GOOD MORNING CHOP FAMILY!
Before you zone out and plan your weekend, let’s get you caught up on what’s happening on the continent.
No go to the big data center in Kenya
Dangote eyes Tanzania
Mono railing
TRENDING TOPICS
Is there an end in sight to the Iran war?
There are rumors of proposals being seriously looked at, and even though ships are still dodging shots, it seems that there is a real longing for the crazy conflict to come to an end - from both sides (maybe not Israel, though).
This news made the oil markets dip sharply, and that’s a good thing for EVERYBODY.
African Proverb of the Day
"People visit the rich with gifts, but they visit the poor with advice." (Origin: Somewhere in Africa)
MARKET MOVES
BUSINESS
The $1 Billion Power Reality Check
Data centers are the backbone of tech, especially with the AI bonanza in full swing. These massive buildings and all their “stuff” inside require tremendous amounts of stable electric power, something that is typically NOT associated with African ecosystems.
That’s why it came as no surprise that Kenya officially hit the "pause" button on a massive $1 billion Microsoft and G42 data center.
While everyone wants to talk about Africa’s "AI ambitions" and that Africa needs AI sovereignty, the reality of keeping the lights on in a massive server farm is a different story.
The project was meant to be the crown jewel of US-Kenya tech ties, but for now, Silicon Valley is staying in the box until the power grid catches up.
Staying in East Africa …
Dangote’s Big Ambitions
Aliko Dangote just shared some tea at the "Africa We Build" forum in Nairobi: he’s looking to replicate his massive Nigerian refinery project in Northern Tanzania.
But… the announcement took Tanzanian President Hassan by surprise, because apparently Dangote only discussed the project with Kenyan President Ruto.
I get why the Tanzanian president would be in her feelings, but at the end of the day, it’s a big move that will benefit Tanzanians and the greater region
The refinery will be built in Tanga, Tanzania, and connected to Mombasa, Kenya, via pipeline. Dangote stated that he could have the refinery built within five years, and it would be as sophisticated as the one in Lagos. Boss moves.
FINANCE & MARKETS
Egypt’s $ky-High Milestone
Cairo just took "commuter culture" to a whole new level. The East Nile Monorail officially opened for public passenger trips this morning (May 6th).
It’s the first of its kind in Africa, connecting Nasr City to the New Administrative Capital in a sleek, driverless, 60-minute sprint. It came in at a cost close to 5 billion dollars 🤩.
For a city known for its legendary traffic jams, this tin can is a 56km-long escape hatch.
TECH
Cape Town Becomes the Digital Gateway
The Converge Africa 2026 summit is officially underway at the CTICC (May 4-6).
It seems like there is a big tech conference every week in Africa.
But this one feels a bit more pointed and strategic.
Leaders are trying to figure out how to fix "friction" in digital commerce.
From fragmented retail data to complex cross-border payments, the architects of Africa’s $75 billion digital economy are in Cape Town trying to build a smoother "pay" button for the continent.
Check out inside coverage HERE
⚡ Quick Bites ⚡
The Africa-France Reset: Kenya is hosting the Africa-France Summit next week—the first time a non-Francophone country has ever held the event. It’s a bold "pivot" for Macron. Read more.
The $4 Trillion War Chest: Discussions are heating up on how to mobilize Africa's domestic capital. Stop waiting for foreign checks and start using the continent’s own assets to fund infrastructure. Source.
Bankers as Catalysts: Standard Bank’s latest seminar in Joburg highlighted that, despite global shocks, African banks are increasingly acting as the "resilience" buffer for local economies. Source.
🌍 What Else is Cooking? 🍳
The AI Job Hunt: LinkedIn just revealed that "AI skills" are now appearing in job postings 20x more than they were just two years ago. If you aren't at least pretending to know how to prompt an AI, you're officially behind the curve.
The High-End Safari Pivot: A new travel report for 2026 says "true luxury" in Africa is shifting from five-star hotels to "raw, unpolished wilderness" in places like Namibia’s Hoanib. Silence is the new status symbol. Rhino Africa Report.
The Retro Tech Renaissance: While everyone is chasing the latest silicon, there’s a massive global surge in "dumb phones" and analog tech among Gen Z. It seems the generation that grew up on the grid is the first one trying to escape it - amen to that.
Dish of the Day 🥘
Koshary
Since we were in Cairo, taking a ride on their new cool monorail, we made it a point to stop and try one of Egypt’s most famous street foods - Koshary.
Its delicious mix of pasta, rice, lentils, and chickpeas, topped with a zesty tomato sauce and crispy fried onions.
I gulped mine down and was careful not to spill any sauce on the new Mono Rail seats!
Did You Know? 🤔 The longest mono rail in the world is in Chongqing China, and it spans more than 55km (34 miles)!
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