of $105 billion, up from $82.4 billion and 20 billionaires last year.



It’s no small feat to generate this level of wealth on the continent, where political uncertainty, currency crises and challenging consumer markets are routine. Last May, Zimbabwe ditched the country’s Zimbabwe dollar in favor of the ZiG, a gold-backed currency aimed at curbing the nation’s hyperinflation problem. Still, the growth for Africa’s wealthiest is in line with global equity markets, which rose 22% in the 12 months ended February 2025, according to MSCI.



Aliko Dangote of Nigeria tops the list for the 14th year in a row with an estimated net worth of $23.9 billion, up from $13.9 billion a year ago. The big jump in his fortune is primarily due Forbes adding the value of his refinery, which opened last year on the outskirts of Lagos after long delays. The refinery struggled for years to take off due to regulatory disputes and other setbacks, but started refining a small amount of oil in early 2024 and is slated to reach full capacity this month. That has allowed Nigeria–a major oil-producing country–to begin exporting some refined petroleum products.



“This is a very, very big relief,” Dangote, 67,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/2025/02/17/africas-richest-man-doubled-his-fortune-on-a-massive---and-risky---23-billion-bet/">told&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;in February</a>. Dangote, now one of the world’s 100 richest people, believes that his latest project is “a pivotal step in ensuring that Africa has the capacity to refine its own crude oil, thereby creating wealth and prosperity for its vast population.”



The second richest African is South African luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, whose fortune rose 39% to $14 billion, the second-largest gain among the billionaires. Rupert has held onto the No. 2 spot since 2022. Another billionaire whose fortune grew more than 30%: Femi Otedola of Nigeria (No. 18, $1.5 billion), chairman of listed power generation firm Geregu Power Plc. Shares of Geregu surged some 40% in the past year following a jump in revenue and profits.



Two African billionaires who made the list in the past and then fell off are back on again. Anas Sefrioui, a Moroccan housing billionaire, returns to the ranking as shares of real estate firm Douja Promotion Groupe Addoha, which he controls, more than doubled in the past year as the company reported increased home sales. Jannie Mouton, founder of a South African investment firm, appears once again following a 59% jump in the share price of Capitec Bank Holdings, one of Mouton’s most significant holdings.



Among the four whose fortunes slipped since last year: Zimbabwean telecommunications magnate Strive Masiyiwa, whose fortune was caught in the crosshairs of the country’s currency change.&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;estimates his net worth at $1.2 billion, down about 33% from the 2024 list.



South Africa had the largest number of billionaires this year, with seven, followed by four from Nigeria and four from Egypt. The list also includes three billionaires from Morocco, one from Algeria (Isaad Rebrab), one from Tanzania (Mohammed Dewiji) and one (Masiyiwa) from Zimbabwe.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methodology">METHODOLOGY</h3>



Our list tracks the wealth of African billionaires who reside in Africa or have their primary business there, thus excluding Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim, who is a U.K. citizen; and South African Nathan Kirsh, who operates out of London and has his business in the U.S. and U.K. Net worths were calculated using stock prices and currency exchange rates from the close of business on March 7, 2025.



Net worth changes were measured from&nbsp;Forbes’&nbsp;2024 African Billionaires list, published in January 2024. To value privately held businesses, we start with estimates of revenues or profits and apply prevailing price-to-sale or price-to-earnings ratios for similar public companies. Some list members grow richer or poorer within weeks or days–of our measurement date. For daily updated net worths, see&nbsp;Forbes’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/#55188f883d78">Real-Time Billionaires List</a>.

974×548

Africa’s Billionaires Are Richer Than Ever

With traditional powerhouses retrenching and realigning, and Chinese brands aggressively entering with competitive pricing and tech-savvy models, the next few years promise significant disruption in the South African premium car market.



A decade ago, the South African premium vehicle segment was a picture of German precision and dominance. BMW South Africa sold over 24,000 vehicles a year, Mercedes-Benz was hot on its heels, and Audi comfortably moved around 15,000 units annually. Fast forward 10 years, and those numbers have reportedly shrunk by as much as 70%, forcing a dramatic reshaping of the luxury automotive landscape–opening the floodgates for an influx of Chinese automotive brands.



From a trio of titans to a thinning crowd, the contraction of the premium segment has led to dealership closures and consolidation. In the meantime, Chinese manufacturers are capitalizing on the vacuum. As of March 2025, South Africa is home to 13 Chinese car brands–with at least seven more set to join the fray.



One of the latest moves? A strategic agreement between Saudi-based Jameel Motors and China’s Changan Automobile to distribute SUVs, sedans, pickups and new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa. It begs the question: who’s next?



In response to changing market dynamics, Audi South Africa is reducing its dealership network from 31 to just 20 by 2030. The announcement came during the national launch of its flagship Q7 and Q8 SUVs in Cape Town this March, where Sascha Sauer, Head of Audi SA, acknowledged the shifting ground underfoot.



“The premium segment is under pressure,” he said, “and consumer behavior is changing. We have to evolve with it.”



On the sidelines of the launch, FORBES AFRICA caught up with Audi SA’s leadership team, who emphasized that despite the structural changes, the brand’s focus remains firmly on customer experience.



“The optimization of our dealer network will include dedicated service hubs in areas where full dealerships are reduced,” said Ashley Reddy, Head of Aftersales. “We’re committed to ensuring a seamless transition for our customers.”



Asif Hoosen, Head of Retail, Planning and Supply Chain, offered a snapshot of Audi’s current position. “Even though the premium market declined by 9% in 2024, Audi held its ground and claimed an 18% share–moving into the number two spot behind BMW and ahead of Mercedes-Benz.”



It’s a big win in a tough market, and Audi isn’t backing down. “The premium SUV segment still shows strong momentum, and we’re ready to lead in that space,” Hoosen added.



Volvo Car South Africa is taking an even bolder step. The Swedish brand is reducing its dealership network from 19 to just seven–a move driven by strategic realignment and sustainability.



“This restructure ensures long-term viability,” explained Felipe Yagi, Volvo SA’s Head of Marketing &amp; Communications. “We’re consolidating through four key dealer groups (CMH, SMH Bedfordview, Tom Campher Motors and Rola Motors Somerset) operating in seven locations across Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape.”



While acknowledging the headwinds in the premium market, Yagi sees reason for cautious optimism. “We expect modest growth towards the end of the decade.”



That optimism is echoed by Managing Director Tarcisio Triviño, who is aiming high. Speaking at the recent launch of the all-electric EX90 in Cape Town, he revealed Volvo’s target of a 20% share of South Africa’s premium segment–a figure inspired by the brand’s performance in peer markets like Mexico and Brazil.



At the top of the premium vehicle chain, BMW Group South Africa is choosing a more measured path. While not immune to market pressures, the brand is confident in its ability to hold fort.



“Competition drives innovation and expands customer choice,” said Angela Konert, BMW SA’s Head of Business Communications. “While Chinese brands are growing in the entry and mid-market segments, the premium segment demands trust, a strong dealer footprint, and a legacy of performance.”



BMW, which has led the premium segment in South Africa for two consecutive years, continues to dominate the local battery electric vehicle (BEV) market–with a commanding 85.5% share across BMW and MINI.



Though she didn’t confirm whether dealer closures are on the cards, Konert noted that such moves often stem from operational efficiencies, shifting business models or market conditions.



“Our focus is on sustainability, innovation and digital mobility. Those will be our differentiators as the market evolves.”



What remains to be seen is whether South Africa’s affluent motorists will remain loyal to their legacy badges–or whether the new kids from the East will win them over with value, versatility and a fresh take on mobility. For now, all eyes are on who rolls in next!

New cars in a row at dealership

At A Crossroads: Premium Car Sales Slide In South Africa While Chinese Brands Shift Into Gear

The island nation is poised to see the farming of aquatic foods thrive, thanks to its historical links and promising location.



The farming of aquatic foods either from tanks on land or within enclosures out on open water—also known as aquaculture—offers a promising response to many of the pitfalls and risks encountered when harvesting wild fish in Africa.



Issues of illegal fishing, overfishing and environmental contamination could be managed under conditions where the enterprise controls inputs–from hatchery to harvest.



In 2018 the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the Blue Growth Initiative aimed at reducing African food insecurity by supporting more productive, responsible and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors.



The FAO’s target countries include Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda.



Ferme Marine de Mahebourg Ltd (FMM), based on the periphery of Africa, on the island of Mauritius, is an innovative fish hatchery located on the east coast near Pointe aux Feuilles, and it could well be a model for what private sector players can bring to the discussion.



The 15-year-old project marries location to opportunity through a network of international treaties as well as Mauritius’ rather unique history as a colony of two European powers. The island—located south of India in the Indian Ocean—also claims a unique mix of heritages: British, French, South Asia, East Asian and, of course, African.



For starters, there is its location of the business, in a lagoon that separates the farm’s nursery from the open sea. That means no pollution from ocean-going vessels, and very few native predators beneath the ocean surface.



“Pure, pure water,” says Alessandro Galioto, FMM’s chief operating operator. “From six cages when we started, we’re doing 112 cages now.”



Then there’s the product, itself. Two hundred tons raised monthly of a single species. American consumers call it Red Fish (the scientific name being Sciaenops ocellatus), known in other areas around the globe as Red Drum, Channel Bass, Tambour Rouge, Corvinon Ocelado and Ombrina Ocellata.



Pierre-Yves Semasse, FMM’s director, notes the species is native to the waters of the Caribbean Sea—Cajun food enthusiasts enjoy the peppery “blackened” recipe served up in New Orleans’ eateries—but its popularity in Africa dates to the 1980s.



That’s when a French government agency began a food-security initiative aimed at some of the country’s overseas assets, including Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Americas and the islands of Réunion, Seychelles, Mayotte, Madagascar extending from Africa’s east coast, then all the way out to Mauritius.



Due to Mauritius’ status as a former French and British colony, shipments of FMM’s Red Fish enjoy favorable import status across Europe. Another break is the daily flights of tourists from Europe mean daily access to cheap back-haul rates on air freight.



“Also, the hotels those tourists go to,” Semasse explains, adding, “We sell our harvested fish there, as well”.



Besides the trade pacts and air routes tying Mauritius to Europe, FMM’s African links are not insignificant, particularly with regards to employment. The company boasts a multinational workforce: divers from Tunisia, processors from Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, technicians from Europe and India.



Mauritius is one of 16 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which helps FMM utilize labor from the continent, when needed.



“I just got authorization for 50 more [workers],” Semasse says.

Fishermen and big tuna fish on the Tamarin beach

Hooked On The Haul: Mauritius Makes Waves In Aquaculture

Traditionally, Africa has been seen as a recipient of global health interventions rather than a leader in medical research, but Uganda’s Ebola vaccine trial is changing that narrative, and represents a major landmark for Africa’s scientific community.



In late January 2025, a nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda collapsed at work, showing symptoms that had been mistaken for malaria. Within days, he was dead. His diagnosis—confirmed only after his passing—was Ebola. His case became the first confirmed fatality in the outbreak, prompting health authorities in Kampala to declare an emergency and move swiftly to contain the virus before it spread further. It was the country’s first Ebola outbreak in two years.



The healthcare worker’s widow, a midwife named Afiya (name changed to protect privacy), was left to care for their two young children alone. She, too, tested positive for Ebola, along with the youngest child. “I was already in shock that my man had died. I thought, now the whole family is going to have Ebola, because I know how it spreads. I felt like God had betrayed me at that moment.” After several weeks in isolation and receiving treatment, Afiya and her one-year-old were discharged from hospital. But they returned to a community that no longer embraced them. Neighbors whispered, pointing at them in the streets, some actively avoided them. Sadly, so did family. “They turned against me,” she laments. “They sent away my people from the funeral, threatening them, telling them that I should never go back because I will get killed. I have not stepped there ever since. It’s been very traumatic.”



In Uganda, as in many parts of Africa, burial traditions involve washing and preparing the body—a practice that becomes particularly dangerous during an Ebola outbreak. The virus remains highly infectious—if not more so—after death, posing an extreme risk to those who come into contact with the body. To combat this, health officials have introduced “safe and dignified burials”, designed to allow families to grieve while minimizing contact with the deceased. However, implementing these measures has proven difficult, particularly in rural areas where traditional customs are deeply ingrained.



The outbreak that claimed the life of Afiya’s husband is now the focal point of a groundbreaking vaccine trial. The Sudan strain of Ebola, which has plagued Uganda for decades, is different from the better-known Zaire strain.



“Ebola has a number of strains. The major difference is in their genetic composition and immune response,” explains the Executive Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Prof Pontiano Kaleebu.



The vaccine that successfully controlled the Zaire strain does not work against the Sudan variant, making this new vaccine an urgent necessity. While it mimics its predecessor with regards to minimal side-effects like mild fever and soreness at the injection site, the new inoculation is more conducive for use in African settings, as Prof Joseph Okeibunor, a scientist in the Emergency Prevention and Response Program at the World Health Organization (WHO), explains.



“Previous vaccines required ultra-cold storage between-60 degrees to -80 degrees centigrade. The new vaccine is designed to be stored between 2 to 8 degrees centigrade, aligning it more to our environment.”



Beyond the logistical and medical hurdles, there are for- midable challenges such as misinformation and distrust, compounded by the global wave of vaccine skepticism during the Covid-19 pandemic that has created an atmosphere where many people fear being part of a clinical trial.



“People think they are being used as guinea pigs. Some believe that vaccines are used to depopulate African countries. But, of course, the whole idea is to gather knowledge that will help us to improve health security for one and all,” says Okeibunor.



An aggressive awareness campaign has been launched, making use of radio announcements, venturing into churches and mosques, and leveraging community leadership. “A trusted message comes from a trusted messenger,” explains Dr Mosoka Fallah, Acting Director for the Science and Innovation Directorate at the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).



“It’s about getting to the community, hearing from them, making them a part of the co-creation of the messages.”



In some areas, however, hesitancy remains. “Most Africans still believe in traditional healers, so they might go to them for the treatment of the virus,” Fallah notes. “Then by the time we pick it up in the healthcare facility, it’s already too late.” Even among those who understand the need for an Ebola vaccine, the idea of taking an experimental drug is daunting. “It’s difficult to get people to consent, especially in the middle of an outbreak when fear is high,” Kaleebu says. “We have to assure them that their safety is our top priority.”



Some healthcare workers have also been hesitant. “I encountered a doctor, a physician, who refused to be vaccinated in this very Ebola outbreak,” reveals Okeibunor. “He’s not actively telling others to avoid it, but he declined it himself.” Despite these challenges, the Ebola vaccine trial represents a major milestone for Africa’s scientific community. Traditionally, Africa has been seen as a recipient of global health interventions rather than a leader in medical research, but this trial is changing that narrative.



“This is an African-led initiative, with African researchers and institutions at the forefront,” Kaleebu declares. “If this vaccine proves effective, it could set the stage for Africa to take a leading role in dis- ease prevention, not just for Ebola but for other emerging diseases,” says Fallah. “We are devel- oping the expertise and infrastructure needed to respond to outbreaks quickly and effectively.” Uganda’s Ebola vaccine trial is more than just a response to the current outbreak—it is a sign of Africa’s growing capacity to tackle public health challenges on its own terms, as well as a testament to the resilience of communities like the one that Afiya and her children must nownavigate on their own. For her, the vaccine came too late to save her husband, but she hopes it will spare others the same pain. “I think about my loved one, I think about the responsibilities I was left with,” she says. “But if this vaccine can save lives, maybe his death won’t be in vain…”

Forbes Africa

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA