GOOD MORNING CHOP FAMILY!
Monday focus. Lock in. You control your day and your week. Don’t get distracted. But, before you kick butt and take names, let’s get you caught up on the latest from the continent and beyond.
Africans are making hella babies.
Can we digitize elections?
Coke is committing a bag.
TRENDING TOPICS
Did you hear about the latest mad gunman who shot up the White House Correspondence Dinner that President Trump was attending?
Some lunatic charged through security, brandishing and shooting a twelve-gauge shotgun, sending the event into a mad, chaotic scene.
Trump was not injured, and the gunman was apprehended.
It seems that Africa does not hold the monopoly on political violence. If I am counting correctly, this would be the third attempt on Trump’s life.
There are so many conspiracy theories floating around already, but we just need people all across the world to stop the madness.
African Proverb of the Day
"Whoever is patient with a cowrie shell will one day have thousands of them." (Hausa origin, Nigeria)
MARKET MOVES
BUSINESS
Despite the many problems stifling growth in Africa, there is one area where we are winning, and that is our birth rate.
Africans, we know how to procreate.
A staggering new report shows that in 2026, more than 1 in 3 babies born globally will be African. To put that in perspective, about 85% of all births this year are happening in Africa and Asia combined, while Europe and North America account for just 8%.
But what does this actually mean for Africa and the global economy? Well, for starters, the future of the global workforce and consumer market will be on the continent.
Africa is young. Tech-savvy and hungry.
So, I argue that it behooves you or anyone with ties to Africa to make inroads, start a business, and build relationships on the ground.
Solve a problem.
God knows the continent has many. As someone who is actively building a business in Africa, it ain’t easy.
And sometimes its down right frustrating.
But I see the light, I notice the promise. That tattered glass can still hold water and more.
And, I think more importantly, whether the business succeeds or not (it will), I feel a sense of fulfillment that I don’t get while I am in the West.
So buckle up, ignore the noise, and put your eggs in the African basket.
FINANCE & MARKETS
Coca-Cola’s $1 Billion Bet
Coke is one of those Western brands that you can find throughout Africa. Even in very remote villages, I bet you can find a cool bottle of Coke or Fanta. In fact, one of the oldest pictures of me in our village shows me proudly holding a Fanta bottle.
So it comes as no surprise that Coke is doubling down in Africa with its local bottling partner, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, and they have just announced a massive $1 billion investment plan for South Africa spanning the next five years.
They aim to expand manufacturing capacity, improve distribution networks, and significantly boost procurement from Black-owned suppliers.
It is a major vote of confidence in the South African economy, with the potential to create thousands of jobs across the supply chain by 2030.
TECH
AI vs. The Ballot Box
The African Union recently wrapped up a major dialogue in Morocco titled “Digitalizing Democracy.”
With AI-generated misinformation being a global headache, African youth leaders are trying to flip the script by using AI to protect electoral integrity instead of undermining it. A tall task indeed.
With several major elections on the horizon, it will remain to be seen how AI will alter or enhance elections in Africa, because historically, many elections are fraught with violence, fraud, and confusion.
⚡ Quick Bites ⚡
Nuclear Ambitions: Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa are fast-tracking plans for nuclear energy to stabilize their power grids and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. AP News.
DRC Census: For the first time in over 40 years, the Democratic Republic of Congo is launching a nationwide census, backed by $80 million from the AfDB, to finally get a clear picture of its 100+ million population. AfDB News.
Moroccan Peace Hub: The AU recently commended Morocco for its growing role as a strategic hub for peace and security governance across the Sahel and North Africa. AU.int.
🌍 What Else is Cooking? 🍳 The Global Spread
The Bear Fraud: Three people in California were recently sentenced to 180 days in jail for a bizarre insurance scheme. Their plan? Dressing up in a realistic bear costume to "trash" their own high-end cars to collect insurance payouts. They almost got away with it until investigators realized the "claw marks" were suspiciously uniform.
The Tobacco Ban: The British Parliament just passed a landmark bill. It’s a bit of a legacy play: children born after December 31, 2008, will be legally banned from ever buying cigarettes in the UK, even as adults.
A Lucky Lobster: In Cape Cod, a rare "split-colored" lobster—half orange and half brown—was saved from a dinner plate. These are roughly a one-in-fifty-million find, so it’s off to an aquarium to live out its days in peace.
Dish of the Day 🥘
Wozzaah!
Today’s dish is actually a drink. And since Coke is committing to Africa, we wanted to highlight a cool Coke creation, inspired by African culture. Coke Wossaah is a zero- sugar twist on the famous Coke beverage. It is a limited edition and has bold tropical, tangy flavours, full of energy and life, like Africans.
We searched low and high and were not able to find any to taste on our recent trip, but if you happen to find some, buy for me, please!
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