President Paul Kagame’s vision to put Rwanda and Made in Rwanda products on the global market has led to the country producing Africa’s first smartphones. The Mara phone is reportedly the first high specification, affordable smartphone manufactured in Africa.
Innovation
Africans rising Best little (sustainable) house in Africa
A solar-powered, “green” house designed and built by staff and students of the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University (SU) has been awarded second place in the architecture category of the continent’s first Solar Decathlon Africa title in Morocco.
Africans rising Ethiopian student Torpout Nyarikjor creates a non-invasive malaria detection device
Torpout Nyarikjor, an engineering student at Dilla University in southern Ethiopia has invented a malaria detection device. The “Tor” which is the name of the device, uses lasers to ascertain infection in the blood and is 70% accurate.
Arts and Culture Alioune Diop University in Senegal wins the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture
The five winners of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture who will share US$ 1 million between them includes Alioune Diop University Teaching and Research Unit, in Bambey, Senegal. The Award is given to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation and landscape architecture
Africans rising Touch down for SA’s banking Siri
An African counterpart for Apple Inc’s virtual assistant, Siri, that focuses on banking and financial management, and speaks four of South Africa’s official languages, is breaking ground on the continent. A group of University of Cape Town (UCT) students are behind the novel idea.
Africans rising Young scientists pull out all the stops at science expo
The ingenuity, brilliance and out-of-the-box project ideas pioneered by hundreds of young science enthusiasts from schools around the Mother City were showcased during the annual Cape Town Eskom Expo for Young Scientists at the University of Cape Town (UCT) this week.
Lifestyle Kenya: Emergency services in Nairobi can be hailed as easily as a cab on Rescue.co
Despite there being an above average number of ambulances in Kenya’s capital, most arrive in 2hours or longer, thus defeating the notion of emergency services. Rescue.co; a solution that is designed and functions like a ride-hailing app or food-delivery service; has created one of the largest networks of Kenya’s best first responders.
Africans rising Nigerian teenage girls win Technovation People’s Choice Award in Silicon Valley
Team Brain Squad, a group of five Nigerian girls was named the People’s Choice award recipients for their app, Hands Out, at this year’s global Technovation held in Silicon Valley, California. The girls’ aptly named Hands Out app is a fundraising tool to help finance education for indigent children.
Africans rising Osmond Tshuma a graphic designer transforming African design, one pattern at a time
Osmond Tshuma is a Zimbabwean award-winning artist, designer, art director, typographer and curator who specialises in African-inspired themes. Meet the young, and talented artist who developed the visual language for the Obama Foundation Africa Leaders program, and is transforming African design, one pattern at a time.