Fintech Snacks 🍿 | July 2 2023
My job is to make sure your reading list on African fintech is lit 🔥
Hey peeps,
A warm welcome to all new and old subscribers to Fintech Snacks 🍿,
Each week, I’ll round up three of my favourite fintech articles, reports, podcasts, webinars etc., that explore a trending topic in Africa’s fintech scene. No deep analysis here; just serving you a list of recommended reads that’ll help you sort through the noise.
I’ve been silent this past week! Please forgive me. I was away living my best life at an African Christian conference!
Where are the pictures, you ask? Alas, I suffer from a very rare condition characterized by absolute apathy with taking photos.
If you have any remedies, please send them my way.
Alright, fintech? What reading did I sneak in between the conference?
Here you go 👇🏾:
#1: 🇸🇳 Techpoint Africa on the cost of Internet shutdowns in Senegal
Stories like this remind me that tech ecosystems don’t exist in a vacuum
It’s ultimately at the mercy of the socio-political environment surrounding it
I still can’t get over this Senegalese citizen who was reportedly killed by the police for tweeting Elon to restore connectivity with Starlink. Pray for Senegal 🙏🏻
#2: 🇨🇮 Tech Safari on Cote D’Ivoire’s startup hub
The Big 4 African giants (Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa) tend to hog much media attention. Getting this up-close preview into one of the emerging startup hubs outside the big 4 markets is so refreshing.
Caleb digs into the challenges of anglophone (English-speaking) companies from Kenya & Nigeria trying to break into a francophone (French-speaking) market like Cote d’Ivoire.
Cool history nugget: Cote d’Ivoire gained independence in the same year as Nigeria (1960). Independence twins 👯♀️
#3: 🇳🇬 Notadeepdive’s take on Godwin Emefiele’s complex legacy
Just like that, Nigeria waves goodbye to eight years of arguably one of the most controversial Central Bank governors: Godwin Emefiele (or Meffy as Nigerians call him)
One of Meffinomics biggest critiques was his failure to keep the CBN independent of the Presidency.
Many have welcomed his getting booted out, but the critical question of whether his replacement will possess enough willpower to stand up against tough executive pressure is still unknown.
What I’m planning to read next:
Reading Semafor makes me feel like I’m flying a private jet across the continent (with a glass of Champagne close by 🥂). Love the unique, untold stories handpicked from different African countries!
The Card Business & eNaira by the Open Africa Podcast
Okay, I’ll stop here.
Catch ya next week!
Nchy 😊
Disclaimer: All content in this newsletter solely reflects my views and opinions. They are not associated with my current employer.