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The farmer’s daughter using solar and AI to keep harvests alive
Four years ago, Ugandan engineer Shifra Ainomugisha, now 28, turned the rotten tomatoes of her childhood into a climate-smart business. This year she received the Commonwealth’s top youth honour.
The next African economy is being built by its youth – report
Africa’s expanding youth population is reshaping the continent’s labour market, cities, and investment priorities. New data shows that services will overtake agriculture as the largest employer of young Africans by 2033, placing youth employment at the centre of Africa’s next phase of economic growth.
The Africa young people want to build (Long version)
For International Youth Day, bird story agency spoke to young Africans about the continent in which they want to build their futures — and what stands between their generation and that vision.
Hollywood is using African music ecosystems to build global film franchises
Hollywood is increasingly turning to African music ecosystems to shape the cultural identity, marketing strategy and global reach of major film franchises. The appointment of Nigerian singer Tems as executive music producer for ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ reflects a broader shift that places African artists at the center of soundtrack strategy, cultural world-building and the creative architecture of global entertainment properties.
Inside the $5 billion plan to keep Africa’s cotton jobs in Africa
Africa grows plenty of cotton. It just does not make much of it into clothes. A new $5 billion plan aims to change that, turning a scattered collection of cotton producers into a regional textile industry.
Moove joins Africa’s unicorn club with a US$2.1 billion infrastructure bet
Moove’s US$2.1 billion valuation is the largest African startup funding milestone of 2026, marking the continent’s newest unicorn. Its rise suggests that investors are increasingly backing African companies that are building the infrastructure underpinning global industries.
A harvest that keeps Zambia’s children learning
In a farming settlement in southern Zambia, families use income from a drought-resilient crop to buy uniforms and books, meet college costs and put food on the table. Farmers say better seed, stronger prices and faster payments could help more rural households do the
The team building AI to help Africa fight misinformation
Improvements in generative artificial intelligence are being made every day but misinformation is on the rise too. Tools developed and trained in Africa by Africans are now assisting journalists and the general public in distinguishing between true and fake information. Monsur Hussain and his team are at the forefront of a quest to check fake info at the door.
From seed to cooking oil, Zimbabwe builds a new rural economy
In Gokwe, Zimbabwe’s largest growing region, investment in local processing is turning a once-overlooked seed into cooking oil, livestock feed and industrial products. The emerging industry could create jobs and retain more value but farmers want a greater share of its rewards.
Burundi’s breastfeeding success is becoming a test case for Africa’s maternal health investment
Burundi has become one of the world’s highest-performing countries in exclusive breastfeeding, and its success is reshaping the global conversation on maternal and child health. As WHO and UNICEF push a new investment case for breastfeeding, the country is emerging as evidence that strong health systems, workplace policies, and public investment can transform outcomes.