The African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continent’s most important international men’s association football competition, is less than two months away. FORBES AFRICA offers some insight into what one can expect in the build-up to this much-anticipated exhibition.



Few times, if ever, has the favorite going into an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament emerged after a month of intense action hoisting aloft the trophy.



But two years ago, at the last edition in Cameroon, Senegal were certainly a sentimental favorite because they had come so close on several previous occasions but never won, and so when they emerged as victors, it was to many neutrals’ delight.



As reigning African champions, that will make them among the fancied sides this time round, which if historic precedence is followed, will not be welcome.



No team since Egypt in 2008 has been able to hold on to the African crown and Ghana and Cameroon are the only other countries able to retain their title.



The 34th edition Cup of Nations will kick off on January 13 and is being hosted in the Côte d&#8217;Ivoire – a second time for the West African country after the 1984 finals.



Then it was an eight-team tournament, completed in the space of 14 days, but Africa’s continental championship is much evolved. This time round, the Ivorians host 24 teams at six different stadia, four of them newly built for the tournament, which will have a bevy of top stars on display, with the ever-increasing number of African players now featuring in the top leagues in Europe.



Their clubs are not happy they will be absent for up to a month but FIFA rules dictate national teams enjoy preference on the players’ service over clubs when a continental championship, like AFCON, is hosted. Ideally, the players should not have to suffer the tug of club versus country.



But this tournament was moved back six months because of concerns over the rainy season in the region and is now being hosted slap bang in the middle of the league season to the chagrin of the clubs who now lose the services of their best African players.



The concerns over the weather should have been raised when the Ivorians first bid to host the finals but are genuine and have already caused much consternation long before a ball has even been kicked.



The newly-built showpiece Stade Olympique d&#8217;Ebimpé in Abidjan, where the final is due to be played on February 11, turned into a paddling pool in September when the Ivory Coast played Mali in a friendly and the heavens opened. There was no proper drainage and eventually the game had to be called off to the embarrassment of the Ivorians.



There were pitch problem at the last Cup of Nations in Cameroon too, to the consternation of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and they can ill afford a repeat this time, seeking to assure that the playing surfaces are of a quality that ensures a good footballing spectacle. French experts have been called in to make sure all the pitches are ready for carpet football once the event gets underway.



If all conditions do turn out to be top class, it is tournament that has the potential to be a top quality event, given the strength and depth of the protagonists.



Of the 24 participating nations, half have won the tournament previously. This time there are no newcomers but some tricky minnows with a proven pedigree for creating carnage. Equatorial Guinea and the Gambia, for example, were giant killers at the last finals and return again with the ability to upset the established pecking order.



Hosts Côte d&#8217;Ivoire, who have won twice before in 1992 and 2015, have a talented squad but are a little short of tournament temperament. They will look to the former England international Wilfred Zaha to lead their hopes and he certainly has the x-factor to lead them to the winners’ podium.



Morocco, on the back of their heroic exploits at the 2022 World Cup, will be the most fancied side but teams from Arabic-speaking North Africa have a long history of struggling when AFCON is hosted south of the Sahara.



Egypt did win in Burkina Faso in 1998 and again in Ghana 10 years thereafter, but Morocco have pointedly failed time and again in the continental championship, particularly when they have been hailed as pre-competition favorites.



Perhaps this will be their time given the confidence they collected in Qatar, where the 2022 World Cup took place, when they became the first African, and Arab, nation to reach the semi-final.



Algeria will have a heavyweight selection of French-born players from the massive Diaspora that they have across the Mediterranean, while Egypt are ever dangerous, particularly if Mohamed Salah is on song. Egypt lost narrowly in the last Cup of Nations finals to Senegal on post-match penalties.



It has been a decade since Nigeria last won the competition but this could be their opportunity again with a squad brimful of attacking talent. It is led by the striker Victor Osimhen, who finished top scorer in Italy last season where he helped Napoli to win the league.



Often times, however, the players’ ambition is let down by the foibles of their administrators, whose incompetence might make things tough for Nigeria to realize its massive potential.



The tournament is being played in Abidjan (two stadiums), Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro with all but two of the venues built specifically for the tournament.

South Africa v Morocco – Africa Cup of Nations

The Pride Of African Football: A Look Ahead

A vision to enhance Nigeria&#8217;s power landscape and facilitate a transition to a more sustainable energy mix.



In a strategic move in Abuja, Nigeria&#8217;s federal capital territory (FCT), the minister of power, Bayo Adelabu, held a meeting with Sun Africa LLC, a US-based renewable energy solutions provider. &#8220;Together, we solidified a collaboration to enhance Nigeria&#8217;s power landscape,&#8221; he affirmed. The collaboration aims to deliver 961 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation infrastructure and 455 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage systems, amounting to a $2.2 billion investment.



Adelabu disclosed this while sharing the vision during his visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic. &#8220;I had the honor of representing Mr President [Bola Tinubu] at the commissioning of the West African Power Pool&#8217;s (WAPP) Communication and Coordination Center,&#8221; he posted via his X account on November 19.



This initiative by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) promises &#8220;seamless power transmission and market-driven energy trading across the West African sub-region.&#8221;



Excitement resonated in the minister&#8217;s words as he shared his anticipation of the positive impact of the solar PV generation infrastructure on Nigeria. &#8220;This collaboration is a crucial step in transitioning to a more sustainable power mix, vital for economic growth and environmental responsibility,&#8221; he emphasized. The commitment from Sun Africa aligns with his power sector transformation roadmap, focusing on distributed power leveraging renewable energy.



This is coming on the heels of the visit of the president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, where he co-convened a private sector roundtable with discussions held on the crucial role electricity plays in the country&#8217;s economic development. The World Bank notes that 85 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, and if left unaddressed, this figure is expected to rise to 94 million by 2030.



The financial backing for this ambitious venture is equally robust. &#8220;Financing partners ING Bank and Citi, backed by the US Export-Import Bank (US-EXIM Bank), actively support this venture, committing up to $10 billion over the years,&#8221; revealed the minister.



This support, according to Adelabu, not only ensures the success of the initial phase but also lays the foundation for future developments. Collaborating with Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Limited as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) partner further solidifies the project&#8217;s strategic execution.



He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved, recognizing this collaborative effort as a milestone in advancing sustainable and reliable energy solutions for Nigeria. &#8220;Together, we forge a path towards a brighter, greener, and more energy-efficient Nigeria,&#8221; he concluded.

Laptop, farm and engineer team together at night for renewable energy, power and wind turbine. Electrician or technician man and woman in nature for electricity, eco and green environment maintenance

Nigeria And Sun Africa Spearhead $2.2 Billion Renewable Energy Solution

Analysts express concerns over the second postponement of the Central Bank of Nigeria&#8217;s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, crucial for interest rates, leading to uncertainties in the market.



While investors began the week on a negative note, resulting in a 0.15% decrease in Nigeria&#8217;s equities market, it closed with a 0.07% gain on Thursday. This was propelled by bargain activities in small to mid-cap stocks.



On Monday, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, CWG, and Caverton Offshore Support Group witnessed profit-taking, leading to share price declines. Stanbic IBTC Holdings saw a 7.08% drop, CWG lost 3.14%, and Caverton was down by 2.78%. However, on Thursday, Beta Glass led market advancers, rising by 10%, while Multiverse, Mecure Industries, and Nigerian Enamelware also experienced significant gains.



At the close of Thursday&#8217;s session, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX)-All-Share Index (ASI) increased to 71,052.85 points from 71,008.7 recorded on Monday. Market capitalization reached ₦39.074 trillion ($40.85 billion), bringing the year’s return to 38.63% from 38.55%. In 6,579 deals, investors exchanged 563,707,721 shares worth ₦3.442 billion ($3.59 million).



“For this week, we expect a couple of factors to impact investors’ sentiment. Specifically, we anticipate a downturn in market momentum driven by concerns around the inconsistency of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), [as it further postponed its next meeting scheduled to hold during the week].



“Also, we foresee profit-taking activities across tickers that have realized significant gains. However, we do not rule out the possibility of bargain-hunting activities during the week as investors strategically take positions on stocks with attractive entry points.



“Overall, we expect the market to trade on a mixed note with a prevailing bearish sentiment. Thus, we expect the NGX-ASI to close in the red zone this week,” Meristem research analysts reportedly said in their stock recommendation for Monday.



The devaluation of the Naira in June has had a significant impact on Nigerian businesses, particularly foreign-owned subsidiaries trading on the Nigerian Exchange.



Companies with foreign parent groups, importing a substantial portion of their inventories, experienced unrealized FX losses due to the devaluation.



The MPC of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has twice postponed its 293rd meeting, initially set for September 25 and 26, since the nomination of the new governor, Yemi Cardoso, in the same month.



The meeting, intended to address various issues, including the decision on interest rates, was rescheduled for the second time on Monday, shifting to an unspecified date. This meeting would have signified the inaugural rates meeting under Cardoso. While acting as CBN governor from June to September, Folashodun Shonubi oversaw two interest rate increases at the bank.



With the enactment of the new CBN Act (2007) by the National Assembly, the reconstituted MPC &#8220;meets bi-monthly, except in the event of an emergency&#8221;. The two-day meeting occurred in January, March, May, and July 24 and 25. According to the Act, the meeting was supposed to take place in September and November, raising concerns about efforts to stabilize the nation&#8217;s currency, which has plummeted about 42% this year, contributing to inflation which worsened in October.



Nigerian analyst Kolawole Oyebola weighs in on the situation, attributing the negative sentiment to global economic concerns and regional factors impacting investor confidence.



Oyebola notes that the early-week downturn was a reflection of the cautious approach adopted by investors amid geopolitical tensions and fluctuating commodity prices. &#8220;The market experienced a slight dip on Monday as investors reacted to external pressures, exhibiting a typical risk-averse behavior,&#8221; Oyebola tells FORBES AFRICA.



&#8220;The mid-week recovery suggests that investors reevaluated their positions, with a focus on the underlying strength of the Nigerian economy,&#8221; Oyebola explains. He highlights positive indicators, including increased trading volumes and strategic investments in key sectors.



While uncertainties persist, Oyebola expresses optimism about the market&#8217;s ability to navigate challenges. &#8220;Investors are becoming more discerning, and we&#8217;re witnessing a more mature approach to risk management,&#8221; he remarks.



The analyst urges stakeholders to closely monitor global economic developments, emphasizing the interconnected nature of financial markets. &#8220;I encourage investors to adopt a balanced and informed strategy to navigate the evolving landscape.&#8221;

Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.

Nigerian Equities Overcome Early Week Slump, Close With Gains On Thursday

The strain is concerning for entrepreneurs who highlight the challenges posed by exchange rate volatility and call for sustainable solutions amid fluctuating policies and economic dynamics.



The Nigerian naira is facing continuous strain on the foreign exchange (FX) market, reaching ₦1,145 per dollar on the parallel market, a slight dip from ₦1,140 on Monday.



Two pivotal policies, implemented since President Bola Tinubu&#8217;s inauguration on May 29, have significantly influenced Nigeria&#8217;s economic landscape. The immediate cessation of the fuel subsidy on the inauguration day and the naira unification on June 14 marked a departure toward a free-floating system by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).



Under this system, deposit money banks (DMBs) and forex market dealers are allowed to engage in unrestricted buying and selling of currency at market-determined rates. This shift signifies a move away from the previous multiple forex regime to a more flexible approach.



The naira experienced a period of depreciation, plummeting to ₦1,310 in October on the parallel market. However, it briefly rebounded to ₦960 in early November. While the naira is demonstrating signs of appreciation at the investors and exporters (I&amp;E) window, the parallel market remains a preferred choice for urgent business transactions due to its ease of accessibility. This preference intensifies the pressure on the naira.



When requesting foreign currency in Nigerian banks, certain regulatory documents are necessary for Form A, including Personal Travel Allowance (PTA), Business Travel Allowance (BTA), school fees, and medical fees. Additionally, Form Q applications for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may entail a rigorous and time-consuming process which takes days.



At the Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira was quoted at ₦830.97 on Tuesday, an appreciation from ₦847.55 quoted on Monday, as reported by data from the Financial Markets Dealers Quotations (FMDQ).



The official market witnessed a peak spot rate of ₦1,120 per dollar and a lower rate of ₦701 on Friday. The daily FX market turnover surged by 23.60 percent to $157.78 million on Friday from the $127.65 million recorded on Thursday, reflecting the dynamic nature of the foreign exchange landscape in Nigeria.



Exporters like Oluwaseun Obilana are expressing deep concern over the implications for their businesses.



Obilana, a player in Nigeria&#8217;s export industry, voices his apprehension about the continuous strain on the national currency as exporters rely on stable exchange rates for international trade.



Emphasizing the challenges this poses for exporters, Obilana states to FORBES AFRICA, &#8220;The volatility in the exchange rate is affecting our ability to plan and price our products competitively in the global market. It adds uncertainty to our operations and erodes the profitability of our businesses.&#8221;



He adds: &#8220;A weaker naira not only impacts pricing but also raises the cost of importing raw materials and machinery crucial for manufacturing and production. This, in turn, could have cascading effects on the overall economy.&#8221;



The CBN has been grappling with measures to stabilize the exchange rate, implementing various policies to address the challenges faced in the FX market. However, the recent fluctuations indicate the persistence of underlying issues that continue to pose a threat to the stability of the national currency.



Obilana calls for more sustainable solutions to ensure the stability of the naira.



Nigerian investor Moses Adeolubodun highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges facing the naira.



&#8220;The consistent depreciation of the naira is a cause for concern and demands urgent attention from relevant authorities. A resilient and stable currency is crucial for investor confidence and economic growth,&#8221; Adeolubodun tells FORBES AFRICA.



He also attributes the recent fluctuations to a variety of factors, including global economic uncertainties, fluctuating oil prices, and domestic challenges. Nigeria, being an oil-dependent economy, is particularly susceptible to the volatility of oil markets. &#8220;The recent trend has put additional pressure on policymakers to explore more effective solutions.&#8221;



Adeolubodun emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to devise sustainable strategies. &#8220;We need a holistic approach that addresses both short-term challenges and establishes a foundation for long-term stability,&#8221; he states.

Naira Value Plunges on Street Amid ‘Stampede’ for Dollars

FX Pressure Persists As Nigerian Naira Hits ₦1,145 Per Dollar On Parallel Market

Mbongeni Buthelezi&#8217;s fascination with turning discarded materials into meaningful art is evident, and his creative sanctuary is a testament to his unwavering dedication.



It is the middle of July in South Africa and everyone is dressed head to toe in full winter gear, including Mbongeni Buthelezi as he opens the entrance to his studio for me.



The immediate assumption one makes at this point is “oh no, it&#8217;s going to an ice cold studio”. However, as you walk in, you are greeted with a large warehouse space with expansive windows allowing a good amount of sunlight into the building. These allow Buthelezi to see his work accurately and also provide the space with a welcoming source of heat. The heat guns that Buthelezi and his assistant have going to apply the plastic to the canvas of his latest piece also provide an element of warmth as they had clearly been doing this for the previous few hours.



The studio itself is a haven of transformation. As one enters, the artistic journey that Buthelezi has embarked upon becomes palpable. The creations within are diverse and captivating, ranging from pieces that could be mistaken for oil or watercolor paintings to sculptures that stretch over seven feet in height, even extending to custom-designed dining tables. Buthelezi&#8217;s fascination with turning discarded materials into meaningful art is evident, and his creative sanctuary is a testament to his unwavering dedication.



When asked about his journey as an artist, Buthelezi&#8217;s response is: &#8220;This is my whole life. For me, it all really began in 1985 when I first stepped into an art class. By 1992, I had transitioned from part-time exploration to full-time immersion into this art thing.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
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The years that followed were filled with growth, marked by the completion of an art teaching course and exploration of teaching art. As his commitment to his craft deepened, he navigated the realms of both artistic creation and education. However, due a few stubborn students he encountered along the way, the decision to take his art career into the realm of an independent artist was made all that much easier. He reflects: &#8220;Animals are dying, fish in the ocean are dying – because of this material and because of us as human beings. It is us that need to take responsibility.&#8221;



Buthelezi&#8217;s early years at art school as an artist are interwoven with the exploration of varied techniques. His journey as a student introduced him to a rich array of artistic methods, each of which contributed to the evolution of his craft. The culmination of these experiences granted him a versatile toolkit that enriched his artistic expression. A pivotal moment was a call for innovation, a desire to create something uniquely his own. The scarcity of resources, combined with financial constraints, propelled him to seek alternative media. Fueled by an ambition to break free from conventional artistic pathways, Buthelezi embarked on experimentation.



Buthelezi says: “There was a time that I once thought I need a change, I need to do something that would be unique and what was that going to be? At the beginning I had no money to buy paint, I didn’t really have enough money to make ends meet, to be honest. So I began to seriously look around and see what I could possibly do to be able to proceed with whatever it was that I wanted to achieve.”



By the 1990s, Buthelezi had cemented his status as a professional artist, channeling his craft to advocate for a healthier planet. His artworks, born from recycled plastics, encapsulate the essence of growing up in South African townships. Over the course of his career, he has harnessed art as a potent tool for education, sparking dialogues about the global menace of plastic pollution. He boldly asserts that the contemporary world offers abundant resources for art creation without necessitating additional manufacturing.



“Honestly my work has been displayed in exhibitions, festivals, workshops which have taken me to all kinds of places. Germany and Australia were two of my favorites. Vermont in Canada was amazing but very cold!” These exhibitions showcased the universality of his message. His art functions as a mirror reflecting societal realities, prompting discussions on pressing issues. “Last year I engaged in a discussion on plastic innovation at the South African National Science and Technology Forum. Later in the year, I was set to participate in an art and environment festival in Abu Dhabi.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-22-at-10.16.14-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60305" style="width:379px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-22-at-10.16.14-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-22-at-10.16.14-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-22-at-10.16.14-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-22-at-10.16.14.jpg 853w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>


Amidst the acclaim, Buthelezi has encountered sceptics questioning the sustainability of his



technique due to the eventual depletion of plastic resources. “However, I welcome this outcome as it really does align with my work&#8217;s purpose which is highlighting the true urgency of plastic pollution in the world.”



In his ongoing journey, Buthelezi not only creates art but also fosters conversations and inspires change, which in his opinion is the purpose of art. As he prepares for engagements and exhibitions, his commitment to being an artist mirrors society and stands as a testament to the transformative power of creativity. The fusion of innovation, environmental consciousness, and advocacy underscores the significance of his work in addressing global challenges. He combines artistic expression with environmental advocacy, using recycled plastics.



His art sparks dialogues on plastic pollution globally. His work is a testament to the transformative power of creativity, addressing global challenges through innovation and advocacy. A truly visionary man being the change in the world that he wants to see. Maybe we could all take a little something from that.

Mbongeni Buthelezi uses plastic for his art

Plastic To Paint: The South African Combining Artistic Expression With Environmental Advocacy

The achievement has garnered acclaim from industry insiders, including entertainers, who praise this triumph as a testament to the international success and growing influence of Afrobeats.



At the 2023 Billboard Music Awards held on Sunday, Nigerian sensation Rema and global pop icon Selena Gomez secured the Top Afrobeats Song award for Calm Down, while another Nigerian talent Burna Boy emerged as the Top Afrobeats Artist.



Calm Down soared to the number 3 position on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Rema&#8217;s debut on the chart and adding to Gomez&#8217;s tally of top 10 hits.



Spurred by the release of his seventh studio album, I Told Them, Burna Boy set a new record in September by becoming the first African artist to debut two songs on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart within a single calendar year, with Sittin’ On Top Of The World featuring rapper 21 Savage making its debut at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Last Last, one of his chart-topping singles, catapulted Burna Boy to his first number 1 position on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart, making him a trailblazer as only the fifth artist to lead the list last year.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-59844" style="width:688px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1677330587-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NEWARK, NEW JERSEY &#8211; SEPTEMBER 12: Rema attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


The Billboard Music Awards introduced new categories this year, including Top Afrobeats Artist and Top Afrobeats Song, recognizing the genre&#8217;s growing influence in the global music landscape. Afrobeats, a contemporary genre, blends traditional African rhythms with modern styles like highlife, hip hop, and dancehall. The genre&#8217;s evolution traces back to Afrobeat, pioneered by the late Nigerian legend Fela Kuti.



The global embrace of Afrobeats is evident in the expansion of awards categories at major ceremonies. The MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), the Grammys, and the American Music Awards have all introduced categories recognizing outstanding achievements in Afrobeats.



Rema&#8217;s success with Calm Down extends beyond the Billboard Music Awards. The track previously earned accolades at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) for Best Afrobeats Song, MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) for Best Afrobeats, and Trace Awards for Song of the Year and Best Global African Artist in the same year.



During the acceptance speeches at the Billboard Music Awards, Gomez expressed gratitude to Rema for choosing her to be part of the remarkable song, while Rema celebrated the victory as a symbol of unity and the global dominance of Afrobeats. Both artists acknowledged their fans and collaborators for their unwavering support.



Accepting the Billboard award, Gomez said, “Thank you guys so, so much for this award. This is honestly Rema’s doing. He chose me to be a part of such an incredible song. So I want to thank him and thank all of you for streaming and listening and I wish we could be there. But thank you!”



“This honor for Calm Down is a celebration of unity and the global domination of Afrobeats. I want to say a big shoutout to Selena Gomez, Mavin Records, Josie Ward as well as the amazing fans who supported us all the way to this point. I want to say a big thank you to Billboard — I’m very grateful. All the way from Nigeria, Rema. One love,” said Rema.



Burna Boy, accepting the top Afrobeats artist award, said: &#8220;Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you. Big up, Billboard Music Awards. Big up to everyone involved. This is dedicated to Africa and every artist coming out of Africa now, you get me. This is for you and yeah, man, the future’s bright. You guys are gonna see the vision. This is just the tip of the iceberg but you’re gonna see the whole vision soon. Salute, love.&#8221;



Expressing elation at the triumph of Burna Boy and Rema, Nigerian artist Onyebuchi Steven, popularly known as Gorimakpa, acknowledges the significance of this achievement in solidifying Nigeria&#8217;s dominance in the global music arena.



&#8220;As Afrobeats continues to assert its influence on the global music scene, the success of Burna Boy and Rema at the Billboard Music Awards serves as a milestone, reinforcing Nigeria&#8217;s position as a powerhouse in the world of music,&#8221; Gorimakpa tells FORBES AFRICA.



The artist highlights the role of the internet in this triumph, emphasizing the impact of social media and digital streaming platforms in propelling Nigerian music to international acclaim. &#8220;The success of Burna Boy and Rema serves as a testament to the global appeal of Afrobeats, encouraging artists to leverage digital platforms and connect with a diverse audience worldwide.&#8221;



He further expresses optimism about the impact this recognition will have on the future of Nigerian music. &#8220;I believe that this achievement will further inspire and motivate the next generation of Nigerian artists to continue pushing boundaries and make their mark on the international stage.&#8221;



Nigerian event host and compere Sadiq Ola Adebimpe, popularly known as Sceed Barms, adds to FORBES AFRICA: &#8220;It&#8217;s evident that the world is listening, and the numbers songs by our artists attract on the digital streaming platforms are not only from this part of the world [Nigeria]. Burna Boy and Rema have become the most-streamed artists in Nigeria on Spotify this year, and winning these awards is a great reward for their tireless efforts in advancing Afrobeats.



&#8220;What this means for the Nigerian music industry is that our artists are truly making us proud, both at home and beyond. The continuous growth of Afrobeats is a testament to the dedication of our artists, who serve as the forefront soldiers, tirelessly contributing to the industry and the genre.&#8221;

Burna Boy Performs At Rogers Arena

‘Reinforcing Nigeria’s Position As Music Powerhouse’: Rema And Burna Boy Win Big At Billboard Awards

Exploring the rich history of the Luangwa Valley in Zambia and the role of chieftaincy in the political and social fabric of the country.



Driving past a sign that said ‘Chief Kakumbi’s Own Palace’ every day for over a week, in April 2023, inside the game management area of one of the premier wildlife conservation areas in Zambia, the South Luangwa National Park, made me curious about its presence.



A bit of investigation opened me up to a deeper understanding of Zambian chieftaincy and its role in the political and social fabric of the country. At the lodge where I was staying, everyone hailed from the Kunda tribe with Senior Chief Mambwee Che Nsefu Tenth (Smart Sonkhani Phiri) and Chief Kakumbi, &nbsp;one of the five Kunda chiefs in the south Luangwa, Mambwe District. Yet the locals spoke a dialect of Bantu found among the Bisa Ethnic Group of the Congo.



I immediately set about questioning senior members of the local Mfuwe village about their migration from the Congo into the Luangwa Valley (part of Northern Rhodesia prior to the 1960s) only to receive anecdotal stories of a migration in the 18th century. The Kunda were a large majority of the people living in the districts surrounding the park. When they spoke, I could hear a significant difference in their dialects.



“The indigenous people of South Luangwa National Park have three dialects, which are Chiŵetwe language from our original name Ŵetwe people before the change to&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;people; Chikunda language from our current name – Kunda&nbsp;people and&nbsp;Kunda; Nsenga language which came about when we stayed with the Nsenga people during the Chikunda – Nsenga and the Ngoni – Kunda&nbsp;tribal wars respectively. The language of the&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;people has undergone a serious metamorphosis,” Zulu Daniel, head of media at The&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;Royal Establishment, elaborates to FORBES AFRICA.



During my trip, I soon determined that it was enslavement and internecine warfare that caused large migrations into the Luangwa Valley. The valley had been unpopulated due to its inability to support livestock with a high density of carnivores and because of the sleeping sickness disease. The Luangwa River flows into the Zambezi River where a plethora of land, gold, ivory, and enslaved people, among other things, incentivized the Portuguese crown to colonize the surrounding areas at that time, including what is now Mozambique and parts of Malawi. In the absence of a colonial army, Portuguese landlords hired individuals who voluntary sold themselves for economic survival and collectively they became the Chikunda.



These armies could be over 20,000-strong which helped the Portuguese subjugate local villages.



Utilizing the Chikunda warriors, the Portuguese raided nearby villages for the enslaved individuals and ivory to sell to Swahili and Arab traders from Zanzibar.



The Kunda moved to the Luangwa Valley in the 18th century after local tribal warfare among the Bisa people of the Luba Kingdom of the Congo.



“The&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;split from the Bisa in around 1840s. The leader of the&nbsp;Kunda, who chose to secede from his father was known as Mambwee. The royal clans are Chulu for the Senior Chief Mambwee Che Nsefu, Chief Mambwee Malama, Chief Mambwee Mnkhanya and Chief Mambwee Che Jumbe, Mbawo Clan for Chief Mambwee Kakumbi Chief Sandwe of Lusangazi District and Sakala clan for Chieftainess Mambwee Msoro. Kakumbi and Msoro are in-laws who became&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;Chiefs by marrying the royal women from the Chulu clan in the late 1800s,” says Daniel, throwing more light on the history and legend of the region.



“The migration from Bisaland concerns Bisa Chief Chaŵala Makumba. Chief Makumba had ordered that all male children be put to death at birth so that there was no threat to his authority as chief. One woman, Kaŵa Ciloŵa, had given birth to three daughters and then produced a son. This son was killed. Again, she became pregnant, producing another son who was also killed. Towards the end of her next pregnancy, she went into hiding in the forest and, after producing a son, took him to a neighboring village where Chief Mwane, a relative of her husband lived. There, the son was named Mambwee and there he grew to become a man. After hearing his life story, Mambwee decided to leave the realm of Chaŵala Makumba, gathered his people and moved east.”&nbsp;



The Kunda settled in a harsh area without the ability to raise livestock in the Luangwa Valley. Their peace was short-lived as they too were enslaved. This led the Kunda to disperse all over the Luangwa Valley for safety. As the Portuguese colonies crumbled in the 20th century, the Chikunda formed alliances with the Kunda and settled in the valley.



The militarization of the region of today’s KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa by Shaka Zulu, whose quest to consolidate his empire in the late 19th century, forced Ngoni residents of Swaziland to flee north into the Luangwa Valley, thereby putting pressure on the already-settled Kunda and Chikunda. The Ngoni were fierce warriors and soon started raiding both Chikunda and Kunda villages for enslaved people, which was the main economic driver at the time. The Kunda started off as pastoralists but were primarily hunters.



“The&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;people fought their own wars and defended themselves,” adds Daniel.



“It&#8217;s important to make mention though that the Kakumbi Chieftaincy shared great history with the Chikunda people as they did a lot of hunting together [with] the first Chief Mambwee Kakumbi Loŵe Mungu up until the Chikunda people were chased away from South Luangwa Valley by&nbsp;Kunda&nbsp;warriors from Msoro Chiefdom, under the leadership of Makoleka and Mphandika who were the sons of Chief Mambwee Msoro then.”



With the arrival of the British and the formation of Northern Rhodesia and the Nyasaland colony, the war with Ngoni people was won by the British, and tribal peace declared in Northern Rhodesia.



With independence obtained from the British in 1964, the new country of Zambia was born, made from parcels of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the former name for colonial Malawi.



Today, the Government of Zambia, according to Daniel, recognizes four Paramount Chiefs, 43 Senior Chiefs and 241 Chiefs, summing up to 287 traditional leaders from 72 ethnic groups, 10 provinces and 72 districts.



Thus, Chief Kakumbi and Chief Jumbe of the Kunda people, in particular, own vast tracts of land along the South Luangwa National Park these days assist in game management, sustainable development and in the mediation of disputes and conflicts among the residents.



My attempt to meet Chief Kakumbi one Saturday – the day he meets with his people in the palace – narrowly failed since he had to attend a parliamentary meeting in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. My homage – a chicken (given as a gift or sign of respect) – did not make it to his kitchen. A casual sign by the roadside revealed so much of the rich history of the Zambezi valley, where the great explorer David Livingstone began missions and later exposed and campaigned against enslavement, and the darkest chapter of humanity.



Note: This article was updated on March 20, 2024 to include additional facts and information about the Kunda tribe and the history of Zambia, and commentary from The Kunda Royal Establishment.

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Chief Specialties: The Rich History Of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming companies and economies worldwide, including in Africa. Data is an essential component in the training of AI systems. Unfortunately, the lack of accurate, high-quality data is a significant impediment in Africa. Synthetic data, or data generated by a computer, may be used to train AI models. While synthetic data offers tremendous opportunities for African innovation and development, it poses significant risks that must be carefully assessed.



Gathering real-world data in many African regions is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming.



These obstacles are brought about by various factors, including social, cultural, technological, and infrastructural deficiencies. Understanding and managing varied cultural traditions and languages may be challenging, especially when gathering data from multiple locations and people. As a result, synthetic data provides a solution by enabling researchers and businesses to create massive databases tailored to their specific needs. 



Data poverty is a lack of access to high-quality data and the ability to use such data appropriately. It’s a significant issue that hinders economic progress, decision-making, and innovation and worsens poverty. The data availability and consumption discrepancy between Africa and the rest of the world reflects more profound disparities and has significant repercussions. 



As a result, critical innovations in health, education, and transportation operate better for the rest of the globe than for Africa. For example, due to Africa’s relative data scarcity, AI systems in Africa have fewer data sets to learn from than the rest of the globe.



Synthetic data is presented as a strategy to supplement this data scarcity. The generative adversarial networks (GANs) AI method is often used to create synthetic data. GANs consist of two neural networks (akin to an artificial brain), the generator and the discriminator. The generator produces new data, while the discriminator discriminates between real and fake data. 



After they are trained adversarially (i.e. generator producing synthetic data while the discriminator differentiating fake from real data), the generator and discriminator become as good as possible at their respective tasks. One benefit of using synthetic data is that personal or sensitive information is frequently eliminated, minimizing the risk of privacy violations. This is particularly important in businesses where data privacy is vital, such as healthcare. Furthermore, by making data more available, synthetic data may lower the barriers to entry for firms and inventors.



However, synthetic data has significant drawbacks. One of them is that the models used to generate synthetic data significantly influence its quality. It reflects limitations in data (such as bias and small size), resulting in compromised and less accurate AI models and potentially perpetuating inequality, injustice and poverty. This is not the intended consequence, so there is a need to develop ethical guidelines for using synthetic data. These should first guarantee that synthetic data is anonymized for privacy protection and does not include identifiable information that may be connected back to persons.



Second, synthetic data must adhere to data protection norms and regulations governing personal information use. Third, synthetic data should accurately replicate the underlying real-world data without inserting biases or distortions. One way to achieve this is to increase data size used to generate synthetic data. Fourth, synthetic data and the processes used to create it should be disclosed. 



Fifth, explicit procedures for generating, managing, and using synthetic data should be developed and publicized. Sixth, detect and prevent misuse, as well as monitor and audit the use of synthetic data regularly. Seventh, acquire informed consent from individuals whose data were utilized to produce synthetic data, if applicable. Eighth, clarify how synthetic data will be utilized and what privacy controls will be in place. Ninth, prevent biases in synthetic data from reinforcing stereotypes or discrimination.



Tenth, keep cultural norms and values in mind while developing and exploiting synthetic data, especially when it represents different populations. Eleventh, since GANs are used to generate synthetic data and are computationally costly, consider the environmental effect of data collection, storage, and production and seek to offset any negative impacts. Twelfth, establish specific processes for exchanging synthetic data with other institutions or researchers while meeting ethical standards. 



Thirteenth, collaborate with relevant stakeholders, such as ethics committees or review boards, to ensure that synthetic data activities are handled ethically. Synthetic data has the potential to be a game-changer in Africa’s AI journey, managing data scarcity, increasing privacy, and encouraging innovation. As Africa embraces AI and synthetic data, a balanced approach is essential. Policymakers, companies, and academics must work together to guarantee that synthetic data is used correctly and ethically.

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

Synthetic Data As A Double-Edged Sword In Africa’s AI Revolution

If you wanted to be a great footballer, would it make sense to avoid kicking the ball for the first two minutes of every game?



The intuitive answer is obviously no.



There is no reason to believe that doing nothing could ever be a good strategy.



But surprisingly, we know that Lionel Messi does exactly that.



He quite literally just walks around and watches, which explains why he rarely scores in the first five minutes and in the first two minutes of a game.



There is, however, method to this madness because not only does Messi use this time to quieten his nerves, but he also uses it to develop his game plan.



Pep Guardiola, who coached him from 2008 to 2012, explained that he’s not being lazy. He is actually incredibly engaged, as he is watching the opposition in order to understand where the defensive weak points are.



Messi provides a unique example of how, by analyzing and then acting on data, we can give ourselves a competitive edge.



And data analysis, when done well, can also help companies unlock huge opportunities by allowing them to make decisions that, like Messi’s, seem intuitively wrong.



Take Yongqianbao, a Chinese financial services provider.



By analyzing consumer behavior, they know that people who type faster are less likely to default, which in turn allows them to provide credit at better rates than their competitors.



Another example comes from the video streaming industry. Conventional wisdom has always been that you should give your customers an interface that provides them with plenty of choices about what to watch. Choice was seen as a key feature if you wanted your app to be successful.



But thanks to TikTok, we have learned that giving consumers a choice isn’t a feature; it’s actually more of a bug.



Think for a minute about how you interact with TikTok on your device.



You just open the app and start watching, right? If you like what you see, you keep watching. If you don’t, you scroll on.



TikTok has ignored the conventional wisdom and removed choice to ensure they collect better data for their algorithms. This, in turn, allows them to deliver incredibly- accurate content based on what we actually want, not what we think we want.



Our taps and swipes have enabled them to create a platform that reportedly has over 1 billion users and average viewing times that are estimated to surpass YouTube by 12 or more minutes a day.



Anecdotes like this showcase why leaders should think less about using their “experience” or “intuition” when making decisions and instead invest more of their time and money into data-led decision-making.



Indeed, when we zoom out, it should not be surprising to learn that nine of the most valuable companies in the world are successful either because of their clever use of data or because they help their clients better use data at scale.



But if data is indeed the new oil, why do the majority of companies seem unwilling or at least unable to monetize it in the same way the top tech firms have?



Historically, cost would have been the obvious answer, but this is less relevant today, as cloud and other related technologies are making it easier and cheaper for everyone to analyze data at scale.



This leads me to conclude that the real barrier to tech- enablement comes down to the organization’s cultural maturity.



If you want to truly embrace the power of data across an organization, you can only do this if you grant more people the authority to investigate and use algorithms to make business decisions in real-time. This means delegating decision-making. Encouraging continual learning. Allowing experimentation. Accepting that mistakes will be made. Not many organizations have leadership teams that are bold enough to truly trust their people with these levels of autonomy.



But those that do have will have a significant advantage because true digitization only comes when you are both tech-enabled and human- empowered.

Businesswoman viewing graphs on digital tablet in business meeting

Data Offers Huge Opportunities.But Only If You Trust Your People

Young African football stars are embracing the opportunity presented by Major League Soccer in North America as a stepping stone to the best clubs in Europe. FORBES AFRICA was in St Louis in Missouri in the United States for these exclusive interviews, and the numbers are big.



The recent arrival of Lionel Messi has distorted the image somewhat but the reality of Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America is it’s a league of rapidly growing potential, with increasingly promising talent and a stepping stone to the top leagues of Europe.



Football is finding increasing traction in a market where it used to be considered a minor sport and the MLS is changing its image from a league that was seen as the parking lot for fading superstars coming to the end of their careers and looking for a final pay day, to one where the dreams of young players can be realized.



As a result, many young Africans are embracing the opportunity.



“To be honest, I had doubts in my mind because I thought the style of football was not anything like we do back home,” Njabulo Blom, the 23-year-old South African international midfielder who was sold by Kaizer Chiefs to St Louis City at the start of the season, tells FORBES AFRICA.



“I know that the MLS is not rated among the best leagues in the world but the standard of football is very good. It’s not what people think outside,” Blom adds from St Louis, the Midwestern city in the United States (US) where the local club have just joined the MLS and are making waves.



The numbers back him up. As per Forbes, the values of MLS franchises have jumped, since 2019, by 85% on average, with defending champions Los Angeles FC now valued at around $1 billion, breaking into the top 20 in the world. Another example is the value of Seattle Sounders has increased from $405 million to $850 million in just four years, with the team recently becoming the first American side to participate at the Club World Cup.



Revenues have reportedly grown continuously, by 16.6% on average per year between 2007 and 2018 but the spectacular progress is reflected in the price of what new franchises are paying to join the league.



The 10 original clubs invested $10 million each when the league kicked off in 1996 but Portland and Vancouver paid $35 million in 2011. For Charlotte FC, who arrived in 2022, the bill amounted to $325 million.



Average attendances are around 22,000 spectators, a figure similar to France. The record for a single game is the 82,110 that turned out in July at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to watch the Los Angeles derby, dubbed ‘El Trafico’.



This year’s expansion side St Louis City are setting new standards with their sell-out stadium, a brand-new venue and a state-of-the-art training facility next door.



They are coached by Johannesburg- born Bradley Carnell, who played for South Africa at the 2002 World Cup and had a successful career in the German Bundesliga after starting out as a 16-year- old professional at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.



He later earned his coaching stripes as an assistant at Free State Stars and Orlando Pirates.



“They said the expansion job is one of the most difficult in any American sport, so good luck. I was like, ‘Ok’,” Carnell says.



“Then I met the ownership group and spoke to them about vision, passion and what we stand for. There was just too many similarities and synergy there for I think either party. Looking in hindsight, everything just panned out,” he adds.



St Louis are the first new team in MLS history to win their opening five matches and are well-placed for the end of season playoffs.



But Carnell, in a long interview with FORBES AFRICA, insists on patience.



“Short-term, it’s about getting infrastructure, academy, style of play— check those boxes. Mid-term, be competitive — we’re checking that box as well. Now, long-term, can we be really successful? The goal is to be compared, one day, to those great teams in the league already.”



In his playing days, Carnell had a chance to move overseas after being spotted as a teenager when he was competing for South Africa at the under-20 level at a tournament in France.



He thinks MLS offers the same chance to African players, especially those in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, which MLS clubs are now showing much more interest in. “We just have to lead by example,” he says of the growing South African numbers in the league.



“If we can now, you know, just be key ambassadors for our product back home, and to put other guys on the map because now there is slowly more chatter; there’s a couple of players that are on the radar.”



Last year Minnesota United bought Bongokuhle Hlongwane from Maritzburg United and in recent months the teenager Olwethu Makhanya has moved to Philadelphia Union, while the exciting Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula is now at Toronto FC. 



The attraction of these players is their age. MLS rules allow clubs to take on more foreign players, as long as they are aged under-23, and it is here where Africans are in demand. Other top signings in recent months include Richard Odada (Kenya) and Prince Owusu, a German of



Ghanaian descent, and all can expect to be in contention to move onto a club in Europe in a few years, if they perform.



All can be assured they are on a stage that offers a chance to move on to bigger and better vistas in Europe.



According to the league, in 2022, MLS paid $175 million in transfer/acquisition fees, and for the fourth consecutive year it set a new high for fees paid, double the amount of five years ago. Revenue generated for outgoing players in 2022 was around $100 million. This does not include sell- on fees for the likes of Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson or Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards.



The figures for 2023 will be higher, especially the sales of players to clubs in Europe.



Blom’s advice to compatriots offered the chance to play in the MLS is: “Come play, because it’s really a great stepping stone to grow. It’s like an introduction to a high level of football.”



Mailula, for one, heeded the advice even though he had become a regular with Mamelodi Sundowns and could have a comfortable time at home, where he had become an almost overnight star after just one season with the Pretoria club. “It was not an easy decision to take, but I feel like I need to get out of my comfort zone, to explore, to get closer to Europe,” he explains. “This is the right decision for my career, for my family also.”



With each excellent performance, of which there have been many this season, the South African players shine a further spotlight on the domestic league and will have more scouts looking at Africa as a fertile ground for young talent.



Hlongwane hit the headlines with his rush of goals in the Leagues Cup for Minnesota, appearing alongside Messi when they were joint top scorers in the competition.



How many South African players in the past have had such a platform? Very few, and certainly none in the last two decades.



The US has a reputation as a land of opportunity, with rags-to-riches tales possible. Football is the new platform for that and with the South African players earning upwards of R500,000 ($26,150) a month at their young age, they are living that dream.

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‘Come Play’: Where African Stars Are In Demand

Adesola Yusuf posing with one of his artworks

Pictures, Pixels And Profits: Technology As Canvas In Nigeria

Dubai’s ambition to become one of the world’s top three cities was further attested at the Dubai Business Forum on November 1 and 2 organized by Dubai Chambers, which operates six offices in Africa. The event saw several African entrepreneurs and policy-makers in attendance and deals signed between the two regions.



It’s the climate for conferences in Dubai.



With the searing summer months giving way to cooler weather in the coastal emirate, November commenced with the Dubai Business Forum (DBF) and will also by the month-end witness the start of the much-anticipated 13-day COP28 global climate conference.



An event powered by Dubai Chambers and held under the theme Shifting Economic Power: Dubai and the Future of Global Trade, the DBF from November 1-2 brought together key stakeholders from the government and private sectors from across the globe to explore strategic economic partnerships. This year’s inaugural edition at the city’s verdant Madinat Jumeirah attracted over 2,000 delegates.



Over two days, the forum highlighted the strategic imperatives to attract foreign companies and investment, advance the digital economy, and leverage innovative technologies to accelerate business and economic growth. The event also featured The Deals Hub, a dedicated space for businesses to forge partnerships and announce new initiatives, investments, and commercial alliances, which saw six agreements and deals signed at the event.



The booming metropolis of Dubai – one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – with a population of more than 3 million, has always been a benchmark in business even for the emerging economies of Africa. The city’s ambition to become one of the world’s top three cities is a consistent mission for those in charge of making it a reality.



Visionary leadership



Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, the President and CEO of Dubai Chambers (a non-profit public entity that supports Dubai’s vision as a global player by empowering businesses, providing innovative value-added services and access to influential networks), puts it all down to the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In a conversation with CNBC Africa, Lootah said: “We are blessed to have a leadership that has included the private sector and continuously regulates the policy and business environment. The secret is that we are always aiming to improve the way we are doing things.”



The government’s Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) aims to double the size of the emirate&#8217;s economy by 2033 through 100 transformational projects; advance its plans for green and sustainable manufacturing; add 400 cities to Dubai’s foreign trade map; and open economic corridors with Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.



Currently, Dubai Chambers operates 25 international offices including six in Africa – the latest an office opened in Johannesburg in June.



Through this network, plans are to accelerate D33 targets of increasing Dubai’s FDI to over AED650 billion ($177 billion) over the coming decade.



“The UAE economy grew by 3.7% in real terms in the first half of 2023,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, in a fireside chat at DBF. “This represents robust growth against the backdrop of global and regional uncertainty and is still a higher figure than any of the other GCC countries.&nbsp;Moreover, the non-oil sector registered a growth rate of 5.9%. The UAE’s economic growth is a testament to our resilience, diversification, and commitment to openness and international cooperation.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



One of the central aims of Dubai Chambers is to increase FDI into the emirate.



“We’ve made strong progress in recent years, with Dubai achieving an 80% increase in FDI inflows between 2021 and 2022…We were also proud to see Dubai ranked as the top global destination for attracting greenfield FDI projects in the most recent edition of the Financial Times’ ‘fDi Markets’ data, which indicated that the emirate attracted 511 greenfield projects in H1 2023,” added Lootah in a statement.



Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Brett Armitage, Chief Commercial Officer of Kerzner International that operates the Atlantis hotels in Dubai, spoke about the tourism sector’s role as an important revenue generator. Their session at DBF focused on how Dubai can serve as an example for economies around the world for its sustainable tourism.



Entrepreneurial ecosystems



South Africa-based EZulu Life, a multinational medical technology and nutraceutical company, was in attendance at the DBF, to sign an agreement with UAE-based biopharmaceutical company Bioventure Healthcare, to distribute the latter’s products and provide technical support in the southern and East Africa regions.&nbsp;Bioventure, with a market capital of $250 million-$300 million, is aiming to expand its reach in Africa, investing in life science and biotech solutions to promote innovation in healthcare and cater to the needs of patients in the Middle East and Africa.



The founder and CEO of EZulu Life, Mpumelelo Ndiweni told CNBC Africa in an interview: “We are coming together to set up facilities in Africa and address African challenges.” The company started before the pandemic, and took off when Covid-19 hit, when their immune booster products “flew off the shelves”. By the end of 2021, their products were in over a 100 outlets in southern Africa.



Ndiweni’s advice to entrepreneurs breaking into the Middle East: “Never stop knocking on doors here. We are where we are because of that. We tend to over-plan, but don’t wait. Start on your plan. The moment you see a gap, get in. There is huge potential for African products.”



Advancing the digital economy



“One very interesting area that has continued to flourish is the increased appetite and footprint from global and regional tech startups using Dubai as a base for them. Over the last few years, roughly 90% of tech startups that received funding throughout the MENA region are based in Dubai,” Dubai Chambers’ Lootah said to CNBC Africa. “Dubai is not only witnessing growth in the traditional sectors but also diversity for tech companies as a funding and growth region.”



The forum saw innovators such as Eric Aguilar, Co-founder and CEO of Omnitron Sensors, speaking about the Future of the Internet of Things (IoT), and shedding light on the growing use of innovative sensor systems in bridging the gap between AI and business growth.



Aguilar underlined the importance of effectively introducing innovative technology to the market. “By embracing exponential innovation, you can break through barriers and bring about a huge disruption in the market. We keep hearing that AI is going to change the world, and to some extent that is true. But – as good as AI currently is – we won’t realize the future we imagined without fundamental changes to IoT and hardware.”



The final session in the forum’s main arena&nbsp;featured an interview with&nbsp;Divyank Turakhia, Founder of advertising tech company Media.net, who discussed how Dubai’s resilient business ecosystem has supported his successful journey as a serial entrepreneur. Sharing key learnings on how to capitalize on lucrative opportunities, Turakhia said: “Each business is different – some require more capital, some require less, and will eventually grow. It is extremely important to use capital efficiently. The UAE is unique in the region due to the ability of the leadership to continually pursue their visions. As a result, they achieve their goals in a timely manner, which is not easily accomplished otherwise.”

A session at the Dubai Business Forum; the emirate attracted 511 greenfield projects in H1 2023; image supplied

Lessons For Africa’s Emerging Economies From Dubai’s Playbook On Business

An exhibition of contemporary African photography is on at the Tate Modern in London. This writer left not with a sense of a completed narrative, but with a feeling of energized possibility, and the rush of discovering fresh, reconfigured horizons.



How to find the common in the uncommon, the unifying oneness in a disparate whole? Can Africa’s thousands of cultures and languages ever be distilled into a comprehensible photographic representation of an entire continent’s creative impulse? This is the challenge courageously and pugnaciously accepted by the exhibition A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography running through to January 2024 at the Tate Modern gallery in London.


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<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60200" style="aspect-ratio:0.6669921875;width:419px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Leonce-Raphael-Agbodjelou-Untitled-Egungun-series-2012.-Copyright-The-Artist.-Courtesy-Jack-Bell-Gallery-2-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou, Untitled (Egungun series), 2012. Copyright The Artist. Courtesy Jack Bell Gallery </figcaption></figure></div>


“African photography is recognizable, to those aware of the history of studio portraiture, or of the way Africa is portrayed in documentary photography,” says the exhibition’s curator, Osei Bonsu. “But I was interested in all of the ways in which artists, particularly over the last 10 to 15 years, had completely blown open the perception of what African photography might be; ways that challenged and confounded many of those assumptions about the relationship between photography and the continent. So it was less about this idea of an overarching survey, as this slightly amorphous and impossible-to-define area of activity, and more about locating multiple perspectives that would come together to illuminate some of the key topics and ideas that these artists are engaged with.”



The result is a dizzying whistle-stop tour across three thematic territories: Identity and Tradition, Counter Histories, and Imagined Futures. The viewer is thus drawn and signposted through the exhibition aboard imaginative platforms, rather than the formal conventions of a linear retrospective, in a sort of taster menu of African inspiration: Hassan Hajjaj’s kinetic fusions of fashion photography and the roadside kiosk; Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou’s arrestingly charismatic portraits of quasi-monstrous Yoruba ‘Egungun’ costumes; Mário Macilau’s monochrome double-takes on the horrors of photojournalism; the serenely melodramatic staging of Maïmouna Guerresi’s scenes of prosaic ritual. The exhibition closes with an immersive video installation by Julianknxx, featuring a hypnotic, thrumming dance sequence, shot like a communiqué from a viridescent African Atlantis.



A consistent identifiable dichotomy arose during the exhibition’s research phase, between the commercial bread and butter of the photographers’ everyday practice and the more experimental work they had developed. 



“These artists embraced photography in ways that undermine or question some of the colonial or exoticizing assumptions around the relationship between African peoples and the photographic medium. This ‘B-roll’, the flip side of what they were doing, was much more subversive than their commercial work,” Bonsu says. 



“And what that revealed is that this idea of the split between the conceptual and the documentary is an arbitrary one.” There is an implicit provocation to the audience embedded in this confident, confrontational demand for the artists’ output to be apprehended on its own terms; much of the work playfully exploits a thrilling tension between an observer’s expectations and the creative authenticity of the photographer’s vision.



Bonsu says that the exhibition has benefited greatly from the evolution of the medium and its new plasticity; work can not only be sourced from all over the continent and the diaspora, but also be presented in formats that blur and expand photography’s traditional framings. “I think this has liberated contemporary photographers from many of the limiting structures that we know 



many African artists face, whether it be lack of government infrastructure, or lack of mobility,” he says. “Those reductive estimations that Africa wasn’t a space of invention, of intellectual and cultural innovation, are of course a myth.



And it’s a myth that serves much of the colonial history that the exhibition also deals with.” To that end, the show shifts the audience’s perspective through a range of vantage points, media and scales, though there is perhaps an opportunity missed to fill one of the Tate’s gigantic spaces with the kind of colossal image its ambition deserves – an outsized encounter with the teetering sublime of Africa’s infinite complexity might have served as an emotional approximation of the overwhelming vastness of its subject.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="741" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-1024x741.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60202" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-1024x741.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-300x217.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-768x556.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-1536x1112.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/George-Osodi-HRH-Queen-Hajiya-Hadizatu-Ahmedu-magajiya-of-Knubwada-2012.-Courtesy-of-George-Osodi-and-TAFETA-2048x1483.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">George Osodi, HRH Queen Hajiya Hadizatu Ahmedu magajiya of Knubwada, 2012. Courtesy of George Osodi and TAFETA</figcaption></figure></div>


There is still much to admire about this exciting, expansive exhibition, with its democratic embrace of both the vibrantly aesthetic and the viscerally provoking. “There are histories of struggle and resistance that are ever present,” Bonsu says. 



“But there are also the histories of difference that exist within the fabric of how cultures communicate: through language, through images. That notion of ‘in-betweenness’ is not so much physical, but the psychological in-betweenness that many African diasporic communities can relate to. It’s quite particular to a history of colonial violence, bound up in a deep knowing of one’s heritage, but also this desire to move forward. The exhibition doesn’t try to glaze over the realities that undergird these contemporary histories. The story is still unfolding, and we tried to really embrace that. It’s a challenge for our audiences to really go on that journey with us. They’re not going to have a conclusive sense of a kind of beginning and ending.”



Thus you leave the exhibition not with a sense of a completed narrative, but with a feeling of energized possibility, the rush of discovering fresh, reconfigured horizons.



“It’s that positivity, weighted with this idea of agency – many of the artists are almost suggesting that changing the world isn’t entirely out of reach, that photography itself, at some level, has the possibility to reach into the realm of the imagination,” Bonsu says. “And in doing so, maybe that liberates us – as viewers, as audiences – to think differently about the world we experience.”

History, Identity, Imagination: African Photography In London

Africa has the world’s youngest population but youth unemployment has reached alarming levels. With technology changing rapidly, where does hope lie in addressing the mismatch between skillsets and job market requirements on the continent?



David Sokefun co-founded Codar Tech Africa in Lagos, Nigeria, in December 2021 realizing that tech training was inadequate in Africa’s biggest economy. With the swiftly-changing job market because of advancements in generative AI, he knew the importance and urgency of teaching tech skills that would set people apart in an AI-influenced landscape.



“An adage rings true – in the 21st century, illiteracy pertains to those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn,” Sokefun says to FORBES AFRICA. “History attests to the fate of companies that failed to adapt during the internet era, as well as those that successfully navigated the shift.”



Sokefun’s will to build a company that learns to work with AI is perfectly timed. Open AI’s ChatGPT has redefined the boundaries of what artificial intelligence (AI) can do. Whether it’s writing a complex code or a poem, generating a travel itinerary for the summer holidays, or learning a new language, the chatbot doesn’t hesitate to help you within seconds. Unsurprisingly, it attracted over one million users within five days of its launch, and OpenAI is currently valued at about $29 billion.



The staggering progress of ChatGPT has led many to fear for their jobs. Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI, resigned from Google, citing concerns over the likelihood of AI to upend the job market. In an open letter, many technology leaders and researchers, including Elon Musk, urged AI labs to pause the



development of the most advanced systems, stating, “Advanced AI could represent a profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and managed with commensurate care and resources.”



With the powerful technology supposedly eating up massive industries, there’s no denying the worldwide trend will impact African livelihoods, too, as discussed in this year’s Future of Education (FoE) summit hosted by CNBC Africa. The ninth annual summit and thought leadership discussion on July 5 saw brilliant leaders from all over the world come together to explore reasons for the high unemployment rates on the African continent and redefine the purpose of education to make it more relevant to today’s times.



In 2015, the African Development Bank reported that a third of Africa’s 420 million people between the ages of 15 and 35 were unemployed, another third were vulnerably employed, and only one in six was in wage employment. Ten million to 12 million African youth enter the workforce each year, but only 3 million formal jobs are created annually. Africa has the world’s youngest population, with a median age of 19.7 years. 



A youthful population is typically a boon for the development prospects of any region, but the escalating unemployment rate in Africa prevents the youth from realizing their potential, forcing many to migrate to the developed economies.



Dr Rakesh Wahi, the co- founder and Vice Chairman of CNBC Africa and Publisher of FORBES AFRICA, mentioned in his introductory address at FoE that limited access to reasonably- priced internet derails learning. It’s the most essential tool for education today.



“Sub-Saharan Africa today has only 22% internet access compared to a global average of 63%,” Wahi said.



Furthermore, broadband access in Africa comes at a very high cost. In terms of affordable pricing, India has the fifth lowest internet data rates in the world, with the cost of data at about 17 US cents per gigabyte. In comparison, South Africa at $2 per gigabyte is almost 12 times higher in price than India. According to a University of Chicago Law School paper published in 2020, South Africa remains the most unequal country in the world. Even more than two decades after apartheid and attaining democracy, over half the country still lives below the national poverty line, and the education system is rife with inequalities. Schools largely reserved for white students during the apartheid era remain better equipped today than schools historically available to non-white students. The digital divide in education has left some students without basic access to information.



“It is important that we leave no one behind – that we work hard to ensure that irrespective of where a person comes from, which nation a person belongs to, they have basic needs they need to function as a global citizen,” said Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the FoE summit, during his keynote address. “Issues of food security are very important. Issues resources, are very important.”]



While fewer jobs are being created, experts argue that young graduates don’t have the necessary skills to excel in the current job market.



“There is a huge number of graduate students who are unemployable because they lack the skills that create this wide mismatch,” Dr Marwa Haddar, Vice-President of Finance and Strategy of Blue Monsoon Capital, a financial services company, noted during a panel discussion. “They spend long years studying at universities or 12 years of curricula. And then they are with degrees that have really no market value locally or regionally or not to say at the global level.”



With rapidly changing technologies heavily influencing the job market, there is a constant need to teach students the skills required to succeed in a competitive job market. But, many universities choose to focus on old syllabi and teaching methods that aren’t actually beneficial to the youth.



“Schools were established to have people being fed into the workplace,” Joseph Gerassi, the Executive Head of Redhill School, said. “If we’re not following what the workplace needs, then those schools are a waste of time, because we’re going to have people come out of those schools and not having the skills to go into that market. This idea that a curriculum is put in and it’s got to last for the next 20 years now is just so out of the way.”



Besides lacking the technical, cognitive, and soft skills required to advance in a demanding work environment, students also don’t get a chance to develop critical thinking skills that can foster an entrepreneurial mindset.



“Business and academia need to come closer together in developing the curriculum,” Sugendhree Reddy, CEO of Access Bank, suggested. “This is not a once-off thing. This is a regular thing to understand how business is evolving. And that is missing because when the academics go and research, it’s desktop research. But when it comes to actually understanding what business requires, you have to be with business. And you have to talk to business leaders to understand that.”



If students solely rely on rote memorization of various concepts and don’t apply their learning in an actual workplace, they will be unable to gain practical experience that benefits from their academic understanding, experts at the summit reiterated.



“One of the key things I’ve seen change in higher education in the last 20 years is the number of internships,” Professor Mark Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said. “As a recognized part of their degree, students do part of their work within the workplace. In North America, there are some very good examples of cooperative degrees, where students label the amount of time they spend in industry and the amount of time they spend within the academic institution.”



This mismatch between skillsets and job market requirements is a serious threat to Africa’s economic status. A report by The Economist highlighted that about 70% of employers feel that there is insufficient training at educational institutions, while 70% of educational institutions believe that they have prepared graduates adequately for the job market.



Better communication and collaboration between the education sector and labor market can ensure a heightened focus on problem- solving skills rather than very specific knowledge.



A lack of jobs on the African continent hasn’t, however, dampened the youth’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit. Multiple enterprises, including Chipper Cash, Andela, OPay, Wave, Flutterwave, and Interswitch, among others, are all Africa-born enterprises now being valued as unicorns. Entrepreneurs have learned to take calculated risks and launch their own businesses, which can help Africa fight its rising unemployment rates.



“I think it was Bill Gates who said if he looks for a trait when he recruits people, it’s curiosity,” Stefan Lauber, the Managing Director at iFundi, an educational institution in South Africa, said. “The modern learner needs to be curious. The modern learner also needs, therefore, to enjoy learning. The model is changing from a top-down approach, where institutions pride themselves on excluding a lot of people, institutions determining curriculum, institutions saying, ‘You need to learn that,’ to what I believe is a much more bottom-up approach of learning, where ultimately learning resides in an individual.”



Along with institutions introducing a more hands-on approach to learning, students can be open to engaging with new material that can help them start their own ventures or be productive company members.



“It is really important that we raise our children, and the schools help us with that; in developing a sense of curiosity and a growth mindset,” Dan Adkins, CEO of Transnational Academic Group, said at the FoE summit. “Because as they go forward into the future, they’re going to have to deal with very rapid change, and they’re going to have to be able to learn on their own. There will not be time for them to go back to university and spend another three years getting a degree. And universities, and less of the ones who develop the technology, are usually five to 10 years behind the leading edge anyway. So we have to develop in our young people a passion for learning and give them the skillset so they can research on their own, determine what is credible and what is not credible, and then know how to apply that.”



Speakers at the FoE summit also deliberated on the importance of upskilling to progress in a competitive marketplace. In a survey conducted by LinkedIn, 62% of CEOs said that they considered upskilling a priority. Learning about new technological innovations and AI would help a company stand out from the rest. Educating, training, and developing a workforce would not only make employees feel more valued by the company, but it would also improve their performance.



An academic degree can no longer guarantee a secure job.



It’s on students and workers to forge their own paths to navigate complicated industry conditions. With the looming threat of AI stealing jobs, it becomes even more pressing for workers to adapt and be flexible with what their careers might look like.



Just like Sokefun has adapted to the changing job landscape by building his own company, others can focus on gaining the right skills to be able to withstand the storm. Whether it’s AI or other factors influencing change, with the right training, individuals like Sokefun can put Africa on the world map by dominating the education and entrepreneurship landscape. Hopefully, there will be more like him.

Colleagues in meeting room discussing project

Developing The Future Workforce In Africa

Stephen Schmidt is Amazon’s Chief Security Officer, which means he is the person responsible for keeping the online retailing giant (last valued at over a trillion dollars) safe.



It’s a massive undertaking which is why when Schmidt did the keynote of a conference wearing a t-shirt with the slogan ‘ADHD: it’s not a disability, it’s a different ability’, the world took note.



Of course, the Virginia-based Schmidt is far from the only leader who is neurodiverse – Elon Musk has been open about the fact that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, Steven Spielberg has dyslexia and Albert Einstein was autistic. From Simone Biles to Greta Thunberg, it is estimated that around 20% of the population today is considered to be neurodivergent and those who have been diagnosed (the same study by Genius Within, Professor Nancy Doyle’s neurodivergent- led business, says that 50% of people with neurodiversity are unaware that they are not neurotypical) often find themselves gravitating towards a career in technology.



It could be the fact that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have above-average IQ scores or special skills in mathematics, memory, or pattern recognition. For Schmidt, it was acknowledging that what other people saw as efficiency, to him was a superpower: “The most important thing for me was the self-realization that the differences that I had in the way my brain functions were not something to be ashamed of but quite the contrary, were something that I was actually proud of,” he says. “And that really came to light during situations where I’m able to do multiple things at the same time and other people are not.”



Schmidt’s remarkable multitasking productivity levels may be a nice-to-have in some jobs, but when you look at Amazon as a business and the security associated with it, it’s a skillset the company demands.



“It’s everything from aircraft to spacecraft to boxes to goods ships to tons and tons of customer data around the world,” he explains. “It takes different attention, different decisions, different analysis and let’s face it – the security world is something that we would love to think that we control and drive, but in reality, it’s often driven by outside input. My role is playing chess, while practicing psychology at the same time, with a little bit of voodoo mixed in.”



While there is no question that those who are neurodiverse can positively impact a business’s bottom line – Schmidt says different neuro skills can mean a higher performing organization that can accomplish more in a shorter period of time for less money – this isn’t always something a company hires for or includes in their diversity strategy. It could be because the recruitment process isn’t necessarily accommodating to those who are neurodiverse but also, disclosing neurodiversity is a very personal decision – and an employer doesn’t have the right to this information. So, how can a person comfortably show up as they are?



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-inclusive-work-culture">An inclusive work culture</h1>



“It is vital that employees on the spectrum are not asked to change what makes them unique, but that organizations instead embrace differences,” advises Genevieve Koolen, SAP Africa’s Human Resources Director. 



“As with any employee, companies should hire people based on their skills, abilities, education, experience and capabilities. Candidates on the spectrum should be encouraged to apply for any job aligned with their abilities and interests.” 



SAP is a multinational software company with an Autism at Work program that goes back to 2013 and they’ve seen incredible results by hiring for neurodiversity. Koolen shares the story of an employee named Nico Neumann who joined the finance team through the program. “He designed a tool that automates the posting of complex invoices with multiple cost allocations.



Prior to the development of this tool, accounts payable needed two to three days to manually process large credit card statements such as American Express with over 20,000 accounting lines,” she says. “Today, that processing time has reduced to 20 minutes thanks to Neumann’s innovation, which also won the Hasso Plattner Founders’ Award.”



Schmidt has noticed a difference in how Amazon hires, in that some of the most senior employees have behavior traits that are similar to himself. “It was in a discussion about how we identify people with the right kinds of skills to fill the gaps that we have in our organization,” he says, adding that it often comes down to finding someone with a particularly unique trait for a particular job. “And it is that specificity and selection that makes the difference. It’s about finding people who’ve got just an exceptional way of doing business and they can do things that nobody else can – and that takes a 



lot of different ways of thinking.” What’s interesting is that Schmidt only discovered that he had ADHD in his 40s. The diagnosis came after he had a conversation with a friend (who happened to be a doctor) who told him that he thinks in a different way: “And the thing that I appreciated the most was he didn’t say you have this problem, this affliction, this whatever. He said ‘You just have this in your brain and it works differently and by the way, have you figured out the mechanisms that help you use that effectively’? ”



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">A culture of communication</h1>



Thinking differently can mean adapting an office space so that it works with a neurodiverse brain instead of against it. One example of this highlighted by Harvard Business Review is communication – those who are neurodiverse and highly sought-after are not the norm, but the exception.



How can a business effectively bridge the communication gap between neurotypical and neurodiverse workers when actions are easily misunderstood or misinterpreted? The consequences can be devastating. “One of the things that I think is most important is that each individual has separate mechanisms that work for them to help them use the way their mind works to their best advantage,” explains Schmidt. “For example, reading my phone during a meeting is okay. It’s not only okay, it actually helps me get work done. Another trick I’ve learned over time is music. Amazon is a writing culture. We write six-page papers and it’s one of the most important things we do. I cannot write a paper like that without music. I had to figure that out… and I had to figure out 



the best music to help me.” Unfortunately, neurodiversity doesn’t come with a cheat sheet. What works for one person may not help another which is why making space for more neurodiverse employees to succeed is vital. “Neurodiverse employees may enter our organization with many barriers and hurdles they must manage and even overcome in the workplace, including time blindness, poor executive functioning, hyper-fixation and even levels of procrastination,” says Koolen. 



“It is up to the manager to ensure that he or she is adequately trained and prepared to work through these complexities and support the employee. It’s a delicate balancing act between doing what is good for the employee and what is good for the business.” “Identify your superpower,” adds Schmidt. “Figure out the mechanisms that help you maximize it. Constantly iterate on improving them. Don’t ever believe that you’ve reached your maximum goal. Figure out what are the little tweaks that you can do for yourself to help you reach even higher because you can.”

Author: Forbes Africa

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA