There’s nothing like a cross-continental journey or overland adventure &#8211; with social media following along &#8211; to experience the diversity, culture, music, fashion, food and art in Africa. All you need is a trusty vehicle, self-belief and a few good friends that you will definitely make along the way.



An airplane is definitely the quickest way to venture between countries, but more and more travelers are now opting for the scenic route — and taking their time to take it all in.



“With road trips there is the joy of just being able to stop,” explains Pelumi Nubi, whose epic journey across Africa saw her accumulate more than 10,000 kilometers by car. “With other means of transport, like flights, trains, boats, you go from point A to point B and there is very little control. But with road trips, if something catches your attention, you have the power to diverge.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image13-1-900x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-63624" style="width:768px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image13-1-900x1024.jpeg 900w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image13-1-264x300.jpeg 264w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image13-1-768x874.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image13-1.jpeg 1204w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The three doctors, James Weller, Karen Chang and James Spence, by their Toyota Hilux, which almost gave up but didn’t (Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


The Nigerian-born content creator moved to the United Kingdom when she was 10 years old and has visited over 80 countries worldwide. Yet, it was her 74-day journey from the English capital to her birthplace, in a purple Peugeot 107 that she nick- named Lumi, that made her “the first Black woman to travel solo overland from London to Lagos”.



“I came up with the idea of driving from London to Lagos, connecting my two homes, to showcase Africa as a continent, because a lot of times, it doesn’t get the credit or the storytelling and exposure that I think it deserves.”



“Africa receives less than 5% of global tourism,” reveals the CEO of the African Tourism Association (ATA), Naledi Khabo. “If you’re flooded with news and there’s just negative news stories, that’s what people remember. Unfortunately, I also think people can’t conceptualize the breadth and length that is Africa. And so, anything that happens in one place must be happening across the entire continent.”



“We stayed in some really nice hotels and I guess we didn’t know there was quite so much luxury,” recalls James Weller, who drove from London to Cape Town with fellow doctors, Karen Chang and James Spence.



The three Brits — and their 2010 Toyota Hilux D-4D double cab named Edna — amassed an enormous social media following during their cross-continental journey.



“We never expected it at all,” Weller says of the trio’s Instagram account, @london.2.capetown, garnering almost half a million followers. “We made the account just for this trip, kind of to document it and so that our friends and family could follow along.”



Proving that the people you meet along the way are just as important as the journey itself, the three had a chance encounter with a travel blogger in Morocco doing a similar trip who then posted them on his Insta story. “Before we knew it, we were at 10,000 [followers] and then 20,000 and 50,000. And then it wasn’t long before we were at 100,000, 200,000… Part of it was the mystery of people going, ‘oh, are they going to make it?’ I think that obviously drew a lot of people in as well.”



The short answer to that question is… almost not. With a limited budget, Chang, Spence, and Weller, purchased Edna with the knowledge that she had some rust on the chassis. What they didn’t know, is just how bad it was. The constant cracking— and an out-of-commission airconditioner during 50-degree Celsius weather — meant that the trio spent a significant amount of time in garages and backyard repair shops along the trip.



In the end, though, all four made it to the Mother City, Cape Town.



“People were rooting for her to get to the end. We definitely didn’t want to give up on her.”



Nubi agrees: “[Following a collision with a truck in the Ivory Coast] There was the option of renting a new car and finishing the journey from Abidjan to Lagos. But I just had this strong instinct that, you know, I started with Lumi], I’m going to end with her.”



“I think that the more you travel, the more capacity you have to be able to tolerate unforeseen cumstances when they do arise,” says Cape Town-based clinical psychologist, Yanir Grindler. “When traveling, oftentimes, you have to make use of limited resources. That leads to an incredible amount of resilience and trust in your own abilities and inabilities.”



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Belief in herself is one thing Udoh Ebaide Joy did not forget to pack when she set out on her three- month adventure to become “the first African woman to ride from Kenya to Nigeria on a motorcycle”.



A traumatic car accident at the age of 23 left the Nigerian native with a damaged spinal cord and the inability to walk for eight months. Now 32, Ebaide Joy is determined to live life to the fullest, in the face of fear and constant pain.



“I live with screws and rods holding my spinal cord. People will never truly understand how thrilling it is using a motorcycle, knowing that I am not so whole. I am partly disabled and I’m still using it. It makes me so much more careful, knowing that if anything bad were to happen, it could be really, really bad for me because I already have something. And that makes it even more exciting.” Regardless of having had very little riding experience before embarking on her trip, Ebaide Joy couldn’t imagine traveling any other way. “Motorcyclists never go to the therapist,” she claims. “The motorcycle is enough — it fixes your brain, whatever you are going through, whatever sadness, whatever is stopping you, you get on the motorcycle, you will forget it for that period of time. Even when your thoughts circle back to it, the next move you have to make on the motorcycle will bring your thoughts back to the present.”


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="819" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-819x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-63614" style="width:667px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-1638x2048.jpeg 1638w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image0-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Udoh Ebaide Joy had little riding experience before embarking on the trip (Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


Another advantage is the global community to which bikers belong.



“The bike enables you to meet different people, different cultures, and make more friends,” notes Sthembiso Mthembu, whose BMW R 1250 GS saw him through 11 countries as he traversed 13,650 kilometers between South Africa’s coastal city of Durban and Kenya.



“It is like a brotherhood or sisterhood, the biking community. Even if it’s the first time you meet, there’s a connection. You can be riding or standing by the road, if a biker passes you, he’ll definitely stop, ask where you’re from, if you need any help. Bikers are like a family.”



Despite it being a solo trip, the thriving motorcycle community throughout Africa ensured that Mthembu never felt truly alone. Following updates on his Facebook page, riders in various countries reached out to offer the South African, accommodation, meals, and company.



“Human connection is a basic need. We are born wanting to connect. The first thing we do as we leave our mother’s womb is try to reconnect and create a bond,” Grindler states. “To tolerate days or months without any social connection can take a real toll.”



For Nubi, solo trips are “empowering”, but she does admit to experiencing bouts of loneliness en route. “I think it was in Mauritania. There was an incredible sunset and I was taking a picture to send to a friend and getting so frustrated because the picture wasn’t capturing the way it looked, you know? So, there are many moments where you just go, ‘ah, I wish I could share this’. Because the thing about a solo trip, it’s great, it’s absolutely incredible, but it’s a memory that only you have. You cannot go and call someone and say, ‘hey, remember the time when we…,’ like, there is none of that. It’s just your memories and you almost have to be extra present in it because if you lose it or if you don’t catch the moment, then it’s gone.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63621" style="width:612px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6222-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pelumi Nubi’s 74-day solo road trip was from the English capital to her birthplace in Nigeria (Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


Although solo endeavors may be lonesome, traveling with others — even those nearest and dearest— can present its own set of issues, as Weller and his mates discovered.



“Spending three to four months together, in a car, in a tent, was pretty challenging to say the least… even at the best of times, we argue. I think agreeing to disagree is quite important, because you’re always going to disagree about stuff, but you have to evaluate how important it is and whether it really matters who is right or wrong. That said, it is difficult when you have to make so many decisions.”



Grindler believes that traveling in a group can offer the opportunity for personal growth: “It’s about tolerating and being able to negotiate, while also being respectful of each other’s strengths and limits. It’s also about being aware that not everything you decide is the right decision.”



Being alone on such grand adventures also forces one to take extra precautions when it comes to safety. Both Nubi and Ebaide Joy avoided posting social media updates in real time and driving at night; while the doctors regularly consulted the British government’s travel advisory. Mthembu, however, recalls feeling safe enough to hand over his cellphone to random locals in Rwanda to take a picture — something he wouldn’t fathom doing in South Africa.



“I think that in any country, in any city, you need to be aware of your surroundings and act accordingly,” says Khabo. “I also think that when things happen across Africa, they are magnified and similar things can happen in other places, like New York, for example — yet no one stops coming to the United States. You can’t attribute one city’s hotspot to the entire continent and then ask, ‘is the entire continent safe’?”



“There is serious kindness in Africa. If we care to look for it, there is kindness,” Ebaide Joy acknowledges.



“Whilst we were in the Ivory Coast, the car got stuck in the mud in the middle of a forest and we didn’t know how we’d get it out,” Weller recalls. “We tried all night. In the morning, some people came past and we asked them if they could help. They didn’t speak English, we didn’t speak French. But so many of them came to help that we managed to push it out!”



Language barriers are just one of the hurdles that come with crossing various countries. Waiting on travel documents and dealing with border officials can result in numerous delays, additional expenses, and occasionally put a stop to entry altogether.



“We need a borderless Africa,” argues Ebaide Joy. “I am planning a Eurotour next year. I only need one visa to go to all European countries, but I needed a visa for almost every country I traveled as a Black woman in Africa. If there can be a borderless Africa, it will change the narrative significantly. Tourism will thrive better in Africa. It is just wrong that I can travel another continent much, much easier than my own.” According to Khabo, discussions about ease of entry are taking place behind the scenes. “I think governments are hearing and understand why it’s important. You’re seeing more and more governments on an individual level make it easier for travelers to enter their country, either with visas-on-arrival or no-visa policies. And regionally, countries are coming up with solutions so that upon entry into one country, that single visa can be used in neighboring countries. You’re seeing it in East Africa.



“There are always security issues and political issues, but I think that there’s an understanding that ease of entry is a major factor in travel and tourism. And so, you’re seeing a shift. It may be slow, but it’s definitely happening.”


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image17-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63618" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image17-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image17-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image17.jpg 960w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sthembiso Mthembu’s journey on a BMW R 1250 GS through 11 countries (Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure></div>


Should such a shift occur, it may result in even more travelers embarking on overland adventures, which will only benefit communities, as Khabo notes: “It offers a unique experience. You’re literally crossing from town to town and seeing the terrain change and supporting the local economies in a way that you wouldn’t ordinarily. It showcases our incredible diversity, our culture, music, fashion, art, food. And the more that you see other people do it, the more people understand that it’s possible.”



“I would get messages from teachers saying, ‘we’ve ditched the school curriculum because my students and I literally just watch your journey in class’. Emails from 70-year-old women who tell me, ‘I literally feel like restarting my life because for so long I had this big adventure within me, but society told me I couldn’t do it. And now seeing you do it just gives me so much hope,’” Nubi reveals.



“As long as you are sure you can do, don’t mind what people say,” Ebaide Joy insists. “Whatever fears they put into you, however much they say you can’t do it, the first person to believe in it is you. If you think you can do it and you believe in a yourself, you should absolutely go for it.”



More times than not, it is ourselves who become obstacles in our own path, as Nubi acknowledges.



“We always wait for the perfect situation, but most of the time we already have the thing that we need to get to that destination. We just, you know, need to be a little bit braver.” People often say that it is not about the destination, but about the journey. Regardless of whether you choose to go fast, far, solo, or together, perhaps the answer is to just… go!

African by roada

Overland Adventures Across Africa: When The Journey Equals The Destination

The FBI has been notified of evidence of hacking on the iPhones of two senior officials at one of the presidential campaigns. Sources say the agency is pursuing a lead related to a Chinese hacking group.



The FBI is investigating whether China used its access to American telecoms networks to infect the iPhones of senior staff of a U.S. presidential campaign, according to a cybersecurity expert involved in protecting the officials’ devices.



Rocky Cole, the founder of mobile security startup iVerify, told&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;his company’s software flagged anomalous behavior on two iPhones that belonged to senior officials for one of the presidential campaigns. He declined to specify which one.



Cole, a former NSA analyst and Google employee, said iVerify detected settings on staff iPhones were changed “in patterns that are not observed on healthy devices.” Previously, mobile malware developed by government hacking groups have changed settings in the same manner, he said. “That does not mean the devices were definitively compromised, but this information combined with who owned the devices and the timelines of the events were enough to merit a robust investigation, which is ongoing,” Cole told&nbsp;Forbes.



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“The Trump administration will need to hit the ground running on countering the recent uptick in cyber activity.”Chris Krebs, former CISA director
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The FBI confirmed to Cole that one of the impacted iPhones belonged to a target of a Chinese cyber espionage group referred to as Salt Typhoon, he said. According to reports in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/chinese-hackers-targeted-phones-of-trump-vance-and-harris-campaign-e04abbdf?mod=article_inline" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>,&nbsp;a number of telecoms giants including AT&amp;T and Verizon had their networks breached by Salt Typhoon, a unit believed to work on behalf of China’s state security service. The paper cited various sources with knowledge of the matter, who claimed the attackers targeted the communications of President Trump, his running mate JD Vance and individuals working on the president Kamala Harris campaign. Neither the Harris nor Trump campaigns responded to requests for comment.



“The timeline of the anomalous behavior aligned with Salt Typhoon&#8217;s behavior within the Verizon network,” said Cole. “We have to assume China would do more with their position on the Verizon infrastructure than simply listen to phone calls. It&#8217;s an attractive position for deeper exploitation of adjacent networks and devices. For that reason, there is an ongoing investigation to determine whether those devices were actually breached.” His company was tasked with protecting officials’ iPhones through its work with the Defending Digital Campaigns nonpartisan nonprofit, which provides candidates and staff with access to free cybersecurity tools.



If the FBI finds a candidate or one of their staff had their iPhones hacked, it would be a significant breach. Infecting a smartphone allows for wider access to information on a target compared to what would be compromised via telecoms networks. Such malware would potentially have access to the phone’s microphone, calls and texts, encrypted communications, such as messages sent over WhatsApp and Signal, and to more private information stored on health and dating apps, as well as detailed location information.



Apple declined to comment. Neither the FBI nor Verizon responded to requests for comment.



Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., denied it was behind any attacks on the U.S. and had “no&nbsp;intention and will not interfere in the U.S. election,” adding, “In recent years, the U.S. has compiled and spread all kinds of disinformation about the so-called Chinese hacking threats. Such allegations are full of malicious speculations against China, which China firmly opposes.”



American officials and cyber experts believe China is a major cyber threat facing the U.S. Chris Krebs, former chief of the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), said China should be a top priority for the incoming Trump administration. In November 2020, Trump fired Krebs on Twitter after the ex-CISA head declared that year’s election legitimate and safe from outside influence.



“Given China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in multiple domains, the Trump administration will need to hit the ground running on countering the recent uptick in cyber activity,” said Krebs. “They’ll also need to continue evaluating offensive cyber options… The stakes are crystal clear: China is preparing for war, are we?”

US Election-Night Watch Parties Held Overseas

FBI Investigating Possible China Hack Of Presidential Campaign Officials’ iPhones

With a remarkable 20-year track record in the entertainment industry, South African television presenter, radio personality, and businesswoman, Bonang Matheba, spoke with FORBES AFRICA in September, reflecting on the highlights of her career, such as founding Bonang Matheba Entertainment in 2017, producing award-winning documentaries, and becoming the first face of Revlon outside the United States in 2013.



“When I think back, [the pivotal moments] were meeting certain people or being part of certain moments or events or projects that have really pivoted my career and completely changed how I view things,” she says.



Even as her reality show B’dazzled by Bonang airs the final episode (of the season), Matheba says that building a brand is a never-ending strategy but one she has been fortunate to take in different directions.



“I usually do very well when I’m doing something I absolutely love, or I’ve aligned with things that love me back,” she explains. “It’s not just about me slapping my name on to something. I’m a bubbly girl, so I launched my own bubbly. I’m a shoe girl, so of course, I’ll have my own shoe collection with Steve Madden. I’m a big makeup person, so of course I’ll be working with L’Oreal and flying between Paris and South Africa.”



And through working on “the small big things as opposed to a lot of little things”, Matheba believes there is more opportunity for growth. Five years ago, Matheba launched her own luxury bever age brand, the House of BNG and its Brut and Brut Rosé Méthode Cap Classiques (MCCs).



In July this year, she launched the non-alcoholic version of BNG. Her inspiration?



Simple; listening to trends and “giving people what they want”.



Matheba says she worked for about three years listening to her consumers and researching non-alcoholic beverages. The market for this is big, as Statista reports that in the non-alcoholic drinks market, South Africa alone is expected to generate a revenue (in supermarkets and convenience stores) of over $4 billion in 2024.



“I think BNG for me has expanded [way more than] what I thought I could do as a businesswoman and entrepreneur; and also [to] kind of commercialize using my name, to generate a lot more income, and a different kind of approach to brand Bonang has been amazing.”



However, the buck does not stop there for ‘Queen B’ (as she is affectionately known by her fans). Matheba says she believes that she was put on this earth to serve. Be it by promoting the growth of other aspiring entrepreneurs or creatives or just by giving back, she notes the significance of her endeavors.



“I will always tell anybody that knows me or listens to brand Bonang or watches what I do that you should always be guided by your heart,” Matheba says, commenting on the work she also does as a global ambassador for Zero Malaria and with her foundation, “because you will never, ever fail; your gut and your heart are really your true lighthouse”.

Bonang Matheba

The Art Of Being South African and Brand Bonang

With The Spurt In Healthtech, AI-powered apps Are Now All The Rage Offering Groundbreaking Interventions In Africa’s Battle against Rising Obesity Rates.



It’s an issue that affects a bulk of the continent’s population.



In Africa, where rising rates of obesity present a growing public health crisis, researchers and innovators are now turning to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to combat the epi- demic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, 2.5 billion adults worldwide were classified as overweight, with over 890 million living with obesity. The problem is becoming especially urgent in low- and middle-income countries. In Africa alone, the number of overweight children under five has increased by nearly 23% since 2000, signaling a dramatic shift in public health needs across the continent.



One of the figures joining the battle against obesity through AI Richmond Essieku, a Ghanaian doctoral student at Texas Tech University. Essieku has reportedly identified 13 genes as potential biomarkers for obesity, with four of them already confirmed. His research is now being translated into a practical solution: an AI- powered mobile app, tentatively titled Generating Artificial Intel- ligence (AI) Based Algorithms to Model and Predict Genotype-by- Socioeconomic Status Interaction for Precision Obesity Detection. This app is designed to model the interaction between genetics and socioeconomic factors in order to provide a more accurate picture of obesity risk in individuals, particularly in Africa, where such nuances are often overlooked.



AI-powered tools like Essieku’s app are not the first examples of how AI can help address the complex factors contributing to obesity. Globally, AI has been used in various ways to combat obesity — from monitoring dietary habits to creating personalized fitness plans. In the United States (U.S.), platforms like Lark Health use AI to offer real-time health coaching, helping users monitor their eating habits and physical activity.



Similarly, Noom, a popular weight-loss app, uses AI to provide personalized advice and insights into user-behavior, which can lead to long-term lifestyle changes.



With the number of smartphone subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa expected to reach 689 million by 2028, according to Statista, mobile technology offers a promising platform for AI-powered health interventions. AI-driven mobile apps can help individuals monitor their weight, track their food intake, and maintain healthy levels of physical activity. These apps can be tailored to include traditional African foods in dietary rec- ommendations, making them culturally relevant and easier for users to adopt.



The global applications point to the potential for similar systems tailored specifically to African contexts. Abideen Ola- supo, founder of MyAIFactchecker, an AI fact-checking platform based in Nigeria, highlights the importance of culturally-local- ized solutions. “We want to build people’s confidence in explor- ing how they can interact with AI to find safe and effective ways to combat obesity,” Olasupo tells FORBES AFRICA. “For a long time, many have turned to harmful concoctions that negatively impact their health. Africa’s unique challenges cannot be under- stood from the outside, which is why we’ve been researching the solutions people seek online. Obesity, in particular, is a sensitive issue that many feel ashamed to confront.”



MyAIFactChecker is one of several platforms working to ensure that AI solutions are tailored to Africa-specific chal- lenges. Olasupo explains that the platform sifts through different themes, including health and nutrition, to ensure that data is lo- calized and actionable. He notes that combating obesity in Africa requires integrating AI into the daily lives of Africans in ways that are culturally relevant and accessible.



AI’s ability to personalize interventions is especially critical when considering the unique challenges Africa faces in address- ing obesity. Many Africans live in ‘food deserts’ — areas where healthy food is difficult to find or too expensive to buy. Physical activity can also be limited by unsafe environments or long work- ing hours, making traditional approaches to weight-loss difficult to implement.



Africa’s healthcare infrastructure faces significant challeng- es, including a shortage of healthcare professionals and limited access to health facilities. AI is helping to alleviate these issues by offering remote monitoring and telehealth services for obesity management. In countries like Nigeria and Ghana, where access to healthcare is often limited, AI-powered remote health services could provide essential support to individuals looking to manage their weight.



AI-powered health apps are gaining popularity in Africa, also offering personalized recommendations for diet and exercise.



In Nigeria, the startup WellNewMe is using AI to provide us- ers with customized health assessments based on their lifestyle choices. The platform uses machine learning algorithms to ana- lyze users’ eating habits, physical activity, and medical history. It then generates recommendations to improve their health and reduce the risk of obesity-related conditions. For example, users can receive tailored meal plans, exercise routines, and lifestyle tips, all customized to their specific health profiles.



A similar initiative is underway in Ghana, where mPharma, a healthtech company, has developed the mymutti Mobile app. While primarily used to offer affordable medications, the app has recently integrated an AI-powered feature that tracks users’ body mass index (BMI) and offers recommendations for healthier liv- ing. Users receive customized tips on maintaining a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and managing weight through simple lifestyle changes.



In Rwanda, AI is being used to improve access to healthcare in rural areas where obesity is on the rise. The Babyl Health plat- form, which uses AI to provide remote medical consultations, has been instrumental in helping individuals in rural communities access healthcare services. Through the app, users can consult with doctors about weight-related issues, receive prescriptions, and get referrals to local health facilities for further treatment.



Farming innovations to support the health sector



AI’s role in combating obesity extends beyond healthcare to the agricultural sector, where it is being used to improve the avail- ability of healthy, affordable food. In Nigeria, the startup Zenvus is leveraging AI to help farmers increase crop yields and reduce food waste. By using AI-powered sensors, Zenvus collects data on soil conditions, weather patterns, and crop health. This data helps farmers make informed decisions about when to plant, irri- gate, and harvest their crops, resulting in higher yields and more efficient food production.



Another example is FarmPin, a South African agritech com- pany that uses AI and satellite imagery to monitor crop health and predict food shortages. By analyzing data from farms across the country, FarmPin helps farmers optimize their production and ensure a steady supply of fresh produce to local markets. This, in turn, makes healthy food more accessible and affordable, reducing reliance on processed foods that are often linked to ris- ing obesity rates.



Public health experts are also optimistic about the potential of AI to offer scalable solutions for obesity prevention in Africa. Opeyemi Adam, a public health expert based in Lagos, explains that AI could help overcome some of the challenges of limited healthcare resources in many African countries. “Obesity is often thought of as a personal issue, but it’s deeply systemic,” Adam says. “AI offers a way to analyze large amounts of data and iden- tify trends that would otherwise go unnoticed, which is crucial in places where healthcare resources are stretched thin.”



Adam also points out that many Africans lack access to per- sonalized health advice, something AI could help bridge. “With AI, we could create more personalized health plans that take into account not just the individual’s body weight or fitness level, but also their lifestyle, environment, and even their genetic makeup,” he says.

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Weighing In On The Use Of AI In Helping Combat Obesity

Donald Trump Campaigns For President In Raleigh, North Carolina

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Prince William is in Cape Town on a four-day climate-focused tour, meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, engaging with young environmental leaders, and supporting wildlife conservation initiatives. His visit culminates with the presentation of the Earthshot Prize tonight, emphasizing his commitment to environmental conservation, youth empowerment, and strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and South Africa.



Meeting with President Ramaphosa



Prince William met President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss mutual interests in sustainability, wildlife conservation, and climate change. The meeting reinforced the importance of international collaboration and strengthened the partnership between the two nations in pursuing sustainable development goals.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="721" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2182365016.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63587" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2182365016.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2182365016-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2182365016-768x541.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Prince William, Prince of Wales meets the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, at his Official Residence on November 5, 2024 in Cape Town. (Photo by Victoria Jones &#8211; Pool/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


United for Wildlife Initiative



At the United for Wildlife Global Summit in Cape Town, Prince William announced a new support package for rangers across Africa. The five-year plan aims to provide 10,000 rangers with access to affordable insurance, medical evacuation services, and leadership development opportunities.



&#8220;Rangers are fundamental if we are to meet our global conservation targets for 2030,&#8221; Prince William stated in a press release. Developed in partnership with Tusk Trust and the Game Rangers Association of Africa, the initiative seeks to enhance the welfare and professional development of those on the front lines of conservation.



Engaging with Youth Leaders



Prince William joined young environmentalists for the inaugural Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme. The initiative empowers young leaders through workshops on leadership, storytelling, and advocacy. Participants shared innovative solutions to climate challenges in their communities, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.



The Earthshot Prize in Africa



Hosting the Earthshot Prize in Cape Town marks its first time on African soil. Founded by Prince William in 2020, the prize recognizes groundbreaking environmental solutions, highlighting Africa&#8217;s growing role in global environmental innovation.



The ceremony near Cape Town Stadium will feature performances by international and African artists such as Davido, Diamond Platnumz and DJ Uncle Waffles, and will be broadcast globally. Five recipients will each receive £1 million to advance their projects in areas such as air quality improvement, ocean health, and climate resilience.



The Prince&#8217;s visit underscores the importance of international cooperation in environmental conservation. By engaging with government leaders, conservation professionals, and young activists, the tour highlights efforts to promote sustainability, protect wildlife, and empower future generations.

The Prince Of Wales Visits South Africa For The Earthshot Prize Awards – Day One

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Post-election unrest in Mozambique intensifies with at least 11 dead and dozens injured amid nationwide protests and allegations of fraud in the recent general elections. Experts weigh in on the continued tension.



The aftermath of Mozambique&#8217;s 2024 general elections, held on October 9, has plunged the nation into public protests with a strong response from the government, potentially leading to further turmoil if the contested results are ratified by the judiciary on November 7. The ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), in power since the southern African country’s independence from Portugal nearly half a century ago, is facing scrutiny following allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities from both independent observers and opposition parties.



A Nation on the Brink



&#8220;Mozambique is like a ticking time bomb in many respects, including high levels of repression and the rapidly rising cost of living,&#8221; says independent political analyst Marisa Lourenço in an interview with FORBES AFRICA.



The scale of the unrest reportedly marks the largest revolt in the country&#8217;s modern history. Protests have erupted nationwide, with significant incidents in Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, and Inhambane.



Contributing factors noted by Lourenço include deteriorating living standards and the increased cost of living, with civic demonstrations having been on the rise even before the election. &#8220;This isn’t sustainable, and popular frustration was bound to result in sustained levels of protest at some point,&#8221; she observes.



The protests intensified after independent presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane contested the official election results, which declared FRELIMO&#8217;s Daniel Chapo the winner. Mondlane, who claims to have secured over 50% of the vote, has called for nationwide demonstrations and a general strike, urging citizens to protest against what he describes as a fraudulent electoral process. International observers have echoed these concerns. The European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOM) noted &#8220;unjustified alteration&#8221; of election results at polling stations and district levels, urging Mozambican authorities to conduct the counting of ballots &#8220;in a transparent and credible manner&#8221;.



Youth at the Forefront



&#8220;We are certainly seeing a trend on the continent where young people are fed up with a government that does not produce results for them or essential services,&#8221; says Allan Ngari, Africa Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), to FORBES AFRICA. &#8220;And I think Mozambique is no exception.&#8221;



The significant role of young Mozambicans in the protests cannot be overstated. Lourenço adds: &#8220;It shows that youth are under huge pressure from the lack of economic opportunities for them, something that has been an issue for years and does not seem to be getting any better.&#8221;



Many of these young protesters did not experience Mozambique&#8217;s fight for independence and are seemingly disillusioned with the state of affairs, says Lourenço. &#8220;Young Mozambicans want change. They have lost faith in FRELIMO&#8217;s ability to bring that change… They have also lost faith in what was until this election, the main opposition, RENAMO. The only alternative that young people see is in a figure like Mondlane.&#8221;



Escalation of Violence



The situation escalated dramatically with the reported killing of Mondlane&#8217;s lawyer, Elvino Dias, and Podemos party member Paulo Guambe. Dias was preparing to submit a case contesting the early election results to Mozambique’s Constitutional Court before he was killed, allegedly by security forces, according to eyewitnesses interviewed by HRW.



Given the judiciary&#8217;s perceived lack of independence, many doubt that a timely or impartial investigation will occur, further eroding public trust.



HRW has condemned the crackdown. Ngari states, &#8220;The Mozambique security forces’ violent crackdown on protesters has severely increased political tensions following the country’s elections.&#8221;



HRW reports that security forces have killed at least 11 people and injured over 50 others using live bullets and tear gas…



“But it&#8217;s much more than that. That was our reporting as of last week, so the number has increased,&#8221; says Ngari.



Government and International Response



Mozambique&#8217;s government has doubled down, shifting responsibility for the violence onto the opposition. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Macamo accused Mondlane of incitement. &#8220;The speeches of candidate Mondlane and his supporters created the favorable environment for the transformation of demonstrations — a constitutional right — into acts of vandalism, theft, and violence,&#8221; she said.



In an apparent attempt to stifle communication among protesters, access to the internet and social media platforms has been restricted several times over the last week, with residents in major metros reporting limited or no access, as confirmed by local journalists, who reported the outages as an effort to stifle the protests and organization.



Meanwhile, in addition to the EU EOM, Portugal, Mozambique’s former colonial ruler, as well as the African Union (AU) and the United States have also condemned the violence.



The Road Ahead 



Looking forward, the prospects for significant political change remain uncertain. As Mozambique grapples with this crisis, the demands for democratic reforms and accountability grow louder.



The government&#8217;s response to these protests will significantly influence the nation&#8217;s path forward. &#8220;FRELIMO took it a step too far by rigging the elections too blatantly, and undermining opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane to a significant, obvious degree,&#8221; Lourenço concludes.



The hope for a peaceful resolution hinges on the government&#8217;s willingness to engage with the disillusioned youth and address the systemic issues fueling the unrest, and the final impact on the country itself remains to be seen. &#8220;Significant political change is unlikely, in my opinion, but protests are likely to continue sporadically over the coming weeks,&#8221; says Lourenço. &#8220;Eventually, FRELIMO will have to listen to the youth, in some form, to appease them.&#8221; <a id="_msocom_1"></a>

Voting begins in Mozambique to elect new president, parliament

Mozambique’s Election Crisis Deepens with Youth-Led Protests and Deaths

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Vice President Kamala Harris inched ahead of former President Donald Trump by the narrowest of margins in both polling guru Nate Silver and FiveThirtyEight’s final presidential forecasts shortly after midnight on Tuesday, although both projections showed the race for the White House remained a statistical tie on Election Day as both candidates’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/11/04/election-2024-swing-state-polls-trump-harris-race-deadlocked-on-election-eve-as-pennsylvania-still-tied-updated/">poll numbers</a>&nbsp;in key swing states remained deadlocked.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



Silver released his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/nate-silver-2024-president-election-polls-model" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">final forecast</a>&nbsp;after running 80,000 simulations of the race based on polling data and found that Harris had a 50.015% chance of winning compared to Trump’s 49.985%—effectively a tie—after a minor comeback of sorts by the Democrat who was down 44% to 55% at the start of November.



FiveThirtyEight also&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2024-election-forecast/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;its final forecast for the presidential race winner, giving Harris the slimmest of edges at a roughly 50% chance of winning, compared to Trump’s 49%.



Silver and FiveThirtyEight’s forecasts estimate the probability of either candidate winning, and are separate from polls, which estimate how much of the vote each candidate will get—but many national and swing state polls remain essentially tied, too.



Harris leads Trump 49%-48% with likely voters in the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/11/04/new-forbesharrisx-survey-harris-and-trump-in-near-dead-heat-1-day-before-election/">HarrisX/Forbes poll</a>, which was taken between Wednesday and Friday and has a margin of error of one point, and she’s up 50%-48% in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/harris-and-trump-are-locked-tight-race-1-day-election" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ipsos poll</a>&nbsp;also out Monday.



The vice president has a larger four-point lead (51%-47%) in both a new PBS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/harris-has-4-point-lead-over-trump-in-final-pbs-news-npr-marist-election-poll" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">News/NPR/Marist</a>&nbsp;survey and a 50,000-person poll by the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.tufts.edu/cooperativeelectionstudy/2024/10/28/ces-estimates-on-the-2024-presidential-election/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Cooperative Election Study</a>&nbsp;taken throughout the first 25 days of October.



Some other recent polls show a tighter race: The vice president had a 49%-47% lead in a&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/2024-presidential-election-polling" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Morning Consult survey</a>, a 49%-46% advantage in an&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/election-stays-close-final-weekend-dispirited-electorate-poll/story?id=115278707" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC/Ipsos</a>&nbsp;poll, a 49%-47% edge in an&nbsp;<a href="https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_NgtZTja.pdf#page=10" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Economist/YouGov survey</a>&nbsp;and a 50%-49% advantage in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-poll-gender-gap/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CBS/YouGov</a>&nbsp;poll last week.



Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/final-nbc-news-poll-harris-trump-race-neck-neck-significant-gender-gap-rcna178361" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NBC News</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/november-2024-national-poll-trump-and-harris-remain-locked-in-tight-race/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Emerson College</a>&nbsp;polls out Sunday show the two candidates tied at 49%, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/final-yahoo-newsyougov-election-poll-trump-pulls-even-with-harris-at-47--but-will-enthusiasm-favor-democrats-144135193.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Yahoo News/YouGov</a>&nbsp;survey also produces a 47%-47% deadlock, matching up with other recent tied polls by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/us/politics/poll-harris-trump-times-siena.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>/Siena College,&nbsp;<a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/october-2024-national-poll-trump-49-harris-49/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Emerson College</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/25/politics/cnn-poll-harris-trump/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN/SSRS</a>.



The widely followed Times/Siena poll released late last month represented a decline in support for Harris since the newspaper’s previous poll in early October showed her with a 49%-46% lead over Trump—and the paper called the results “not encouraging” for Harris as Democrats have won the popular vote in recent elections even when they’ve lost the White House.



Trump is ahead 48% to 46% in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/24/presidential-election-is-a-dead-heat-though-trump-leads-harris-big-on-economy-says-cnbc-survey.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNBC survey</a>&nbsp;of registered voters released Oct. 24 (margin of error 3.1), and he leads 47% to 45% in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-leads-harris-wsj-poll-779f8516?mod=googlenewsfeed" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;registered voter poll out Oct. 23 (margin of error 2.5)—a shift in Trump’s favor since August, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-harris-poll-august-election-2024-e6fa024e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Harris led</a>&nbsp;47% to 45% in a Journal survey.



Harris erased Trump’s lead over Biden since announcing her candidacy on July 21, though her edge has decreased over the past two months, peaking at 3.7 points in late August, according to FiveThirtyEight’s&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">weighted polling average.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Important Reminder: Presidential Polls Have Frequently Been Wrong</h2>



And there is a lot of speculation on how they’re wrong this year—and who that may benefit. Read all about it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenpastis/2024/10/25/heres-how-the-presidential-polls-might-be-wrong/">in this story</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Number</h2>



1.2 points. That’s Harris’ average lead over Trump in FiveThirtyEight’s&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">polling average</a>. Meanwhile, RealClearPolitics’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/general/2024/trump-vs-harris" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">polling average</a>&nbsp;shows Harris up by 0.1, and Nate Silver has Harris up one point in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/nate-silver-2024-president-election-polls-model" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Silver Bulletin forecast</a>.

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Los Angeles’s Erewhon, one of the world’s most expensive grocery stores, is a favorite among celebrities and personal chefs. It’s known for lining its shelves with upmarket pro- duce, focusing on items that are both certified or- ganic and ethically-sourced. Erewhon attracts those seeking the latest, trendsetting ingredients and now, there’s a new supergrain on-shelf everyone is pick- ing up – it’s called fonio.



But here’s the thing, fonio is far from new. According to the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), it’s the continent’s oldest cultivated cereal grain. Grown in West Africa for thousands of years, archaeologists found fonio buried in tombs inside the Egyptian pyramids. The Dogon, a Mali culture, called fonio po – the seed of the universe.



But how fonio, an almost forgotten African crop, ended up in Ameri- can supermarkets, is really the story of Chef Pierre Thiam.



Thiam is an award-winning Senegalese chef, author, activist and the founder of Yolélé (a Fulani term of exuberance used through- out West and Central Africa), a company that advocates for small- holder farmers in the Sahel region. The company’s signature product, Yolélé Fonio, is what Erewhon, Whole Foods and other grocers in the United States are selling.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cash-crops">Cash crops</h3>



“Colonization played a big role in disrupting our agriculture,” explains Thiam. With colonization came a shift to cash crops. Instead of growing fonio, Senegalese farmers were forced to grow peanuts. And in countries like Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, the focus was cocoa. “In Senegal, they brought what we call broken rice, the debris that is the result of processing rice in southeast India,” says Thiam. Broken rice, which was once animal feed in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, was shipped to Sene- gal by French colonial authorities. “We still use broken rice in our national dishes – we prefer it to our indigenous rice,” he says. “It’s a brainwashing that happened that got us to prefer everything that was brought in by the West. And because our farmers were growing peanuts, they were not growing enough of the indigenous crops anymore.” Going after the money coming in from peanut agriculture is one of the reasons Senegal is still importing broken rice from Asia. “We have a grass agriculture, but we still depend on broken rice. We haven’t figured out a way to increase the agriculture of crops like fonio and millet,” says Thiam. “We’ve switched our diets, eat- ing bread every day that’s made out of wheat we don’t grow.” Globally, maize, rice and wheat make up 50% of the world’s global calorie intake.



Based in Nairobi, Zoë Karl-Waithaka, Managing Director and partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), explains the reason this happened was the Green Revolution. “A huge amount of investment went into driving food security around the world. We were able to get more calories into the food system but they’re not very diverse,” she says. “As a result of that, we started shifting away from crops that were inherent to certain kinds of landscapes, crops that could grow more easily and provide other benefits like being more nutrient-dense.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lost-but-not-forgotten">Lost, but not forgotten</h3>



These ancient grains, which nourished African communities for generations, are now called ‘lost’ or ‘or- phan’ crops. “Underutilized, minor, neglected – these are all words that refer to this type of crop that had a larger portion of our diets historically. And these crops are critical, not only for biodiversity but also for nutri- tion,” says Karl-Waithaka. Africa is not the only continent with agro-biodiversity issues. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that since the 1900s, 75% of plant genetic diversity has been lost and today, 75% of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plant species (and five animal species).



“They’re still around, they’re not lost, but they can be lost because they’re disappearing at a fast rate,” adds Thiam. The United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa has projected that as extreme heat events increase, crop yields across the continent could decrease by 20% by 2050. “If you think about how our climate is changing and all the heat waves we’re seeing around the world, why do we need to go and engineer a crop to be drought and heat-tolerant?” asks Karl-Wait- haka. “We already have crops with those qualities, so why not work on making them more productive.”



Fonio, like sorghum, millet and Bambara groundnut, is better for the climate. Fonio grows on marginal lands and is pest-resistant (unlike millet which birds love so farmers must put down nets to keep them away). “The small farming communities are still growing fonio because they rely on it in times of famine. They know that if the rain is inconsistent, they can rely on fonio,” says Thiam. As well as being drought-resistant, fonio grows incredibly fast, reaching maturity in two months. “When the harvest is bad, they can rely on fonio. That’s why they call it ‘hungry rice’. It’s the rice that comes when you need it and it feeds the people,” he adds.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-green-revolution">A green revolution</h3>



One of fonio’s biggest selling points is that it is gluten-free, but Thiam explains that the grain is also incredibly nutritious, rich in both cysteine and methionine, two amino acids not found in other major grains. Fonio has calcium iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc and is also a good source of fiber and thiamine. “These grains are good for the planet and good for the consumer,” says Thiam, who explains that a climate-friendly crop like fonio could also help corporations meet their sustainable development goals (SDGs). Karl-Waithaka is also encouraged by the fact that food systems are now a part of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) agenda. In addition to this, the UN General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, hoping to raise awareness for this sustainable African grain group. “For systems to shift, it will take funding and high-profile visibility of this need. And I would say we’re at the start,” she says.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-fonio-into-agricultural-supply">Getting fonio into agricultural supply</h3>



Chains is a great opportunity for Senegalese farmers – provided the right policies are put in place to protect the seeds.



Thiam’s concern is that fonio will follow the same path as quinoa, an Andean ancient crop that’s now cultivated worldwide. Even though quinoa has made farmers in Bolivia wealthier, their diets are becoming Westernized as more of the crop is exported and not consumed. In some regions, the grain is outpricing the market and those who grow it can no longer afford to eat it themselves.



Small farmers cannot compete with the intensive agriculture practices. “A big part of the challenge is, as a farmer, you’re not going to grow something if you don’t have somebody to sell it to,” adds Karl-Waithaka. To make fonio a success, Thiam realized that he would need to involve the entire community and, if possible, create a movement. This is how the Lost Crops Festival started, a strategic way to celebrate African grains like fonio while bringing together stakeholders, farmers, chefs, and research institutes. “We wanted everyone to be in the room so that the silos are removed. Farmers, for example, don’t know what research is going on but the research should be around the farmers,” says Thiam. 



Inviting world-class musicians like Baaba Maal to the festival, Thiam’s goal is to celebrate agriculture and show people that these once-forgetting crops are a solution to monoculture and a farming system that has only increased greenhouse gas emissions over time while limiting global diets. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the small farming communities that have kept these crops alive for millions of years. It’s also important for food sovereignty because in Africa, we are still a net food importer,” adds Thiam, who says that celebrating grains like fonio is not only about nutrition but it goes back to the rhythm of traditional agriculture. The global food system became a big industrial monster, and the deeper cultural meaning was lost. He says: “It wasn’t nourishment anymore. The soul was gone, and we need to claim it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-fork-to-farm">Fork To Farm</h2>



Fonio is an easy crop to grow – it requires no fertilizer, pesticide, irrigation or chemical inputs. It’s incredibly resilient but processing it can be problematic. Fonio has a skin that needs to be removed but since the standards of processing haven’t been improved in Senegal, it takes a lot of manual work and as a result, there’s post-harvest waste. Unlike wheat, which has been industrialized and has huge machines to process it, smaller grains like fonio have not been part of global food systems. The R&amp;D is not there. “It’s a challenge making fonio accessible but there’s such a high waste,” says Thiam. This is one of the reasons why Thiam started his company Yolélé. Even though he grew up in Dakar, he didn’t have access to these grains. It was only when he traveled into the deep South of Senegal, Kédougou, for research for his cookbook, that he came across farmers serving fonio. Thiam wondered why such a delicious and nutritional grain wasn’t a world-class crop. He also knew for American consumers, gluten-free was a huge selling point. “And I said, let’s make it desirable. Let’s make it sexy,” laughs Thiam.



Instead of focusing on farm to fork, he took a reverse approach, creating a brand to tell the story of these crops. “We knew that we could create a demand for these crops. We are not only selling the grains, but a variety of products derived from the grain as well as using other ingredients that grow in the region,” says Thiam. From baobab leaves to moringa and dawadawa, Yolélé products not only include plants and are traditionally used in West African cuisine, it is helping fonio to enter new industries. One of Thiam’s newest endeavors is beer. Through Brew- ing for Impact, a global initiative led by Garret Oliver, a brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, it was discovered that the fonio grain was the perfect addition to beer.



This led to both Guinness and Carlsberg launching fonio beers, bringing the total to nine breweries working (including one in China) using fonio. “Now that the demand is real, the goal is to create de- mand in other industries,” says Thiam.



Even when fonio is used as a tiny per- centage in other products, it will have major impact – provided they contract the small farmers. “If you really want to transform markets, then you have to think a market-based mindset,” says Karl- Waithaka. “This means not just giving seeds and fertilizers to farmers but think- ing about the businesses that are going to buy this, the products they’re going to create, and the consumers they’re going to sell to.” On Thiam’s side, this means meeting the demand by supporting the farmers to improve productivity in a more sustainable way. “But most importantly, we need to innovate in the processing standards,” he says, adding that they’re only processing one tonne of fonio a day. To improve yield, he hired a milling manufacturing company to design equipment that will improve processing times to two tonnes per hour, and reduce the post-waste harvest.

assss

Reclaiming The Giant Among African Grains: The Rise Of Fonio

The partnership and relationship between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will deepen further and the UAE has been invited to the G20 summit in Johannesburg next year, said South Africa’s Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure&nbsp;Dean William Macpherson, at the inaugural The Africa Debate – UAE forum by Invest Africa in the emirate of Dubai on Thursday.



In a brief chat with FORBES AFRICA on the sidelines of the summit, Macpherson also reflected on South Africa&#8217;s pathways to creating better infrastructure and some of the “innovative financing” being looked at, particularly the project preparation fund, “the first of its kind” in South Africa launched in mid-October for economic growth and job creation.



“The interest has been unbelievable for that, and in fact, I&#8217;ve had a number of equity funds that have approached me saying they want to get involved in bid window too so we can really scale up and leverage the funds the government is putting in now with the private sector, which is exactly the foundation of our new infrastructure plan. It&#8217;s about collaboration between the state and the private sector on how we can build infrastructure quicker, smarter and in a more transparent way,” Macpherson told FORBES AFRICA.



The 39-year-old minister said he had fruitful bilateral meetings with the UAE’s ministers of economy and foreign affairs.



“They are young chaps like myself committed to making their countries better. And we&#8217;re already talking on WhatsApp. South Africa and the UAE share a very important historical relationship.”



His last trip to Dubai was 20 years ago but the minister says he may be returning more regularly through 2025. “I can only see our relationship deepening and growing.”



South Africa is set to host Africa’s first-ever G20 summit in 2025, and the UAE has been invited as “special guests”.



“They are one of, I think, five countries we have invited… and to all our ministerial meetings. There&#8217;s a lot we can learn. And that&#8217;s the commitment the ministers have given me,” said Macpherson, whose planned itinerary in the UAE also included visits to infrastructure projects such as Dubai’s ports.



“The UAE are really kings of infrastructure, they have understood how to rapidly scale up an economy through infrastructure-led growth, which is crucial.”



To woo investors, South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) coalition government is also “seized with” creating safer communities and more jobs, which the different political parties all agree on, added the minister.



“We&#8217;ve seen a more robust approach to crime-fighting [in the last six months since coming to power], and we welcome that… I need that in order to protect our projects and give investors the confidence. People [here in the UAE] are more interested in opportunities. I think that they&#8217;ve drawn a line with the problematic years we&#8217;ve had in the country, and they see new young leaders coming in through government, and they are saying this is the kind of vision we&#8217;re looking to support…. And [South Africa has] a lot of good business cases to be made.



In his opening remarks at the summit, before a panel discussion on Closing Africa’s Infrastructure Gaps, Macpherson reiterated that he would like to turn South Africa into “a construction site”.



To FORBES AFRICA, he re-emphasized the importance of the private sector in this regard.



“…We only have a billion rand that has been set aside for project preparation. And intentionally, we&#8217;re saying to investors that we are going to prepare these projects, we&#8217;re going to fund them properly so they are bankable, it&#8217;s now in your hands to come and join us. You make the profits, you build it, as long as it&#8217;s done on time and on budget, everyone can make something out of it. So, we are purposely saying to the private sector, we need you.



“I was in Asia a couple of weeks ago, bringing in a new multilateral bank that&#8217;s never done business in South Africa. I&#8217;m taking a personal approach to this, as I said, if you have got the money, you have got my attention. I&#8217;m prepared to put in the hours and fly around the world to see people, as long as we get those projects going.”

South African Banks And Financial Offices in Johannesburg

‘If You’ve Got Money, You’ve Got My Attention’: South Africa’s Infrastructure Minister On Wooing Investors And Inviting The UAE To Africa’s First-Ever G20 Summit In 2025

In a surprising turn of events, Botswana’s President Dr Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi conceded defeat after the country rejected its longest-serving governing party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in the parliamentary elections held on October 30.



As per <a href="about:blank">reports</a>, Masisi’s conceding came in hours before the final results were announced. The BDP, which has governed the southern African country since 1966, stood at fourth place in the polls.



Voters took to the ballot across the diamond-rich country as Masisi, who has been President since 2018, sought to be re-elected for a second and final term in office.



The country has had its share of economic challenges.



Insights by <a href="https://www.coface.com/news-economy-and-insights/business-risk-dashboard/country-risk-files/botswana">Coface </a>(global provider of trade credit insurance, business information and debt collection) indicate long-standing issues of inadequate infrastructure (water and electricity production and distribution) and high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth – of about 23.4% in 2023. In 2022, the poverty rate was also relatively high at 14.5%.



Reverend Prince Dibeela, a political activist and President of the Botswana Labour Party, told AP News that this is the first time in more than four decades that “the state coffers are negative”.



“There are also more than 200,000 young people who are employable but cannot find work. We are a very fragmented society.”



“I will respectfully step aside and participate in a smooth transition process ahead of inauguration,” Masisi told a press conference on Friday in the country’s capital Gaborone. “I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victories and concede the elections. I am proud of our democratic processes and I respect the will of the people.”



Duma Boko, President of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), emerged victorious in what has been described an overwhelming lead in the election. A lawyer by profession, taking part in the elections for the third time, Boko had continuously urged voters to stay at voting stations.



&#8220;Counting centres remain places of further rigging and we should not let up. Do not leave the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and police officers with boxes (ballot) during breaks. We will celebrate once the job is complete, not now. It is not over yet until the final ballot is counted,&#8221; he said in a statement, according to News24.



“We got it wrong big time in the eyes of the people,” Masisi told the press. “We were really convinced of our message. But every indication, by any measure, is that there’s no way that I can pretend that we’re going to form a government.”



Masisi said in an <a href="about:blank">audio</a> with Boko that he will start the process of a handover tomorrow, “and you can count on me to always be there to provide whatever guidance you might want.”



State television reported results showed that from 55 of the 61 constituencies up for grabs, the UDC won 32 seats in parliament.

BOTSWANA-VOTE

Masisi Concedes Massive Defeat: Boko Wins In Landmark Botswana Election Ending 58 Years Of BDP Rule

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



Spotify confirmed the data tracking period for its highly anticipated Spotify Wrapped year-in-review packages will extend beyond Oct. 31, the date that was once reported to be the final day of data collection, though it did not specify when tracking stops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



Spotify teased its upcoming Wrapped package in a Halloween-themed&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SpotifyNews/status/1852006409090535754" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post on X</a>, confirming data collection will continue until an unspecified date.



The Spotify Wrapped packages, customized graphics that tell a Spotify user their top five most-streamed songs and artists in a calendar year, used to stop data collection on Oct. 31,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/11/01/spotify-wrapped-2022-music-data/10659843002/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;reported in 2022.



<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2024/10/24/spotify-wrapped-2024/75828894007/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify told users</a>&nbsp;in an in-app pop-up message last week that “2024 is almost a wrap,” urging users to update the app so they can access their Wrapped packages when they arrive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When Will Spotify Wrapped 2024 Release?</h2>



Though no release date has been announced, Spotify Wrapped usually drops at the end of November or the beginning of December. Spotify released its Wrapped packages on Nov. 29 last year, one day earlier than the previous year, when the packages were released on Nov. 30. Users are typically given access to Spotify Wrapped through an in-app pop-up, and the package is formatted as a slideshow with Instagram Story-ready graphics. Users are also given playlists with their top 100 songs from the year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tangent</h2>



Social media users have frequently joked they wait until Spotify stops tracking their data so they can safely listen to music they’d be embarrassed by if it ended up in their Spotify Wrapped. More than 200,000 users liked an&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/INDIEWASHERE/status/1849090072307491082" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">X post</a>&nbsp;last week from a user who said her Spotify Wrapped is “going to be so embarrassing this year,” and last year, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2023/10/27/spotify-wrapped-tracking-end-october/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>&nbsp;referred to November and December as “cheat months” where users can listen to holiday music and show tunes safely without fear of them popping up on Spotify Wrapped.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Background</h2>



Spotify began its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/28/spotify-wrapped-2023-comes-soon-heres-how-it-became-a-viral-and-widely-copied-marketing-tactic/">Wrapped marketing campaign</a>&nbsp;in 2016, and began issuing Instagram Story-shareable graphics to users as part of their Wrapped packages in 2019. The Wrapped campaign has been a huge marketing hit for the streaming platform:&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/6340656/spotify-wrapped-guide-2023/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify said</a>&nbsp;more than 156 million users accessed their Wrapped package in 2022, up from 120 million the year prior. Social media analytics company&nbsp;<a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/spotify-wrapped/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">SproutSocial</a>&nbsp;found 400 million posts had been made about Spotify Wrapped on X in the three days following its 2022 release, up 15% from the year before. Spotify typically unveils new features for the Wrapped campaign each year. In last year’s edition, each user was assigned a “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/29/spotify-wrapped-sound-towns-social-media-has-theories-about-why-you-got-assigned-berkeley-or-burlington/">sound town</a>,” a city that matches their music taste, leading to viral jokes on social media that Burlington, Vermont, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, may be home to large communities of queer artists and LGBTQ listeners. In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23484880/spotify-wrapped-2022-music-personality-bad-bunny-harry-styles-joe-rogan" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">listeners</a>&nbsp;were assigned listening personality types based on the Meyers-Briggs personality test.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/28/spotify-wrapped-2023-comes-soon-heres-how-it-became-a-viral-and-widely-copied-marketing-tactic/">Spotify Wrapped 2023 Comes Soon: Here’s How It Became A Viral And Widely Copied Marketing Tactic</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/29/spotify-wrapped-sound-towns-social-media-has-theories-about-why-you-got-assigned-berkeley-or-burlington/">Spotify Wrapped &#8216;Sound Towns&#8217;: Social Media Has Theories About Why You Got Assigned Berkeley Or Burlington</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Markets Open On Wednesday As Federal Reserve Is Set To Make Latest Rate Increase Announcement

Spotify Wrapped Will Track Data Past Oct. 31—What We Know About This Year’s Iteration

October 31 is celebrated in many countries across the globe but how is it viewed on the African continent?



As the sun dips below the horizon, a charged eeriness can be felt in the air. Gasps and squeals escape from children who spot masked figures adorned in extravagant costumes emerging amidst the flickering firelight. Rhythmic chanting and steady drum beats only add to the haunting ambience that is already bristling with awe and apprehension.



The scene could easily be interpreted as a traditional Halloween celebration, but it’s actually that of the Egungun festival held by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The annual tradition honors those who have passed on through prayer and dance, with masked performers symbolizing vessels through which the ancestors interact with those still in this realm.



“Africans don’t worship ancestors; they revere them. The approach is holistic — it deals with the spirit, the mind, and the body,” notes Advocate Sipho Mantula who is a researcher at UNISA’s Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.



“In African culture, the use of masks, symbols, music and dance, and traditional attire is very different from Halloween.”



Although the spooky holiday has no roots on the continent, Africans are indulging in their own ‘portion of the pumpkin pie’, thanks to globalization.



Club General Manager, Kojo Aidoo has hosted an annual Haunted House party at the Accra-based Front/Back, since 2018.



“We have a massive crowd of expats and Ghanaians who have been schooled abroad. There were no Halloween celebrations in Ghana because it’s something that is from outside, so we decided to create an African version for them to have fun with.”



Alongside typical Halloween décor like skulls and cobwebs, home grown horrors like the cunning Kweku Anansi have also been featured by Aidoo and his team. The Ghanaian folklore character that can be described as a shape-shifting spider has starred in many a chilling tale, appearing as both protagonist and antagonist, depending on who is narrating the story.



“African storytelling usually happens around fire, in a circle, to show infinity, that there is no end,” Mantula explains.



“It is oral spirituality that is passed from one generation to the other.”



For 11 months of the year, Annie’s Angels Party Shop in South Africa’s Western Cape provides costumes for Cape Town’s burgeoning film industry. But come October, the rental store is seemingly the go-to spot for those attending Halloween events.



“We have people queuing outside the shop!” reveals award-winning costume designer, Annie Seegers, who opened the business about 20 years ago.



“The public is able to [view] the entire warehouse and hire from the film stuff. We have things from The Mummy [movie], and recently purchased all the costumes from [television series] Warrior. There is also proper military gear, so Rambo can come and dress himself here.”



In the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, elaborate costumes and extravagant décor are part of what brings The Haunted Circus event, which forms part of Circus 254, to life.



“The feeling is that no matter where you look around you, you’re immersed in the middle of this circus experience, where it kind of blurs the line between the stage and the audience,” explains Circus 254 founder, Kevin van Dijck.



“There are clowns walking around handing people balloons, there are magicians, acrobats, fire-breathers, contortionists…”



Previous years have featured coffins, dozens of carved pumpkins, and performances inspired by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, but for van Dijck, who goes by the stage name DJ Kace, it was important to infuse an element of Africa into the experience.



“We thought to ourselves, what does Halloween look like within an African context? So we thought, ‘okay, let&#8217;s maybe play around with one or two of the costumes, and dress people up as witch doctors’.



“There’s something about interacting with someone who’s dressed up or in costume that kind of takes down people’s walls and makes them more willing to just jump into an experience,” he adds.



It’s been reported that Halloween originally stems from Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival marking summer’s end however, this point has also been disputed, with some claiming that there is no link between the two.



“What people consider as abnormal can easily be categorized as witchcraft and can lead to accusations,” says Matthew Mabefam who lectures on Development Studies at the University of Melbourne.



He spent almost a year living in one of northern Ghana’s segregated settlements known as a ‘witch camp’ where those accused of witchcraft seek refuge after being banished from their communities.



Van Dijck adds, “I had a potential food vendor pull out, saying that they couldn’t get involved in a Halloween event because of religious constraints.”



“But I think with time, people will come to understand that it’s just another excuse to have a fun time and dress up.”

Tag: News Letter

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA