Left Behind? The Challenges Holding Back East Africa’s Musical Success
African music seems to be taking the world by storm. So far, promises of East African music becoming a powerhouse on the world stage are yet to come to fruition. As Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz secures his biggest hit in years, Komasava, by tapping into South Africa’s breakout genre, Amapiano, this begs the question – is there room for an authentic East African sound on the global stage?
The Economics of Enjoyment: An Analysis of Uganda’s Entertainment Economy Across Its Nightlife, Festivals and Weddings
The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘enjoyment’ as ‘the action or state of deriving gratification from an object.’ However, in East Africa, the term ‘enjoyment’ has been defined in popular discourse as more than just a state of being – it is a lifestyle, a philosophy, and, as this report explores, a serious economic force.
A Borderless Africa Beckons: Transforming Regional Integration through Visa Reform
African leaders have flirted with the idea of letting citizens move freely across the continent for years – some even daring to dream of a single African passport. However, the vision has often been easier to discuss than to implement. Some African countries have taken bold steps toward ‘borderless travel’ - turning talk into action in a way that could boost intracontinental trade.
Preparing for Peak Season: A Strategic Guide for the East African Tourism Industry
From early June to late September, East Africa enters its peak tourism season – a time when the region’s landscapes transform into a stage for nature’s most breathtaking spectacle, and travellers from around the world fill safari lodges and coastal resorts. For local businesses in the tourism industry, this annual surge presents both an incredible opportunity and a formidable challenge.
Left Alone to Work from Home: Opportunities and Obstacles Within Kenya’s Remote Work Revolution
Like much of the world, East Africa witnessed an unprecedented shift towards remote work after the COVID-19 pandemic, as organisations adapted to restrictions and health concerns. Another crucial driver of remote work adoption in East Africa is the region’s expanding digital infrastructure.
Cultural Catalysts: Unlocking the Potential of East Africa’s Creative Sector
The artistic landscape in East Africa is marked by cultural flavour in industries such as music, fashion, film, art, and digital content creation, all of which play a crucial role in social development and shaping national identities. Nairobi, Kenya has emerged as a focal point for digital content and the arts with startup culture fostering collaboration and entrepreneurship.
Setting the Stage: Assessing the Impact of Kenyan and Rwandan Bids to Host the Grammy Academy and Formula 1
Is this East Africa’s moment on the global stage? On December 9th 2024, President William Ruto revealed that Kenya had invested Ksh 500 million in a bid to host the Grammys. Similarly, Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced his nation’s bid to host a Formula One (F1) Grand Prix.
Unveiling East Africa’s Middle Class: Opportunities for Growth in Retail, Restaurants, Healthcare, and Education Among An Elusive Demographic
The middle class. Heralded as the engine of economic renewal and societal transformation, broadly defined, consists of individuals and households that fall between the lower and upper-income brackets, typically distinguished and delineated by their purchasing power, level of education and aspirational lifestyles. Whoever can uncover the hidden identity and patterns of the often overlooked middle class wields great power, as this segment is integral in generating profit and driving regional transformation.
Unwrapping Detty December: Turning Festivity into Opportunity for East Africa
‘Detty December’ is a term hailing from West Africa, signifying a period abundant with vivid nightlife, social gatherings, and festivities. ‘Detty,’ a playful twist on ‘dirty,’ captures the decadent nature of this celebratory season.
