Next is Africa

They are African, working across a wide range of highly specialised fields — industry, energy, agriculture, healthcare, technology, AI, defence and more. Some are young; others are grandparents. Among them are business leaders and trade unionists, intellectuals and brilliant young minds. What they all have in common is a determination to change the rules of the game and build genuine sovereignty. Here are fifteen profiles, each showing in its own way a path forward.

The veteran reporter, who has specialised in Africa for more than 20 years, tells the story of a continent far removed from clichés. On the occasion of the French publication of Children of the Nile, an account of his long journey along the legendary river, he discusses the encounters that shape his perspective, the region’s geopolitical upheavals and the power of storytelling to convey the complexity of reality. 

Ten years after Afrotopia, Senegalese author and economist Felwine Sarr continues, in La Fabrique du présent, to explore pathways towards African emancipation grounded in dignity, knowledge and the living world.

Thanks to his discovery in Gabon of the oldest known multicellular fossils, more than 2 billion years old, Moroccan geologist Abderrazak El Albani has transformed our understanding of the origins of life. In his latest book, he looks back at the major scientific advances of recent years and takes us to the farthest reaches of the living world.

They are researchers, developers, coders and entrepreneurs. They are designing new models and building solutions for healthcare, agriculture, digital networks and energy. They share a common ambition: to create an artificial intelligence for Africa—one that speaks its languages, understands its realities and responds to its challenges. Above all, they refuse to let the continent remain a spectator in the technological revolution. 
 

After fifteen years of pharaonic construction, Ethiopia officially inaugurated “its” Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on September 9. Despite the reluctance of international donors and threats from Egypt, the authorities brought this colossal project to completion by mobilising the population. A historic achievement for a nation in search of sovereignty—and grandeur.

A major figure in the French-speaking literary world, Mauritian author Ananda Devi returns to her native island to compose a fabulous epic where history, memory and the marvellous are woven together.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is tracing West African architects’ efforts to reclaim and redefine architecture in the years following independence in a major exhibition. 

Fonio, baobab, moringa, ginger, millet, sorghum… These are the famous “superfoods.” With their exceptional nutritional density and high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they offer a genuine alternative when it comes to food sovereignty — provided production and distribution networks are modernised.

Zimbabwean brand Haus of Stone brings the country’s fantastical cultural heritage to life through understated, captivating and enduring textured garments. 

This symbolic drum, confiscated in 1916 in Adjamé, a district of Abidjan, by the French colonial authorities, is about to make its great return to Côte d’Ivoire.

Bhelize Don't Cry, Uzi Freyja's first album, is a joy to discover. Inspired, polished melodies manifest a blend of influences in tracks that are both moving and exciting. Catch her on her European tour!

The Ivorian brand Be Blessed is gearing up ambitiously to become Africa’s leading sports equipment company and compete with the biggest names in the industry. We meet the man at the helm of a company betting on soft power, innovation and 100% local production.
 

Since the late 19th century, Lebanese people have forged a unique relationship with their adopted country. It is one rooted in deep economic integration, but extends far beyond it. The CCILCI plays a central role in bringing together and energising a dynamic business community.
 

Nigeria has just turned an important page in its financial history. In Paris, on October 24, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—the global body responsible for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism—announced that Nigeria, along with South Africa, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso, had been removed from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, commonly known as the “grey list.” It

From 5 to 14 August, Geneva hosted the fifth round of United Nations negotiations to secure a treaty limiting the widespread use of polyethylene. In Africa, recycling is making little progress. Most accumulates in the soil and water for centuries, making it a real economic and environmental scourge.

Zeynep Harezi Yilmaz is the Chief Commercial Officer of Karpowership, a global Turkish company renowned for its floating power plants. Educated at Hamilton College and the London School of Economics, she is also co-founder of the One World Karadeniz Foundation, which works to promote education, women's empowerment and humanitarian aid. We spoke to this committed leader, for whom Africa represents a strategic opportunity.

Established in 2022, the Observatoire régional de la recherche et du climat (Regional Climate and Research Observatory - ORREC) works to anticipate droughts and support communities. From 14 to 16 April, the second annual international Climate Change Research and Resilience Conference (2CR2) was held in Djibouti. We spoke with Djibouti's Minister of Higher Education and Research about the conference and the stakes.

In less than fifteen years, the country has undergone profound changes, driven by an ambitious and demanding policy on all fronts, designed for the long term.

Since taking office just under two years ago, President Tinubu has been pursuing a series of hard-hitting policies. These sweeping changes are set to transform sub-Saharan Africa's leading economy.

Youth, training, promotion of women, investment in human capital, health, education, transport… The objective is to fight poverty and propose a real model of inclusive growth.

Regional constraints and crises notwithstanding, the country is investing, imagining and preparing for tomorrow.

Firmly at the helm, President Bola Tinubu and his government are carrying out sweeping reforms to raise the bar and restore Nigeria to its rightful place as the continent’s leader.

Despite a harsh and complex environment, Djibouti has built an ambitious development project while ensuring peace and stability. A new day is dawning, with free zones, industrialization, energy and digital technology.