News & Advice

Source: Forbes

• The mobile payment from the world’s largest smartphone maker, has launched in South Africa
• Samsung has partnered with two of South Africa’s big banks, Absa and Standard Bank through MasterCard and Visa cards
• Because of the country’s mobile-first nature, acceptance of Samsung Pay at launch in South Africa is much better than 2015 in the US when it launched

Source: Wall Street Journal

• Drinkers in Europe & US turning away from beer in favor of spirits & non-alcoholic drinks, Africa becoming important to brewers
• In the world’s poorest continent and fastest-growing beer market, global brewers are being forced to reinvent themselves
• Still, the African market remains unpredictable for multinational companies hoping to build a long-lasting business

Source: Variety

• Disney developing live-action fairytale film “Sadé,” centered on an African princess
• Disney saw massive success this year with “Black Panther, grossed $1.35 billion
• The studio bought a pitch from Ola Shokunbi and Lindsey Reed Palmer, who will co-write the screenplay about a young African girl named Sadé

Source: CNN

• First black African to lead the UN passes away at 80
• Jointly awarded a Nobel Peace Prize with the UN in 2001 for his efforts; brokered truce in the bloody aftermath of the Kenyan election violence in 2007
• Annan was widely recognized as one who advanced the African agenda greatly during his tenure at the United Nations

Source: Reuters

• Nairobi was the first city in Africa in which Uber piloted a low-cost, quick-trip option Chap Chap, using 300 small brand-new Suzuki Altos
• There are now more than 400 Chap Chaps, which means “faster” in Kiswahil
• “We are focusing hard on Chap Chaps,” Uber’s East Africa general manager Loic Amado said in an interview, calling the service “a tremendous success so far”

Source: ESPN

• League is putting plans in place to launch a tournament across the African continent

Source: TechCrunch

• Paystack payment API integrates with tens of thousands of businesses
• In two years it has grown to process 15 percent of all online payments
• Paystack was  first startup from Nigeria to enter Y Combinator

Source: CNN

• Twitter has named Nigeria’s former finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to its board.
• Twitter & other tech giants faced criticism for lack of diversity on boards
• Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the appointment and said she looked forward to leveraging the platform to drive conversations on global issues.

Source: Al Jazeera

• Through twitter, Africans in diaspora influenced African elections debate
• 54% of key non-domestic voices were from outside of Africa
• UK, USA, France were home to most influential voices from outside Africa

Source: Variety

• The world’s largest music company opening an office within the region is a huge statement of belief in our local music talent
• Universal announced expansion into West Africa with launch of Universal Music Nigeria
• Supporting artist throughout continent utilizing Universal Music Group’s global networks for discovery, marketing, promotion & distribution

Source: Euromoney

• Euromoney Banker of Year award went to Ivorian Tidjane Thiam, CEO Credit Suisse
• Received award for overhaul of the bank’s strategy and its return to profitability during the past three years.
• “Thiam saw what some insiders could not or did not want to. Raising capital was essential”

Source: CNN

• Famous Nigerian painting missing for over 40 years turns up in London apartment
• Painting depicted Princess of Ife Adetutu Ademiluyi; artist created two other pieces of her that are still missing
• London auction house, Bonham, initially predicted a price tag of between $275,000 – $413,000 – less than a quarter of the final bid price