Connected Africa: Is this the new silicon valley?

Think of Africa and the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t its thriving tech scene. In Western mainstream media, famine and political unrest make the headlines while African innovators and entrepreneurs often go overlooked. But with a growing population, and internet access and smartphone use on the rise, African markets represent a unique and sometimes untapped opportunity for start-ups and corporates alike looking to capitalise on the continent’s development. And as ordinary Africans become more connected and tech savvy than ever before, home grown entrepreneurs are emerging in the new hubs of Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg and beyond, sometimes dubbed ‘Silicon Lagoon’ or Silicon Savannah’. Here we will look at a few developments in the new ‘Connected Africa’ and some of the challenges the continent is facing as it enters the digital age.