Cassava Technologies, a Zimbabwean telecom giant founded by mogul Strive Masiyiwa, has partnered with Nvidia Corp. to establish Africa’s first artificial intelligence (AI) factory, marking a significant step in the continent’s technological advancement.
According to a statement on Cassava’s website, the company will integrate Nvidia’s cutting-edge computing and AI software into its data centers, starting in South Africa by June 2025. Plans are also underway to expand the initiative to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, aiming to bring advanced AI infrastructure closer to African businesses and researchers.
“This will give African businesses, governments, and researchers access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity, helping them develop smarter AI products, streamline operations, and stay competitive in a fast-changing world,” the statement read. It emphasized the importance of keeping data within Africa’s borders, providing the supercomputers and software needed to train AI locally.
Strive Masiyiwa, Cassava’s founder, highlighted the transformative potential of AI for Africa. “Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs,” he said. “Now they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.”
The partnership positions Africa to harness the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a critical step for technological and economic growth. Jaap Zuiderveld, Nvidia’s VP EMEA, underscored AI’s role in addressing the continent’s challenges. “AI is helping innovators solve our greatest challenges in agriculture, healthcare, energy, financial services, and many other industries, creating opportunity in Africa,” Zuiderveld said. “As an Nvidia Cloud Partner, Cassava is providing essential infrastructure and software to help pioneering companies and organizations accelerate AI development to foster innovation across the continent.”
Cassava Technologies will be the first company to introduce accelerated computing to Africa as an Nvidia cloud partner, a move that aligns with growing global interest in the continent’s tech potential. Last year, Microsoft Corp. and G42, the UAE’s leading AI firm, announced plans to invest $1 billion in a geothermal-powered data center in Kenya, signaling a wave of tech investments in Africa.
As the June 2025 launch approaches, the Cassava-Nvidia partnership could redefine Africa’s role in the global AI landscape, fostering innovation and economic growth across the continent.
