It’s never happened in the history of football, that a nation with less than one million people qualifies for the World Cup, buy maybe this Comoros Islands coach can make it happen.



Italian coach Stefano Cusin started his adventures in African football with the tough assignment of trying to improve the fortunes of South Sudan, which, as the world’s youngest nation, had much catching up to do.



His time spent in the country’s capital Juba helped transform South Sudan into a more competitive outfit, earning their rivals respect and the 56-year-old coach a good reputation.



When he took on the job as Comoros Islands coach, it was a step-up in terms of potential even if the Comoros are among the continent’s smallest countries, and in footballing terms, also young.



They exceeded expectations by qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon three years ago and at that tournament inflicted a shock defeat on four-time champions Ghana before booking an unlikely spot in the knockout rounds.



Comoros did not make it to the last finals in the Ivory Coast but Cusin has engineered a return for the small island archipelago to the next finals, which will be held in Morocco in December.



This time it was no shock but what was unexpected was the Comoros finishing top of their qualifying group, ahead of perennial contenders Tunisia and even beating the north Africans away in Tunis during the qualifying campaign.



“It&#8217;s something unbelievable, even if we have really good players. Of course, we could not imagine beating Tunisia. We did prepare as best we could because in our minds we did want to get a result. But we didn’t really expect it because Tunisia hadn’t lost a home game for some 14 years. It was an unbelievable result and we were very happy with it,” Cusin tells FORBES AFRICA.



Comoros might have a small population but do have the added benefit of a large émigré community in France, most settled in and around Marseille. They provide the bulk of the team.



“Look, all of them are Comorians. Of course, most of them grew up in Europe so this is a big advantage because they have had a background of good training. Most of them played for France at the youth national team level. So, we are talking about quality players. They are not amateurs.



“From the beginning of this mission, I noticed how much the squad has the right mentality, the right plan and very good players,” he adds.



It does mean there is little chance for homegrown players to make the team.



“It&#8217;s a big step because most of our players are playing in France, some in Ligue 1, or in the Netherlands in their top league,” adds the coach, born in Montreal, Canada, but who grew up in Italy and whose coaching career has been wide and varied.



“But we are trying to bring some of the best local talents with us. There&#8217;s potential, but it’s still a very young football country. I’m enjoying the challenge because for me personally, this is a place that we can build something, it’s a place where the people want to work, they want to grow, they want to improve.”



With a place at the Cup of Nations finals secure, the Comoros can now concentrate on the World Cup qualifiers, which dominate the international schedule in Africa for most of 2025.



“You know, our target was to qualify for AFCON. Now we’ve make our target come true. The World Cup is the dream. I mean, if it happens, it would be unbelievable, but it&#8217;s very difficult because in our group we are up against some very strong teams. It’s never happened in the history of football, that a nation with less than one million people qualifies for the World Cup. But in any case, we will fight for our dream.



“Football is a sport for dreamers. So, if you are not a dreamer, you shouldn’t be a coach,” he adds.



More realistic is to have a good showing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.



“We must go step by step. The World Cup qualifiers will help us to gain experience and to grow again. And then we will arrive in Morocco without expectations. But at the same time, we will not fear any team. And I suppose that&#8217;s the best place to be. There&#8217;s no pressure, but at the same time, I know that we can do well because of what the team has already,” Cusin adds.

Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton – Sky Bet Championship

‘A Sport For Dreamers’: The Italian Coach Who Started His Journey In African Football

Generative AI has revolutionized content creation, from narratives to images. Central to many of these models is maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), which allows systems to learn from large datasets by finding patterns that maximize the probability of producing outputs that resemble the data. While effective in generating realistic content, MLE struggles when tasked with rare or underrepresented information.



This limitation became clear in a recent interaction I had with ChatGPT. When asked, “Who is Tshianeo Marwala?” the AI responded, “Tshianeo Marwala is the wife of Professor Tshilidzi Marwala.” However, Tshianeo Marwala is my grandmother, not my spouse. This mistake occurred because MLE- based systems prioritize statistically common relationships — in this case, public figures are more frequently associated with spouses rather than grandparents.



MLE’s reliance on frequent patterns introduces significant challenges when dealing with uncommon data, and this issue is compounded by AI systems’ dependence on centralized sources like Wikipedia. While a valuable resource, Wikipedia’s gaps in coverage, particularly around marginalized groups and global perspectives, restrict the diversity of information AI systems can learn from. This reliance on concentrated sources exacerbates biases, limiting AI’s ability to represent underrepresented voices accurately.



MLE works by selecting parameters that maximize the likelihood of observed data. It is highly effective when dealing with frequent data patterns but less so when dealing with rare or complex relationships. For example, generative AI trained on datasets that frequently discuss public figures and their spouses will naturally associate these roles more often than other family connections. Our 2000 paper on Detection and Classification of Faults Using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Approaches showed that while MLE works effectively with frequent, well-defined data, it faces challenges in rare cases. Similarly, in generative AI, MLE handles common information well but tends to make errors with rare or less frequent data.



MLE can also stifle innovation by focusing on the most common patterns, sidelining rare ideas that could lead to breakthroughs. In fields where creativity and uniqueness are essential — such as product design and content creation — this narrowing effect could lead to homogenization rather than diversity. When AI systems converge too much on common patterns, they fail to explore the fringes of probability distributions where novel ideas often reside.



When AI systems rely on data from centralized platforms like Wikipedia or mainstream news outlets, they reflect the biases of these sources. Generative AI will excel at reproducing dominant perspectives but struggle to represent underrepresented or niche knowledge, such as indigenous cultures or less-documented traditions.



This systemic bias limits the AI’s ability to reflect the full spectrum of human experience accurately.



In my grandmother’s case, ChatGPT’s error highlights a broader challenge in AI’s ability to handle complex, less-represented relationships. If a system is trained predominantly on data that overrepresents certain groups or patterns, it will likely misinterpret rare information, perpetuating existing biases.



Beyond limiting diversity, MLE can amplify societal biases present in training data. AI models will reinforce these patterns if a dataset disproportionately represents certain genders, ethnicities, or regions.



To overcome these limitations, we must develop generative AI systems that synthesize information from diverse sources rather than rely on a few centralized platforms. This would enable AI to capture inclusive insights better and improve the accuracy of underrepresented data.



Generative AI must also continually adapt to new information, ensuring its output reflects the latest knowledge. As data generation accelerates, AI systems must effectively filter, assess, and integrate new information. By doing so, AI models can remain relevant, nuanced, and reflective of evolving contexts.



Researchers are exploring alternatives to MLE to address these challenges. One promising approach is reinforcement learning, which allows AI to learn through feedback and adjust based on incentives, improving accuracy and diversity. This method, though not without challenges, can help ensure that rare data is better represented. Another solution is data augmentation, where the training data is enriched with synthetic or curated examples of underrepresented information. This technique helps AI systems learn from a more diverse set of inputs, resulting in more accurate outputs.



Collaboration between AI developers and experts in underrepresented fields is also critical. Such interdisciplinary partnerships ensure that AI systems are not solely reliant on statistical likelihood but incorporate a broader range of knowledge and experiences. In conclusion, while MLE has played a vital role in generative AI, it has notable limitations. Addressing them is essential for ensuring AI systems are fair, inclusive, and accurate. Moving beyond MLE requires both technical innovation and a commitment to diversity. By designing AI systems that synthesize knowledge from distributed sources and continuously update with new information, we can create more adaptive models that are representative of the full breadth of human knowledge and experience.

Business people and engineers studying artificial intelligence brain

Expert-Speak: Not All Perfect (Yet)/The Limitations Of Representing Rare Information In Generative AI

Finishing school, possibly earning a degree, staying with one employer, and steadily climb- ing the corporate ladder once defined the path to career success.



Today, those conventions are vanishing as quickly as metal filing cabinets in a paperless office.



The modern workforce is navigating a new landscape, where traditional career paths that once offered stability and direction are rapidly crumbling.



The rules, traditions, and practices that shape sional advancement are being swiftly filed away, by new approaches to work.



Consider the traditional belief in long-term job stability and loyalty to a single employer. Lifetime employment with one company, once a hallmark of success, is being replaced by more dynamic career models where multiple job changes, freelancing, and gig work are seen as strengths rather than liabilities.



In line with this, a degree, once viewed as the mandatory ticket to career success, is no longer a universal requirement.



Many employers are now prioritizing skills, experience, and adaptability over formal education.



With the rise of alternative learning platforms, certifications, and on-the-job training, many workers are proving that career growth doesn’t always require a traditional degree.



The expectation of a linear career path — from entry- level to senior roles within the same field — is also losing its grip.



Workers today are embracing sideways moves, skills diversification, and career shifts that defy predictable patterns.



Many now prioritize work-life balance, creative fulfillment, and autonomy over simply reaching the top.



The belief that years of experience determine an employee’s worth is also being challenged.



Employers are increasingly focusing on potential, the ability to learn quickly, and adaptability.



Soft skills — such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence — are becoming more critical than ever, overtaking the once-dominant focus on tech- nical expertise.



As career pathways become less predictable, the dominance of full-time, permanent roles is also fading.



And the once-rigid nine-to-five schedule is collapsing under the weight of flexible work models, with a growing emphasis on results rather than hours spent at a desk.



Even the physical office is losing its appeal.



The rise of remote and hybrid work models has shifted the focus to location flexibility, a critical factor for job seekers today.



The traditional concept of retirement, too, is being retired.



The assumption that workers stop working in their 50s or 60s is fading, as life expectancy increases and professionals seek continued engagement.



Some are opting to work well beyond traditional re- tirement age, often transitioning into phased retirement plans that allow them to stay connected to their careers in ways that suit their lifestyles.



The bottom line is that the old rules for career success no longer apply.



With so many job conventions crumbling, the question is: what’s driving this shift in how careers are built?



It all boils down to the relentless pace of technological change, shifting attitudes, and evolving economic forces.



Technology has been the primary driver, reshaping industries at a rapid pace and making adaptability far more valuable than the old standard of longevity.



Job roles are being redefined, and entirely new indus- tries are emerging seemingly overnight, forcing both employers and employees to rethink their approaches. In addition to technological change, people’s priorities are changing.



Workers today demand more than fair com- pensation – they want careers that align with their personal values, offer work-life balance, and provide a sense of fulfillment.



Burnout is no longer a badge of honor — it’s a signal to seek the type of work that offers flexibility and purpose.



From an economic perspective, businesses also require flexibility.



The rise of freelancing, short-term contracts, and gig work allows companies to respond more nimbly to changing market conditions.



For workers, this shift means more freedom to craft careers that don’t fit into the traditional one-company- for-life mould.



The workforce is embracing a patchwork of experienc- es, projects, and roles, stitched together to create a career that’s more personalized and dynamic than ever before.



The collapse of career conventions is not a crisis — it’s a necessary shift.



The future of work is no longer about following a pre- set path – it’s about each individual charting their own career course.



Whether it’s ditching the nine-to-five or working for multiple employers over a lifetime, today’s workers are finding new ways to thrive in a world where the old rules no longer apply.



In this new landscape, adaptability, flexibility, and creativity are the true keys to success. And while the career ladder may be a bit wobbly, it’s offering far more interesting ways to climb

Senior couple enjoying time by the sea with their camper van

Expert-Speak: The Old Rules Of Getting Ahead At Work Are Taking Early Retirement

South Africa boasts a rich potential of sprint stars. Akani Simbine’s coach Werner Prinsloo weighs in on what’s needed to give the world a run for its money.



South Africa has a new wave of exciting young sprinters to add to the established talent of Akani Simbine, which led to a surprise silver medal in the 4 x 100-meters at the Paris Olympic Games. Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza stunned the field to finish second and underline the rich potential of sprint stars in the country.



But nurturing talent from young prospects to the finish is both a labor of love and a long process, with many pitfalls, and highs and lows, along the way.



Werner Prinsloo has been coach of Simbine, 31, for the last 14 years and is regarded as one of the top sprint trainers in the country, and by extension, the African continent.



He is excited by the prospects for several athletes coming through, but has also seen this movie before, and it did not end as he had hoped last time.



“Sprinters seem to come in waves. If you go back to 2014 or 2015, there was a group of very good sprinters and we thought we were going to dominate the world. But it didn’t happen. They come and go,” Prinsloo tells FORBES AFRICA.



“It’s up to the coaches to nurture the talent and we’ve got a group of really good trainers that can manage these sprinters over time. The big issue we have, and we see this not just in South Africa, is the fact that a lot of juniors don’t transition to the senior level.



“That’s our biggest challenge, because we have a big group of high school sprinters that are very, very good. But taking the next step is the challenge.



“Someone like Akani is an example. He started with me at the age of 17 and he wasn’t a top sprinter in his age group. But over the last 14 years he matured and got better, and that’s what we need to be able to get right with the current youngsters.”



The reason why many promising sprinters fail is largely a socio-economic one, according to Prinsloo.



“There are a lot of factors and we’ve had these discussions among coaches and administrators so many times. A lot of these kids, when they’re in high school, they have a system to work in, they have a coach. Everything’s done for them,” he says.



“Some get to university and that continues, but most don’t. So, what happens then? They don’t have that support system anymore. Now they have to do everything for themselves. Find and pay for a coach, find a physiotherapist and travel from wherever they live to training.



“Most kids come from poor backgrounds and they just can’t afford that. Unless they can somehow go to university, they are lost to the system, despite their enormous potential.”



A MEN’S 100M is  generally over in under 10 seconds and to the untrained eye, it just looks like guys trying to run very fast. But Prinsloo reveals there is a real science behind it and a mix of good genes and working on the mechanics of each portion of the race is vital. “People underestimate real sprinting. Everyone can run, but sprinting is a skill that needs to be developed over time,” he says. “Obviously, the best of the best are born with what they call ‘fast twitch muscle fibers’. And they have more of it than everyone else.



“So that gives them a bit of an edge, because they have that ‘speed gene’. Most of the Jamaicans are born with it and those are the guys that become the top sprinters.



“And then over time, it’s just developing the mechanics of sprinting. Some of the guys get it at a young age, some need more maturity over the years to develop it.



“If you break down the 100m, you have your start phase, you have a drive phase, then you have an acceleration and transition phase, which goes into the maximum speed phase. All in under 10 seconds.



“And in each one of these phases, the mechanics are different. The public don’t see it. They just see the guys coming out of the blocks and running, but in each phase the biomechanics are different. We work on each separately.



“Akani is one of the fastest in the world in the maximum speed phase, that is the best part of his race. And we know if we can work on him to get better in the acceleration phase, for example, that will put him in a good position.”



Simbine remains the gold standard, so to speak, in South African sprinting, but has yet to pick up an individual medal at the Olympics despite coming agonizingly close on two occasions.



His time of 9.93s in the Tokyo final in 2021 was four hundredths of a second behind bronze medalist Andre De Grasse. Marcell Jacobs won gold in 9.80.



He bettered his time in Paris to 9.82, and on this occasion was one hundredth of a second behind Fred Kerley (9.81) for the bronze and fractions of a second behind gold medal winner Noah Lyles (9.79).



“Leading up to Paris, we said, ‘look, we have to make this the year to perform’. And so everything in the last few years was geared towards getting him ready,” Prinsloo says.



“We got to a point where in training and in our approach to the work that we do, we found this groove. A big factor was his mentality, his emotional state. He was in a much better space. And that builds a lot of confidence in athletes. “It’s unfortunate he couldn’t get into the medals in the 100m, but the time was good. He ran a personal best and a national record, and that set up everything for the relay silver.”



Prinsloo confirms that the next games in 2028 are very much in Simbine’s sights. “We are looking to the next Olympics in Los Angeles. We are so close to the 9.7s and that’s what we’re pushing for now. It’s going to be small things that will get us there.”

The Olympic Games-Paris 2024

Getting Up to Speed: On South Africa’s Exciting Young Sprinters

In the heart of Kigali is a cricket stadium transforming lives and where young people are finding hope, purpose and opportunity.



Just 12 kilometers east of Kigali’s bustling city center, where real estate developments, commerce, and technology dominate the landscape, lies a contrasting haven. Here, the sounds of urban life give way to the chatter of children, their laughter carried by the crisp air as they dart across a lush green field. Feet pound the grass, the coach calls out instructions, and a young player dives to catch a brightly-colored cricket ball mid-air, prompting an eruption of cheers and chants of “Howzat!”



What might appear at first glance to be a typical sports ground is anything but. This is Gahanga Cricket Stadium, a unique nexus of youth development, inclusion, and education. Beneath its striking thatched roof – a nod to Rwandan architectural heritage – is a story of resilience and hope, a place where a game of cricket has become a tool for building brighter futures.



The journey to Gahanga began with Christopher Shale, a British businessman and cricket enthusiast, who spent years in Rwanda without access to a proper cricket facility.



Shale dreamed of creating a home for cricket in Rwanda, one that would be open to all, regardless of background. Tragically, Shale passed away in 2011, but his vision endured through the efforts of his family, friends, and the charity, Cricket Builds Hope.



In 2017, the Gahanga Cricket Stadium was inaugu- rated as a state-of-the-art facility spanning 4.5 hectares, complete with international standard grounds and a pa- vilion.



Will Hammond, the Director of Cricket Builds Hope, sees cricket as more than just a game, he sees it as a means to unite communities and create opportunities. Inspired by Shale’s vision, he is committed to using the sport to transform lives and build a legacy of inclusion and hope in Rwanda.



“Christopher believed cricket could bring people to- gether,” says Hammond. “His dream wasn’t just about sports but about creating a space where young people could find purpose and opportunity.”



Today, Gahanga is much more than a stadium. It is a hub of activity where children from diverse back- grounds converge to play, learn, and grow. On weekends, the facility comes alive with them participating in crick- et programs, some learning the sport for the first time, others sharpening their skills. The programs are free and intentionally inclusive, breaking down barriers of economic and social divides.



English trainer and Head of Educational Program, Justin Mugabo, who has been part of the Gahanga team since 2022, notes the transformative impact of combin- ing cricket with education. “When I started, we had about 120 children. Now, we have over 400 every week- end. Many come from disadvantaged backgrounds, in- cluding street-connected children. Through cricket and



English programs, we’ve seen incredible improvements in behavior, language skills, and academic performance,” he notes.



Gahanga’s reach extends beyond children. The Sports for Change program has also empowered over 330 women through workshops on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and social health. Women’s cricket is also thriving. In 2022, Rwanda’s women’s Under-19 crick- et team made history by qualifying for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, a testament to the rising tide of talent nurtured on this field. The stadium’s impact is deeply felt in the community.



Keza Beatrice, a young participant, reflects on her journey: “We came here without speaking English, but now we speak it fluently. Cricket has taught us so much more than just the game.”



Mugabo adds: “The community appreciates what we’re doing here. Parents tell us their children have changed, not just in how they play cricket but in how they engage with the world.”



Running a facility of this scale comes with its challenges though. Will acknowledges that maintaining Gahanga costs around $80,000 annually; funds are raised through partnerships and donations. Yet, the team remains committed to ensuring the stadium remains free and accessible to all.



“We ensure long-term impact through seed funding, savings groups, and income-generating activities. We want to replicate this model across Rwanda, bringing cricket and its benefits to even more districts,” says Country Manager Joseph Karemera.



In many ways, the stories of the students, teachers, and every- one involved in the Gahanga Cricket Stadium embody the spirit of Rwanda – a nation defined by its unwavering focus on building a bright and inclusive future. Here, under the iconic thatched roofs that pay homage to Rwandan heritage, cricket is more than a sport. It is a bridge to education, inclusion, and empowerment. As the sun sets over Gahanga, the laughter of children fades into the evening air. For them, this is not just a stadium; it is a sanctuary, classroom and home.

PHOTO-2024-07-19-14-21-44[5]

Ground Support: Cricket For A Cause In Rwanda

One of the best defenders on the African continent, Nigerian footballer ASHLEIGH PLUMPTRE, on her move to Saudi Arabia, where she is helping grow the game for young women.



Ashleigh Plumptre has never taken the conventional route. Born and raised in Leicester, England, she decided to play international football for Nigeria, eligible through a paternal grandfather from Lagos.



And last year she gave up playing in the English Women’s Super League to move to the fledgling league in Saudi Arabia, where she turns out for Al-Ittihad from Jeddah.



Both, she says, have been voyages of discovery and purposeful paths she has chosen as she drops another bombshell: “I don’t love football enough just to play it.”



That is bold coming from a player who has been to the very top of the game, featured at a FIFA World Cup and viewed as one of the best defenders on the African continent.



But Plumptre has always been searching for more from the game than what the pitch can offer. For the 26-year-old, cultural interactions and gaining a better understanding of the world have been equally, if not more, important.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="906" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-906x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-64181" style="width:598px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-906x1024.jpeg 906w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-265x300.jpeg 265w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-768x868.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-1358x1536.jpeg 1358w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ashleigh-Plumptre-Image-courtesy-Ittihad-1811x2048.jpeg 1811w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ashleigh Plumptre; Image courtesy Ittihad</figcaption></figure></div>


“I am still really competitive and I want to grow as a player and as a person, but the fulfilling part for me is the fact that you feel like you’re having a genuine impact on people’s lives here,” Plumptre tells FORBES AFRICA of her move to Saudi Arabia, where the women’s competition was only formed three years ago.



“Take football away, some of these girls, their experiences, whether it’s in school or as families, are very different from the way I was brought up. We can have conversations that I would never have if I was anywhere else.



“It’s the same reason I decided to play for Nigeria. It was a journey of discovering my heritage and knowing about a different culture and that, for me, is the kind of thing that will stay with you when you stop playing.”



There may have been concerns that moving from one of the best leagues in the world to one that is still finding its feet as a competition may have hurt her international ambitions with the Super Falcons, but she does not believe this is the case.



“No, not at all,” she says. “My Nigeria coach (Randy Waldrum) has just left now, but when I joined Ittihad and I told him about this move, his only question was, ‘who is your coach’.



“It was not like he was going to change my mind or anything, that was made up about the move, but I told him (at the time it was former United States national team player Kelly Lindsey) and he said, ‘oh, she is the best captain I ever had’ and that she had played for him.



“He understood, based on my personality, why I decided to move to Saudi. Obviously, we have a different national team coach now (Justin Madugu), but he’s been checking up on me and making sure I’m okay and recovering well (from injury).”



The society in Saudi Arabia has become far more open in recent years and opportunities for girls to play the game have seen some 80,000 sign up to play school soccer, she says, something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.



Plumptre is enjoying her role as a mentor and someone who is helping to grow the game in the country.



“The international players all live in a compound around other families and there are a lot of boys and girls that play on a little turf pitch,” she says. “There are girls, probably about seven or eight years old, who are playing with the boys. They come to our games, and they want to participate.



“I have this thirst for wanting to grow and learn about people, and ultimately, I’m given that opportunity here. I guess I’m a ‘player mom’ sometimes. But I like that and it puts me in situations where I have to learn and always ask questions.



“I’ve got three younger siblings and I always say to them, ‘in life, we’re so accustomed to just being told what to think, whereas we don’t put ourselves in situations to actually be around different people and ask ‘why?’, rather than just already having this pre-conditioned opinion on something based on what we’re told’. “I’ll put myself in the situation to learn, and keep asking, ‘why?’, without judgment. Every day is a learning day for me.”

Ashleigh Plumptre 1; Image courtesy Ittihad

From The Super League To Saudi: A Nigerian Footballer’s Journey

Historical manuscripts and closely-guarded treasures of the VATICAN APOSTOLIC LIBRARY are now accessible through digitization and blockchain, ensuring their preservation.



There has always been a lot of mystery surrounding the Vatican Secret Archives. Secured in a two-story underground vault beneath the Cortile della Pigna, this incredible collection of documents, renamed the Vatican Apostolic Archive, spans 12 centuries. From ancient manuscripts to letters between popes and kings, records from the Roman Inquisition, and a list of banned books (known as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum), it’s an archive filled with secrets that only a select few are privileged to access. And although there have been many books, films and theories about what lies within its vaults, the true extent of its mysteries remains locked away.



The same could once be said about the Vatican Apostolic Library. Founded in 1475, the library houses one of the world’s richest collections of manuscripts, printed books, coins and medals. It was only accessible to high-ranking clergy and elite scholars, its content closely guarded until the 19th century.



All of these fragile documents required preservation and specialized, climate-controlled rooms were introduced. It’s only within the past decade that the Vatican Apostolic Library has focused on digitizing its vast collection, making 27,500 manuscripts in it accessible worldwide on platforms like DigiVatLib.



Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, NTT Data created a digital archiving solution called AMLAD (Advanced Museum Library Archives Deposit). AMLAD wasn’t created for the Vatican Apostolic Library but this mammoth collection, often referred to as historical heritage of humankind, made it the perfect project to showcase the platform’s capabilities. Even when well-preserved, ancient documents are at risk of deterioration, digitization provides a way to maintain and preserve these collections, which is why NTT DATA developed a tool for archiving both 2D and 3D data. 



“It’s one of the challenges that cultural institutions hold right now,” explains Kyohei Jinno, Deputy Manager of NTT Data Japan Corporation. NTT Data has been working with the Vatican Apostolic Library for a decade. Their cloud-based digital storage system now includes over 27,500 manuscripts which are available online to users worldwide, complete and free of charge with high-definition images. 



The next step for the Vatican Apostolic Library and NTT Data is Web3 – NFT technologies.



“We believe the concept of Web3 with its characteristics like decentralization, permissionless, native payments may enable a new community,” says Jinno. “The reliability of digital data becomes a challenge during digital data archiving and this can be mitigated by ensuring traceability through the recording and referencing of the digital data’s provenance information and immutability information.”



In other words, blockchain technology.



NTT have already used this technology to successfully build a digital archive system for the ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) project. “Web3, as an open information system platform, isn’t tied to specific service providers, allowing everyone to participate. In this proof of concept, we issue NFTs as proof of contribution and use them as authentication keys,” adds Jinno. This novel approach gives users access to high- resolution images and detailed information about selected cultural heritage items. “Instead of providing original artwork, we are exploring options such as special experiences or abstracted content,” says Jinno.



The idea is that by using NFTs, they will not only encourage greater engagement with the library’s collections, they’ll be able to demonstrate blockchain’s potential for preserving and sharing heritage.



Jinno explains that a Web3-based digital archiving approach provides a way to safeguard these cultural assets by creating reliable digital versions that can be restored if the original materials are damaged or destroyed.



“The main purpose of preservation is to restore data,” he adds. “But at the same time, we’re showing people through a project like the Vatican Library how the blockchain works and how it can be used to protect original content.”

Christmas Celebrations In The Vatican

Where Ancient Heritage Meets Modern Technology: Why The Vatican Library Is Embracing Web3

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SWIM SOUTH AFRICA’S FALSE BAY, with nothing but a swimming costume and a tenacious will to cross the 34km route, contending with white sharks and jellyfish stings, and in freezing temperatures that can tear into your soul? Here’s why more open water swimmers are signing up, and why it’s cheaper than the English channel.



In 1488 Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias described False Bay as the “Gulf between the mountains”. It is the largest true bay in South Africa and got its name from frustrated sailors who thought they had reached the tip of Africa, only to realize that Hangklip was not Cape Point. This ‘false bay’ is home to a diverse array of species that include whales, dolphins, sharks and seals swimming alongside octopi and a wide variety of fish. The crisp, clear water is the perfect home for the nutrients and phytoplankton that support marine life – and for a growing number of open water swimmers in search of adventure.



“False Bay is growing in international stature as a challenging and enticing swim,” Derrick Frazer, owner of Big Bay Events, a company that trains open water swimmers, tells FORBES AFRICA. “Between 1989 and 2012, numerous attempts were made to swim False Bay but only five were successful. In 2019, a six-person relay team successfully swam it as an investigative swim to see if opening up the route would find interest among swimmers and, since then, more and more people are being drawn to this swim.”



Frazer has seen an exponential increase in international swimmers joining his team each season. In 2021, he had one international swimmer, by 2024, it was three and in 2025, he has six international swimmers already booked for the year. “We’ve supported a total of 35 crossings at a 100% success rate,” he adds.



To provide a bit of context into exactly how challenging the False Bay swim can be, the best point of comparison is the English Channel – the open water swim from England to France is around 32 kilometers in water temperatures of around 15-18 degrees Celsius with the swimming window open from the end of June to the start of September. Any times outside of those involve colder temperatures, shorter days and darker swims. False Bay is approximately 34 kilometers and the water temperature dips to as low as 11 degrees in winter. The summer months of January and February are a more pleasant crossing at 20 degrees, but swimmers tend to pick their swim around the weather and the currents.



The swim route across False Bay can be taken in two ways. Swimmers can opt into swimming from Rooi Els to Miller’s Point or from Pringle Bay to Buffels Bay in the Western Cape. Both routes are around 34 kilometers and can be swum at any time of the year – although avoiding the south eastern



wind or South Easter is recommended. When declaring the False Bay swim official in 2019, the False Bay Swimming Association suggested that it be done in spring and autumn.



“The sheer distance, combined with False Bay’s reputation as the ‘white shark capital of the world’, and the constantly changing conditions in the bay, is drawing adventurers,” Carina Bruwer, marathon swimmer and member of the False Bay Swimming Association Board, tells FORBES AFRICA.



As the first South African woman, and third person ever, to successfully cross False Bay nearly 20 years ago, she understands the allure of this incredibly challenging swim.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-long-cold-beauty">The long, cold beauty</h4>



Bruwer says: “You have to contend with cold water, unpredictable currents and the possibility of wildlife encounters making it both a physical and mental challenge. Completing it offers a tremendous sense of accomplishment as you cross from one iconic point to another.”



In 1989, the first-ever swim across False Bay was made by Annemie Landmeters in 9:56h, a record that remained unbroken until November 30, 2022, when South African Katherine Persson finished it in 8:9h. In 2019, the fastest swim for a male swimmer was made by South African Barend Nortje in 9:17h who then broke his record in February 2024 at 7:28h. Both are in the Guinness World Records. Both are joined by a growing legion of open water swimmers wanting to experience the remarkable.



“Open water swimming has seen huge growth worldwide and swimmers are constantly looking for new and more extreme challenges,” says Frazer. “It is a compelling swim, particularly for Africans, as it sits in our backyard, it is one of our longest recognized routes, and it’s cold – the chilly waters of the Cape make the Channel swim feel warm by comparison. Swimmers who’ve trained a lot in Cape Town go to the Channel and say, ‘wow, this water is so warm, it’s fantastic’.”



It is also extremely beautiful. Unlike its English colleague, False Bay offers breathtaking scenery along the Cape Peninsula and the thrill of sharing the water with local marine wildlife.



“There’s a mystique about it. People want challenges and something new, and there’s also an element of danger to it,” says Troy Mayers (53), who was the 18th person to complete the swim.



“It’s a very difficult swim and it is unique and not a lot of people have done it, which makes it feel like you’re one of a few people brave enough to tackle it. You definitely have to be brave to sign up for False Bay.”



This is a sentiment shared by Kimberlee De Wit (36), Wendy Viola (59), Gillian Dusterwald (60) and Teru Adamson (55) who crossed False Bay on October 9, 2024. They were the last four people to complete the swim that has now only ever had 48 people cross its depths since it became an official swim in 2019.



“We felt it was important to demonstrate that big swims aren’t just for elite swimmers,” Viola tells FORBES AFRICA. “Average swimmers like us can achieve great things and conquer tough swims if we work together, believe in ourselves and have the right attitude. We were inspired to do this swim by sitting on the beach, looking across the bay and wondering if we could do it.”



The women worked with Scott Tate from Swim Cape Town to prepare for their swim, which was a relay across the bay. They would alternate swimming for an hour and sitting for an hour to simulate relay conditions – IN/OUTs as suggested by Tate – which gave them the physical and mental confidence they needed to manage their swim.



“It was tough – we had to deal with motion sickness, nutrition, rough conditions, jellyfish stings, getting a wet body into a dry costume on a rolling boat, three hours sitting on a boat between swims and no bathroom on board,” says Viola. “Our conditions weren’t as good as forecast so we had a rough start with big swells rolling perpendicular to our swimming path which made us feel as if we were constantly swimming in the wrong direction. We thought we would get an assist at the end and be blown into Rooi



Els but the ocean decided to change completely and push us back into the bay so the last third of our swim was a slog.”



The relay ended with the last swimmer battling compass jellyfish and a rough current until the last 500 meters when all the women jumped in to complete False Bay together in just under 12 hours.



“Gillian and I are the two oldest women to have done the swim,” says Viola. “When we look back, we feel privileged to live in such a beautiful place with such a swimming opportunity.”



“It was mentally a challenging swim. I know what lives in the water and what they are capable of, and from the moment I got in, I felt completely exposed,” says Mayers. “Every swell, every shadow underneath you that looks like a shark, was a moment of stress. Eleven hours later, when my feet touched down on the ground, I felt incredible relief and joy.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-64144" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Troy-Mayers-in-the-challenging-waters-of-False-Bay-Image-supplied.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Troy Mayers in the challenging waters of False Bay; Image supplied</figcaption></figure>



The relay teams that tackle the swim also have to deal with long periods of time sitting on the boat waiting for their turn. It takes mental resilience to stay in the moment and ready to jump back into the icy cold waters. As Dusterwald points out: “We were sitting on a very slow-moving boat in the middle of a very large ocean and were hoping for warmer weather but ended up in beanies and warm coats on a cold, overcast day.”



Her team didn’t think for one second they wouldn’t make it. Their mental commitment to the physically-demanding task kept them focused, and together until the end.



“The presence of marine life, particularly sharks, can be mentally daunting even with safety precautions in place,” adds Bruwer. She also mentions the unpredictable currents that can either help or hinder swimmers, often changing mid-swim. This is further complicated by the sheer distance, the winds, and the variable weather conditions.



“My first 16 kilometers I did in four and a half hours, then it took me six hours and 45 minutes to do the next 16 kilometers because the current was against me,” says Mayers. “This is a wicked swim. I was the first person to get caught in that current and two swimmers after me have since been caught in it – it was unexpected and I had to dig deep to get through it.”



For most swimmers, the highlight is their personal achievement at having completed such a monumental swim, knowing they’ve conquered one of the most challenging bodies of water in Africa.



“This swim represents a shift in my own limitations,” says Bruwer. “After failing due to severe hypothermia, I returned a year later to face the crossing again and I completed it, achieving my own impossible.”



The mental and physical toughness that swimmers develop when tackling False Bay translates into a skillset that can be transferred to any other long-distance endurance swim. Most notably, the English Channel.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-african-advantage">The African advantage</h4>



According to Frazer, who has shepherded many swimmers across the English Channel, the price tag attached to the swim can be upwards of ZAR250,000 ($13,736). This includes flights, the cost of the boats, booking fees, training and all the other hidden bits in between. Swimming False Bay – an equally inspiring test of skill and endurance – is a lot cheaper.



“It costs between ZAR30,000 to ZAR40,000 ($1,648 to $2,198),” says Mayers. “The price factor is definitely a drawcard and contributing to why False Bay is becoming so popular.”



You still have your jellyfish, currents, variable weather, and cold water, but in False Bay there’s the added benefit of enjoying a swim in an area of outstanding natural beauty.



“When you look across that bay, the view is extraordinary,” says Dusterwald. “It is iconic. I have a picture of me swimming in the water with the mountains in the background and only a few people in the world have that. It is an absolutely amazing swim.”



Dusterwald also says that the support she and her team received throughout the swim was extraordinary. The community was phenomenal in its support of their endeavor throughout their training and in the months after their successful completion.



“The highlight for me were the dolphins at the end,” she says. “A massive [pod] of dolphins swimming all around Teru – I don’t think she realized how amazing it looked. It was absolutely wonderful.”



The False Bay swim may have only had a handful of people tackle its icy waters and unpredictable weather, but this only adds to its allure. The swim is gaining global recognition and is consistently placed alongside other renowned marathon swims, including the Catalina Channel.



“Although South Africa remains less accessible than Europe or North America, more people are traveling specifically for swimming and Cape Town is becoming a destination of choice,” concludes Bruwer. “With a number of iconic swims in the region, False Bay stands as the ultimate challenge and is listed as one of the premier long-distance swims by open water associations and forums.”

Photo by Derrick Frazer at Big Bay Events

The New Channel Swim: The Truth About False Bay In South Africa

Calling all visionaries, risk-takers and young change-makers; FORBES AFRICA is all set to for the 2025 intake!



For drawing up the continent’s most sought-after list of young leaders, we are on the quest for 30 of Africa’s brightest people under the age of 30 in the Business, Technology, Creatives, Sport and Science/Health categories.



Every year, the magazine’s 30 Under 30 listers prove that they are not just about commerce and clout but also about representing their countries and the diverse, heterogeneous continent they want to serve. The class of 2025 should be no different.



From Tyla to Davido, Vimbai Masiyiwa to Alex Mativo, Tatjana Smith to Faith Kipyegon, they have earned their place on the list. If you make the 11th instalment of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list, you will join more past honorees such as Elsa Majimbo, Mr. Eazi, Lasizwe, Musa Keys, Lloyd Harris, Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Antonio Depina, Karabo Poppy, Thuso Mbedu, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, Nomzamo Mbatha, Kabza De Small, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Sikander Kalla, Nasty C, Chad le Clos, and WizKid.



Our nomination process is rigorous, and those who progress to subsequent rounds will need to provide a police clearance certificate (PCC) or report from your country verifying you have no criminal record, no ongoing disputes or upcoming court cases and that you are a citizen of the country.



As an extra layer of verification, the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 team of curators and editorial research teams will also need a recommendation/reference letter from your financial institution (such as your bank) ensuring you are a legitimate business/brand deploying your funds responsibly. We recommend you contact your financial institution or advisor to prepare for this part of the process.



“For the 11th year, we will sift through the nominations flooding our inboxes to discern the boldest innovators and leaders under the age of 30 in Africa today. They will need to prove what they are doing differently to make the cut as tomorrow’s titans and tycoons pushing the needle of development,” says Renuka Methil, Editor of FORBES AFRICA.



CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS: 



Please read the following carefully before applying. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 20 February 2025 17:00 (SAST)



Business and Technology categories&nbsp;



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Must be an entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger as on 31 March 2025 </li>



<li>Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent </li>



<li>Business/businesses should be two years or older (please ensure you have your audited financial documents for at least two years as well as your company’s registration documents; should you make the second stage, this will be required) </li>



<li>The more innovative the business the better (as it contributes to Africa’s growth story!) </li>



<li>Have you/your company created social impact on the African continent? </li>



<li>The company must be profit-generating </li>



<li>Must employ people in Africa </li>



<li>All applications must be in English </li>
</ol>



Sports category



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger as on 31 March 2025</li>



<li>Must be representing an African team</li>



<li>Should have a proven track-record of no less than two years</li>



<li>Should have significant earnings</li>



<li>Endorsement deals and/or awards of any kind would be a bonus</li>



<li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if you are a sportsperson applying under the Business/Technology categories. However, the business must abide by the same rules as under Business/Technology.</li>



<li>All applications must be in English</li>
</ol>



Creatives category&nbsp;



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2025 </li>



<li>Must be from or based in Africa </li>



<li>Should be making significant earnings </li>



<li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years </li>



<li>Awards of any kind would be a bonus  </li>



<li>Social media presence will be taken into consideration. </li>



<li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if you are a creative applying under the Business/Technology categories. However, the business must be legitimate, registered and also two years or older. </li>



<li>All applications must be in English </li>
</ol>



Health/Science categories&nbsp;



<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2025 </li>



<li>Must be from or based in Africa </li>



<li>Should have a proven track record in the field of health and/or science for no less than two years</li>



<li>Must have social influence and impact </li>



<li>If the nominee is a doctor/professor, please provide us with documentation and a reference letter from the institution where the applicant received a doctorate or Ph.D   </li>



<li>Entrepreneurship and social impact are a plus, especially if applying under the Business/Technology categories. However, the business must be legitimate, registered, and also two years or older. </li>



<li>All applications must be in English</li>
</ol>



<a href="https://forbesafrica.typeform.com/Under302025">>>>>>>>>>Click here to apply&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;</a>

under 30_1200 x 900

The 11th Annual List – Call For Nominations To FORBES AFRICA’s 30 Under 30 Class Of 2025

What comes first: the chicken or the egg? ARTURO ELIZONDO’S biotech is reinventing protein, reshaping global diet and future-proofing the food industry. read on about the world’s first liquid egg made without hens.



Protein water, protein ice cream, protein pasta, protein cookies and protein cereal.



These are just a few of the interesting products on-shelf for anyone looking to increase their daily protein intake. With analysts forecasting that the global protein ingredients’ market will reach $47.4 billion by 2032, there’s no doubt that this macronutrient is having a moment. We have become protein-obsessed but it’s not all about meat. 



Plant-based options are coming into their own as biotech companies create innovative ingredients that mimic animal meat characteristics while meeting consumer protein needs. A great example is heme, the molecule that gives meat its characteristic color and flavor. Heme is also found in plants and microorganisms so through fermentation or genetic engineering, it can be produced from plant or microbial sources. When heme is added to plant-based meat, it becomes eerily similar to the real thing. It’s an incredibly complex process that’s hard to scale, which is why Arturo Elizondo, the co-founder and CEO of The EVERY Company, started with an egg.



One of the biggest obstacles with bio-based products is the ‘valley of death’. Many innovative products die before they hit the market. “It’s one of the challenges with alternative proteins,” explains Elizondo. “So, our big focus, from the beginning, was choosing a technology that could scale; that had already scaled globally.” This is one of the reasons Elizondo chose fermentation for The EVERY Company – he could plug into existing, large-scale fermentation facilities without spending millions of dollars.



“Brewers use yeast to convert sugar into alcohol; we can use yeast to convert sugar into protein,” he says.



Protein is a megatrend that isn’t going away anytime soon. Elizondo says that even though it’s a big part of diet culture – both the keto and the caveman eating plans focus heavily on protein – there are benefits beyond satiety. “It’s the only macromolecule that hasn’t been demonized,” he says. “There are four macromolecules – protein, fats, carbohydrates and alcohol. Fats, carbs and alcohol are all controversial, but protein has maintained its halo.” There’s also the fact that globally, diets are dominated largely by animal proteins which, when farmed industrially, have a significant impact on the environment. “We have to start evolving the way we product protein because the demand isn’t going away,” he adds. As an alternative to the factory farming model, Elizondo believes we can use technology to produce protein in a healthier and more sustainable way. It’s not only about making products that look and taste similar to something else, he says that technology, in the long run, can create better food (and food systems) designed for humans.



One of the proteins Elizondo’s company is relooking is the egg. Although egg consumption in Africa is beyond the global average, it’s estimated that around 1.6 trillion eggs enter the market every year. “And it’s not suddenly going to stop. We’re not all going to start eating lentils and tofu,” he laughs. What makes The EVERY Company a little different is that it is an ingredients company. They’re not simply producing a consumer facing substitute for eggs (although they do have a few), they’re working with major industry players to integrate EVERY Company’s alternative protein ingredient into existing products and supply chains. 



“The unsexy thing about food is the supply chain. When the Covid pandemic happened and countries shut down their borders, it was a big wake-up call for the companies who import their animal protein,” says Elizondo. Another challenge is avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The poultry industry suffers, the price of eggs goes up and the manufacturers that use eggs are forced to adjust production schedules or reformulate recipes to cope with shortages. 



“How do we build a more resilient food system that can withstand the pressures of pandemics, climate change and zoonotic diseases? It’s a very fragile system,” he says. 



At the same time, many big food companies have ESG targets to cut carbon emissions and keep their supply chains steady. This usually means more consistent sourcing, avoiding rushed shipping and relying less on resource-heavy practices (like industrial egg farming which produces high levels of waste and emissions). “This is why we exist and how we can make impact at scale. We can support the entire industry and not be seen as adversarial. We’re building a better food system,” he says. For Elizondo, this is the future of food. In addition to working with major food producers on the ingredients side, The EVERY Company will be entering the mass market in 2025 with the EVERY Egg, the world’s first liquid egg made without hens. It’s not an elitist product that only expensive grocery stores will carry but rather an item everyone can find, afford and most importantly, eat.



Functionality first



As an industry, plant-based protein companies face a lot of challenges. In France, the words ‘steak’, ‘bacon’, and ‘sausage’ have been outlawed for meat alternatives. In South Africa, the High Court overturned an attempt by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to impose similar restrictions. The issue took two years to resolve, and certain products were removed in the interim from retail shelves.



“This is why it’s so important to partner with the incumbents and work with them, not against them. There’s this huge gap in ingredients that no one talks about and that’s where our focus lies. It’s not about taste, it’s about functionality,” says Elizondo. “If you look at ingredient labels, it’s almost impossible to avoid eggs, they’re everywhere because they’re functional. They foam, bind and gel in ways that nothing else can.”



Eggs may seem like an impossible ingredient to replace but that’s where the biggest opportunity for The EVERY Company lies. In some ways, Elizondo compares the path he’s following to insulin. In 1922, insulin came from the pancreatic tissue of cows (and later pigs). It was produced at scale by Eli Lily to treat diabetes but still came from animals. But then, in 1978, the first genetically engineered, synthetic ‘human’ insulin was produced using E. coli bacteria. “This company found a way to make insulin through protein fermentation technology and within 15 years, it dominated the market. And now, 99% of insulin in the world is made using the same technology,” says Elizondo. Protein fermentation technology moved to the cheese industry and replaced animal rennet with bio-identical chymosin, an enzyme essential for curdling milk. It’s a technique also used to create vitamins and to extend the freshness of baked goods by synthesizing enzymes that improve texture and shelf life. Protein is more than a megatrend, “it’s the best-kept secret in the food industry,” exclaims Elizondo. “And if we can make these ingredients a little bit better, a little bit safer, a little bit more sustainable, that’s worth fighting for.”

Arturo Elizondo in The EVERY kitchen; Image supplied

The Future Of Food: Hatching A Protein Revolution

A tumbler that reminds you to drink water and an 18k-gold ring that helps make your payments. Whatever’s next?



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Apple Watch Hermès



The Apple Watch Hermès Series 10 comes in the signature Hermès orange box, available at Apple or Hermès. The new model supports sleep apnea and wrist temperature, a 6m-depth gauge, on-device Siri, precision inding for Find My and fast charging. Unique Her- mès touches include a silver titanium finish, logo on the back, two watch straps including a leather Hermès one that can be single or double tour, and exclusive watch faces.



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Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition



Amazon has released its first-ever color screen Kindle called the Kindle Colorsot Signature Edition. It promises eight weeks of battery life, improved speed and contrast, supports pinch to zoom and increased display sizes. The seven-inch display is optimized for reading without glare, suited for travel guides, cookbooks, comics, or graphic novels. Highlighting can be done in yellow, orange, pink or blue, plus searching by color. It is waterproof, features USB-C and wireless charging.



Price: $279.99
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ASUS ZenBook S14



The ASUS Zenbook S14 Copilot+ PC is a premium Windows 11 laptop from ASUS that features an all-metal 1.1cm thin body that is 1.2kg light. The new Intel Core Ultra 7 chipset and AI Boost powers its AI features like productivity assistance, text and image creation, faster photo and video edits, and built-in security, while its vapor chamber keeps it cool. It has a 3K display, 72Wh battery, large touchpad and Harman Kardon sound.



Price: $1,299
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Meta Quest 3S



The new Meta Quest 3S virtual reality headset lets you turn any room into a personal theater. You can play standalone VR games, watch live concerts, experience mixed reality by blending the digital and real world, or cast games on to a television. It has multi-tasking support for YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, etc. It features a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, 8GB of RAM, 128GB storage, up to 120Hz refresh rate, and 1832&#215;1920 screen resolution per eye.



Price: from $299.99
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="636" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S-1024x636.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64061 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S-1024x636.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S-300x186.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S-768x477.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S-1536x954.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Meta-Quest-3S.png 1752w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="906" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd-906x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64062 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd-906x1024.png 906w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd-265x300.png 265w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd-768x868.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd-1358x1536.png 1358w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Samsonite-Restackd.png 1682w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
Samsonite Restackd Carry On



Samsonite’s revamped Stackd collection called Restackd features a lighter design and larger packing volume. The 55cm carry-on cabin spinner with easy access has a front pocket for a laptop, tablet and other accessories, suitable for business travel. It includes two packing cubes and plenty of zipped pockets. At 3.1kg, it measures 55x40x23cm with a 3cm depth expansion. It features an integrated ID tag, TSA combination lock and comes in black, green, pink and navy.



Price: ZAR7,299 ($400)
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<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
Hyperice Hypersphere Go Hyperice, known for its health-tech products for recovery and movement, has the perfect travel companion called the Hyper- sphere Go. This TSA-approved massage ball is palm-sized and supports three speeds of vibration when you roll it over your muscles. Whether you’re in-flight, post-workout or at your desk, you can target muscles, with precision, such as the arms, legs, back or feet. It is USB-powered, has a two-hour battery and weighs under 500g.



Price: $99
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="973" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hypersphere-Go-1024x973.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64060 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hypersphere-Go-1024x973.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hypersphere-Go-300x285.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hypersphere-Go-768x730.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hypersphere-Go.png 1404w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d-720x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64057 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d-720x1024.png 720w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d-211x300.png 211w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d-768x1093.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d-1079x1536.png 1079w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dyson-Airwrap-i.d.png 1310w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
Dyson Airwrap i.d.



The Dyson Airwrap i.d. multi- styler and dryer is Dyson’s first Bluetooth connected hair tool. It pairs to a smartphone app for more personalized styling to automate the curling process using profile data such as hair type, length and skill level. The styler comes in two versions: for straight to wavy hair (T1-2) or for curly to oily hair (T3-4). The new Airwrap introduces three new attachments: the conical barrel, wave+curl diffuser, and blade concentrator.



Price: $599.99
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<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
Hobot S6-Pro



Hobot has released its irst window cleaning robot, the Hobot S6-Pro. The award-winning robot window cleaner is suited for framed, panoramic or frameless windows for an ei- cient clean-up. It has dual mops to polish and uses ultrasonic sprays for a streak-free clear inish. Safety features include an anti-falling algorithm, a safety rope and 20-minutes of back-up power. The microiber cleaning cloth is washable and the water tank replaceable, making it eco-friendly.



Price: ZAR7,999 ($438)
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1001" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-1024x1001.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64059 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-1024x1001.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-300x293.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-768x751.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-1536x1502.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hobot-S6-Pro-2048x2002.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="711" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark-711x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64058 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark-711x1024.png 711w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark-208x300.png 208w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark-768x1106.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark-1066x1536.png 1066w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HidrateSpark.png 1276w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
HidrateSpark Pro Smart Tumbler 



The HidrateSpark Pro 590ml smart tumbler bottle stands out for its connected features. It syncs with Bluetooth to a paired smartphone and tracks water intake with reminders when to sip through its glowing feature on the base. It is vacuum insulated and keeps drinks cold for 14 hours and hot for four hours. It comes with a removable stainless-steel straw, supports the Find My Bottle feature to track it and integrates with fitness apps.



Price: ZAR1,799 ($98)
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<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
VezoPay Ring



A South African company is redeining wearable tech through its payment ring that works with Visa and Mastercard on iOS and Android. The ring is available in black, pink, white, silver or gold, which goes up to 18K gold, in either a slim or wide cut and a matte or gloss inish. It requires no charging and is secured through an NFC tokenization that encrypts data. Durability includes impact resistance and it’s water- and dust-proof.



Price: from ZAR2,100 ($115)
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="728" height="642" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vezo-Pay-Ring.png" alt="" class="wp-image-64063 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vezo-Pay-Ring.png 728w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vezo-Pay-Ring-300x265.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" /></figure></div>

Unwrapped Xmas present revealing tablet

Gifts For Geeks: What’s Next

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SOLE SEARCHERS: The Rise Of The Solopreneurs

Our travel writer Ramdas Iyer explores the ancient, Sunbaked Ksours, Kasbahs and Vernacular mud architecture in the region South of Marrakesh.



Ksours form part of the typical desert landscape in most countries of North Africa. Some of them have become famous thanks to the sci-fi or historical films shot there, for example, Matmata in Tunisia was the site for Star Wars, Ait Benhaddou in Morocco for Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator, and scores of other productions. In southern Morocco, across the area between the Ziz and Drâa rivers, there are around 600 ksours and more than 400 kasbahs, forming what is known as the Route of 1,000 Kasbahs.



Ksour (qasr in Arabic) are fortified villages including houses, grana- ries, cemeteries and a mosque. Kasbahs are fortified palaces belonging to a single family with their own granaries, water sources, and places of worship. The first ksours were built as early as the 11th century and the indigenous inhabitants of ksour regions are of Berber origin, pri- marily residing in Morocco and Algeria.



My interest in vernacular mud architecture has taken me to many parts of the dry Saharan environment.



The High Atlas Mountain chain divides Morocco into two distinct parts. The area of ample rainfall, bountiful agriculture and placid vil- lage life to the north was historically called bled al-makhzan, the land of imperial governance. To the south, a rocky, sandy and sunbaked expanse stretched into the Sahara. This was bled es-siba, known as the land of disorder.



While most typical Moroccan travel itineraries include the imperial cities of Fes, Meknes and Rabat in the north along with the Mediterranean beaches at Agadir, little attention has been paid to the Saharan south. So, I decided to explore this amazing region south of Marrakesh across the snowcapped High Atlas passing through Ouarzazate, home to the World Heritage site, Ait Benhaddou , all the way to Zagora, home to high dunes where an old sign of dubious origin reads, ‘52 days to Timbuktu’, a journey to be undertaken on a camel.



Abdeslam Mesbahi, my well-informed driver and guide, made this trip a historically-oriented one. His ability to speak in English, French, Arabic and Tamazight (Berber language) with equal ease helped in our frequent interactions with the locals.



Set among the ancient caravan routes that traded goods from sub-Saharan Africa to the Mediterranean coast to cities like Marrakech and Essaouira, kasbahs and ksours dot the main route for over a distance of 150 kilometers. Today, most of the mud buildings are in extremely poor condition due to the emigration of people to the cities. 



Yet, many of them have been restored, including the magnificent Ait Benhaddou; Tamadot Kas- bah, owned by British billionaire-entrepreneur Richard Branson; and the recently-renovated Taourirt Kasbah, a 300-room citadel with a maze of narrow passageways, steeped towers and narrow staircases. I was fortunate to stay in a small kasbah across the street from Taourirt and was given a tour of the compound where many Ber- ber families still live in unrestored, ruined apartments.



Mesbahi gave me a detailed account of the evolution of these amazing mud structures. Ksours are typically medieval towns characteristic of Saharan settlements well-integrated into their natural environment. During medieval times, the local population consisted of two main social groups; nomads making a living through trade and pasturage, and the landowners along with their workers who lived in the oases that dotted the countryside.



While both groups were dependent on each other, conflicts report- edly arose when the nomads engaged in uncontrolled pasturage in the oases, which deprived the inhabitants of harvest. It became the main reason for conflict between the settled tribal and nomad groups, and this meant frequent raids on the granaries. 



One of the ways to prevent such attacks was to build fortified granaries. As attacks could occur quite unexpectedly and last for extended periods, the ksours were prepared for the “normal” life of their inhabitants. Apart from granaries, and spaces for living, they all featured a mosque, markets and schools. Ait Benhaddou is perhaps the most spectacular of all ksours. The walls are built with local mudbricks and the roofs made using the trunks and branches of palm trees make them truly eco-friendly.



Like most vernacular architecture in Africa, the need for stable employment, better living conditions and access to education have emp- tied these structures. Without regular upkeep, they collapse after the rains, and it broke my heart to see the entire region filled with ruined structures running for miles along oasis towns.



Tourism has helped restore some of the major buildings, but many classical structures are being relegated to architectural textbooks. The occasional traveler like me yearns for a glimpse into this ancient world. But alas, it is the Maghreb’s last sigh!

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Earthen Appeal: Exploring The Ingenious Mud Buildings Of Morocco

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds transformative potential for Africa, but harnessing it responsibly is crucial. As AI increasingly integrates into various sectors, standards for robust governance frameworks are essential to ensure its ethical and beneficial use for all Africans. The United Nations University (UNU), recognizing both the potential and the perils of AI, is actively contributing to shaping a future where AI serves as a force for good across the continent.



While AI has the potential to revolutionize sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education, Africa’s unique challenges— ranging from digital divides to diverse cultural landscapes — demand tailored governance. Developing Africa-centric AI standards rooted in universal principles adapted to local contexts is imperative to address these challenges. This approach aligns with the South African Bureau of



Standards (SABS), which emphasizes the importance of context-specific standards that address regional needs while maintaining global relevance.



Several core principles should guide the development of standards for the ethical AI ecosystem. First, AI systems must be designed with human rights and dignity as their foundation. This principle is reflected in the work of entities such as the



Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which has developed global standards for AI ethics that emphasize fairness, accountability, and transparency. Additionally, AI systems should respect Africa’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.



Second, explainable AI is crucial for building trust, particularly in sectors where AI decisions have far-reaching consequences.



Africa should emphasize transparency aligned with global standards such as those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which advocates for clear documentation and accessible information about AI systems and their decision- making processes. Furthermore, lessons from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) highlight the importance of developing explainable AI models that non-experts can understand, ensuring transparency at all levels of society.



Third, establishing clear responsibility for AI outcomes is essential. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) plays a significant role in this, providing guidelines that stress the importance of accountability in AI governance. UNU’s work on AI governance frameworks underscores the necessity for clear lines of accountability and mechanisms to address any adverse consequences of AI deployment.



The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) also offers valuable insights into safety standards and risk management, ensuring that AI systems operate reliably and are held accountable for their outcomes.



Fourth, AI’s benefits must be shared widely, bridging digital divides and preventing technology from exacerbating existing inequalities. This principle is closely aligned with the objectives of standards bodies such as SABS, which advocate for equitable access to AI technologies. The European Union’s AI Act ensures that AI deployment is inclusive, promoting social justice and protecting vulnerable populations.



Fifth, African nations must collaborate to harmonize regulations and share best practices, maximizing AI’s positive impact. UNU’s initiatives in fostering regional cooperation on AI are crucial in promoting such collaboration, ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared and that shared values and goals shape the continent’s AI landscape. Drawing lessons from the European Union’s collaborative approach to AI governance, Africa can benefit from a unified strategy that leverages regional strengths while ensuring alignment with global best practices.



Africa’s AI governance must be guided by robust frameworks that consider continental and global perspectives. The African Digital Compact (ADC) and the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy (CAIS), recently adopted by the African Union, are pivotal. These initiatives aim to create a cohesive and inclusive digital environment across Africa, ensuring that AI development and deployment align with the continent’s unique needs and aspirations. These frameworks help harmonize AI policies across African nations by setting clear standards and guidelines, fostering regional



cooperation and innovation. The ADC and the CAIS must be aligned with the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and High-Level Advisory Body on AI. The GDC emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach to digital transformation, advocating for policies prioritizing equity, inclusivity, and sustainability.



The UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI provides strategic guidance on AI-related challenges and opportunities, ensuring that global AI standards are informed by diverse perspectives, including those from Africa. These frameworks collectively support the development of AI governance standards aligned with Africa’s specific context and resonating with global principles. By integrating insights from initiatives like the ADC and the GDC, African nations can ensure their AI policies are locally relevant and globally connected.



In conclusion, Africa stands on the cusp of an AI revolution. By prioritizing robust and ethical governance and leveraging the expertise of institutions like the UNU, the continent can harness this technology to drive sustainable development, reduce inequality, and create a brighter future for all. As AI continues to evolve, ongoing research, collaboration, and adherence to standards will be essential to ensure that this powerful tool truly benefits all African

AI (Artificial Intelligence) concept. Electronic circuit. Communication network.

Expert-Speak: Standards For AI Governance Are Necessary For Africa’s Flourishing Future

Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been crowned the All Africa Business Leaders Awards’ (AABLA) first-ever ‘African of the Decade’ as he concludes a 10-year tenure marked by several laudable initiatives to improve lives across Africa.



The award recognized Adesina’s efforts to develop the continent and galvanize capital through his High 5 strategic initiatives: Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the lives of the People of Africa. His ambitious collaboration with the World Bank was to provide electricity to 300 million Africans. His term comes to an end next year.



Adesina thanked ABN Group Chairman Rakesh Wahi and his management for the accolade, one of a string that have come since his assumption of the only African financial institution rated AAA by all the three major rating agencies: Moody&#8217;s, S&amp;P and Fitch.



&#8220;God did not make a mistake when he made me an African. I will leave as an African and I will do all I can, to my final breath, for Africa. When I die and it’s time for resurrection, I will ask God for permission to come out with an African flag,’’ Adesina said, accepting the award today while at the Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco.



“But awards are not just recognition nor are they just for you. They are a recognition for an army of believers who join you to do what you are doing. It allows you to be inspired, to be motivated, to be more dedicated, to be more relentless with the vision that one has. Thank you to the ABN Group.’’



The AABLA, in partnership with CNBC Africa, were established by the ABN Group in 2012 to honor national, industry and business leaders who play pivotal roles in nurturing future generations, and contributing to the development of their organizations, countries and the continent.

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