Stories that Matter to Africa
bird editors' choice of today's stories from Africa and elsewhere that are changing the narrative on Africa.
How Zambia's new mining "G-factor" opens a new chapter for growth - and other countries are following
Extractive industries, when well run and well regulated, can add considerably to a country’s fiscus, providing solid tax revenues and stimulating an economy across a variety of sectors, from infrastructure to engineering. Take Australia and Canada. Australia exports most of its raw materials, focusing on extraction, at which it excels, and leaving the beneficiation to countries (like China) that excel at that. However, regulation (and taxation) depends on transparency, from the mines themselves, to the transporters, to the buyers. As South Africa’s Mining Weekly points out, Zambia has taken a major step towards complete transparency, with a new online tool it is calling the “G-factor”. A stable and well-regulated economy drives down risk for investors and lenders. This brings down international lending rates, driving down interest rates locally, allowing business to flourish. At bird, we’ll be following Africa’s mining industry as it grows, helping flip the script on a continent that is massively endowed with minerals that are key to the world economy. And we’ll be following the “G-factor” (short for the “Government factor”), closely.
Strong maize harvest report is not only important for South Africa and the region, it is also an important step in changing the narrative on Africa.
Agriculture is Africa’s lifeblood. It is also a massive money spinner and foreign exchange earner (Africa as a region is the word’s largest citrus exporter – see bird’s story). And we all know what the usual, negative narrative about Africa and food is… So it’s heartwarming to see strong agriculture performances, particularly when those ensure food security for an entire region. This story from Wandile Sihlobo, a South African agriculture specialist, applauds the season’s harvest in South Africa.
A top African architect honours Thomas Sankara with a mausoleum in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
We’ve covered African stars in the world of architecture here on bird story agency, including Diébédo Francis Kéré of Kéré Architecture and its gratifying to see how much attention Kéré Architecture’s Thomas Sankara Mausoleum is receiving internationally. Top architecture site Dezeen has featured the Mausoleum, here.
How African Sports Teams Are Becoming Global Assets?!
We start with a story from Silverbacks Holdings’ Ibrahim Sagna. At bird we’ve been following for some time how sports is changing the narrative on Africa. Whether it be stories on women’s football (see our archive!) or the NBA’s BAL, (more stories) or local teams using social media to build support, big changes are afoot in African sport. That’s drawing big money. Sagna explains how, here.