Forbes Africa - June - July 2025

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FORBES AFRICA’s annual 30 Under 30 issue is here! Propelled by ambition and motivated by success, the Class of 2025 remain steadfast in the narrative that there is no greater time to be African than now. For this year’s cohort, it’s not just about solving the scourge of youth unemployment but ensuring that success and succession are part of building brands and businesses. From health tech to sport, entertainment and music, social impact, manufacturing and ecommerce, Africa’s youth have proven that they are more than ready for the challenge—and willing to do whatever it takes for their communities, countries, and continent. Also in this issue, from West Africa, shea butter is powering a global market, worth billions. An industry in transition, women built it, and now men are racing to scale it. HIV research on the continent is also in the spotlight–with strategic collaborations, targeted funding, and growing investment in science, Africa holds immense potential in spearheading the future of global healthcare. We speak to American billionaire, Phillip ‘Terry’ Ragon about his belief in African-led science and why a breakthrough is within reach. In the world of sport, could AI help uncover the next football stars in South Africa? A tech ­firm may have the answer. It's no secret that Africa has great potential in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain. But is the continent’s automotive industry ready to lead a future where African-made batteries power locally-assembled EVs? From a look at one of South Africa’s most favorite exports–rooibos tea–to Nigeria’s role in leading sub-Saharan Africa’s mobile gaming revolution, powered by smartphones, stories, and ambition, the latest issue of FORBES AFRICA is not to be missed. Get your copy today!

EXPORTING OURSELVES TO THE WORLD

The season is going to blow your mind,\" Connie Ferguson tells FORBES AFRICA a month before the release of the long-awaited Netflix South African drama series, Kings of Joburg.

1 min

TRAILBLAZERS UNDER 30 IN THE HOT SEAT CREATING A NEW ARCHITECTURE FOR CHANGE IN AFRICA

NO ONE HEARS MORE 'NO'S' OR HAS MORE DOORS SLAMMED IN THEIR FACE THAN A YOUNG PERSON CHASING A DREAM AND TRYING TO SOLVE A FORMIDABLE PROBLEM. BUT ASK ANY OF THESE YOUNG AFRICANS, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT EVERY SETBACK HAS BUILT THEIR RESILIENCE. IF NO ONE OFFERS THEM OPPORTUNITIES, THEY WILL CREATE THEM, AND ACROSS SECTORS, WITH AN UNSHAKEABLE PASSION FOR NATION-BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT. HERE ARE THE FINALISTS OF FORBES AFRICA'S 11TH EDITION OF THE ANNUAL 30 UNDER 30 LIST.

9 mins

THE BILLIONAIRE BETTING BIG ON AFRICA'S HIV RESEARCH

WITH STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS, TARGETED FUNDING, AND GROWING INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE, AFRICA HOLDS IMMENSE POTENTIAL IN SPEARHEADING THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL HEALTHCARE. AMONG THOSE TAKING THE LEAD TO DEVELOP A CURE FOR HIV, THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, AND WITH MILLIONS IN INVESTMENT, IS AN AMERICAN BILLIONAIRE NAMED WHO WE GET A RARE AUDIENCE WITH. HE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS BELIEF IN AFRICAN-LED SCIENCE AND WHY A BREAKTHROUGH IS WITHIN REACH.

8 mins

GAME ON

luwOle Oside was barely 10 when he spent the night at a friend's house for the first time. The plan was simple: play a little PlayStation, then sleep. The game was Winning Eleven, the football classic that once ruled African living rooms. They never slept.

8 mins

MAMMOTH MOGUL

IT'S AN UTTERLY MAD IDEA: REVIVE THE WOOLLY MAMMOTH, THE FURRY PACHYDERM WITH THE TWISTY TUSKS THAT WENT EXTINCT 4,000 YEARS AGO. BUT IT'S ALSO BRILLIANT, WITH WIDE-RANGING IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH CARE-AND IT HAS ALREADY BROUGHT TO LIFE THE WORLD'S FIRST DE-EXTINCTION BILLIONAIRE, BEN LAMM.

4 mins

RICH RESOURCES POOR RETURNS

FROM COPPER TO COBALT, THE CONTINENT IS RICH IN THE RAW MATERIALS THE WORLD NEEDS FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY. BUT CAN IT STOP EXPORTING VALUE AND START OWNING THE FUTURE?

4 mins

THIS IS FUR REAL

PET-PARENTS CAN REST EASY: THANKS TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PET TECHNOLOGY IS BEING REWIRED WITH SMART WEARABLE TOOLS AND SERVICES TAILORED TO EACH ANIMAL'S NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND AND CARE FOR THEM BETTER

5 mins

TURN ON THE BATTERY

THE CONTINENT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN THE GLOBAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) BATTERY VALUE CHAIN. BUT IS ITS AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY READY TO LEAD A FUTURE WHERE AFRICAN-MADE BATTERIES POWER LOCALLY-ASSEMBLED EVS?

4 mins

RUST TO RICHES

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN SOUTH AFRICA'S VINTAGE CAR MARKET. IT'S LIKE A TREASURE HUNT, WITH SOME INCREDIBLY RARE CLASSIC VEHICLES SCATTERED ACROSS THE CONTINENT, SOMETIMES IN THE REMOTEST VILLAGES.

4 mins

SHEA POWER

IS POWERING A GLOBAL MARKET WORTH BILLIONS. AN INDUSTRY IN TRANSITION, WOMEN BUILT IT, AND NOW ME ARE RACING TO SCALE IT. CAN THE SECTOR GROW WITHOUT LEAVING ITS ORIGINAL STAKEHOLDERS BEHIND?

7 mins

A GRAPE FUTURE

A CENTENARY OF PINOTAGE MARKS A UNIQUELY SOUTH AFRICAN MILESTONE IN THE WORLD OF WINE. THE COUNTRY'S ONLY NATIVE GRAPE HAS UNDERGONE QUITE THE EVOLUTION AND A NEW WAVE OF YOUNGER, INNOVATIVE WINEMAKERS ARE GIVING IT THEIR OWN INTERPRETATION.

5 mins

THE SURVIVAL BREW

ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S MOST FAVORITE EXPORTS IS GROUNDED IN ITS ROOTS. THE REDDISH-BROWN ROOIBOS IS BEING SIPPED AROUND THE WORLD, AND COULD SOON HAVE A UNIQUE USE IN PETROL STATIONS.

4 mins

COULD AI HELP UNCOVER THE NEXT FOOTBALL STARS IN SOUTH AFRICA?

THIS TECH FIRM MAY HAVE THE ANSWER.

3 mins

THE HOT TREND LEAVING BUSINESS LEADERS OUT IN THE COLD-ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE PLUNGE?

As winter approaches and the mercury dips, business leaders are bracing for the usual seasonal discomfort-cold mornings, foggy windscreens, and the annual return of thermal underwear.

2 mins

AI IS CHANGING THE PRICE YOU PAY-BUT WHO'S KEEPING IT HONEST, AND WHAT'S THE PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE FOR AFRICA?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in today's hyper-connected and fiercely competitive global landscape. It is overhauling even the bedrock of business operations.

3 mins

RICHES OR CURSES: AFRICA'S CRITICAL MINERALS DILEMMA

In 2024, a group of Australian researchers (Boafo et al.) asked a pertinent question: “The race for critical minerals in Africa: A blessing or another resource curse?” The continent is abundant with natural resources, but this has often been to our detriment.

3 mins

WHAT IF UNEMPLOYMENT COULD BE A GOOD THING?

Min-soo and Ji-young Kim are 67 and 65 years old respectively.

3 mins

THE REAL CASE FOR DEGLOBALIZATION WITH INTERDEPENDENCE, ON ONE'S OWN TERMS

It was 1849. European power at its zenith. French writer Jean-Baptiste wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

3 mins

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Forbes Africa Magazine Description:

Forbes Africa is the drama critic to business in Africa. The magazine helps readers connect the dots, form patterns and see beyond the obvious, giving them a completely different perspective. In doing this, it delivers sharp, in-depth and engaging stories by looking at global and domestic issues from an African prism.