The popular Netflix documentary ‘Free Money’, which explores a universal basic income experiment in a Kenyan village, has landed the streaming giant in hot water. “Four Kenyans have filed a lawsuit,” Business Daily reports, “against the producers, alleging that their poverty was commercially exploited without their informed consent.” The plaintiffs…
Author: Smart Megwai
Smart Megwai
Smart is a technology journalist covering innovation, digital culture, and the business of emerging tech. His reporting for Innovation Village explores how technology shapes everyday life in Africa and beyond.
Uber ventures into the wild, launching Uber Safari in South Africa, where the thrill of a safari adventure is now just a tap away for tourists and locals alike. Starting October 1st, 2024, users in Cape Town will be able to book a full-day safari experience directly through the Uber…
Anticipation is building as vivo, a leading global smartphone brand, gears up to launch its latest flagship device, the V40, in Kenya on October 14th, 2024. This highly anticipated release marks a significant milestone as vivo deepens its strategic partnership with ZEISS, the renowned optics pioneer. With this collaboration, the…
“There’s a credit-building problem and remittance issue for Africans globally,” the Founder and CEO of Kredete told Innovation Village in an exclusive interview, shedding light on the groundbreaking financial technology company he’s built to bridge the financial gap for African immigrants. Fresh off a successful $2.25M seed funding round, Kredete…
Elon Musk’s Starlink has once again disrupted the Kenyan internet market with the introduction of its more affordable “Starlink Mini” plan. Launched in September 2024, this new offering drastically reduces the barrier to entry for satellite internet, with hardware kits now priced at a significantly lower KSh 27,000. This move…
Nigerian investment startup Rise has further solidified its presence in the African fintech landscape with the successful acquisition of Kenya’s stock trading platform, Hisa. This strategic move marks Rise’s second acquisition in less than a year, following its takeover of another digital trading platform, Chaka, in September 2023. The deal…
Chipper Cash, a leading cross-border payments platform, has secured a broker-dealer license from the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This significant milestone grants Chipper Cash direct access to Ghana’s financial markets, allowing the company to offer a wider range of services to its customers. Dion Jon Taylor Samson, the…
The Australian government has unveiled plans to introduce age restrictions for social media use, sparking a heated debate among policymakers, experts, and the public. The proposed measure aims to protect young people’s mental and physical health by setting a minimum age limit for accessing social media platforms. The government has…
Safaricom, Kenya’s leading mobile network operator, has announced a scheduled maintenance outage for its M-Pesa services. The outage is set to take place on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 11:00 PM to Wednesday, September 11, 3:30 AM. During the maintenance period, all M-Pesa services, including sending and receiving money, airtime…
Apple has announced that it will be adjusting the prices of in-app purchases on the App Store in three select markets, including Senegal. The price changes will take effect on September 16, 2024. While Apple has not specified whether the price adjustments will be upward or downward, the introduction of…
The agricultural landscape in Kenya is undergoing a technological revolution as drone technology continues to gain traction. In a recent development, Hover Mode, a leading provider of innovative drone services across Kenya and broader Africa, has launched the DJI Agra T50 drone, offering farmers in the region a new tool…
The Federal Government has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide, a significant boost to the healthcare sector. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, during a visit to the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna State, Channels TV…
Pick n Pay, one of South Africa’s leading retail chains, has announced plans to close or rebrand around 100 stores as part of a broader restructuring strategy. The decision comes amidst a period of stagnant growth and declining profitability for the retailer. In a recent trading statement covering the 21…
The Kenyan telecommunications landscape continues to heat up as Elon Musk’s Starlink expands its services and poses a significant challenge to incumbent providers like Safaricom. Starlink’s recent announcement that mobile phone users will soon be able to access its satellite internet directly, without the need for hardware kits, has intensified…
Elon Musk’s Starlink shakes up the internet service provider (ISP) market once again, this time with plans to equip its satellites with advanced technology that allows mobile phones to connect directly to satellite internet. This ambitious move bypasses the need for traditional hardware routers and could significantly disrupt the existing…
After months of negotiations and setbacks, Wasoko and MaxAB, two leading African e-commerce platforms, have successfully completed their long-awaited merger. The deal, which was announced in December 2023, is being hailed as the largest tech merger on the African continent. The merger, initially planned as a “merger of equals,” faced…
Konga, a leading online marketplace in Nigeria, has announced a strategic partnership with Starlink to provide satellite internet services to underserved areas across the country. This collaboration aims to bridge the digital divide by offering reliable, high-speed internet connectivity to individuals and businesses in regions with limited or no terrestrial…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to commence the rollout of a 90,000-kilometer fibre optic cable network across the country in February 2025. This ambitious project aims to significantly expand Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure, increasing its backbone network from 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers. The Minister of Communications, Innovation,…
Vodacom and Huawei have joined forces to launch the DigiTruck, a mobile classroom designed to bring digital education to remote communities in Tanzania. The innovative project is part of the broader DigiTruck initiative, which aims to bridge the digital divide and provide access to technology and education in underserved areas.…
A recent survey conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has revealed that South Africa is among the world’s top users of ChatGPT and other AI technologies. This significant finding underscores the country’s growing embrace of artificial intelligence and its potential to drive innovation and economic growth. The BCG Global…