This paper discusses how satellite cities have the potential to help East African cities meet the growing challenges of urbanisation in dynamic ways. It discusses the new trend towards satellite cities and poses them as the new African cities of the future. The paper highlights the benefits of satellite cities and their ability to improve quality of life for many East Africans.

This paper explores how the flower export market has become an alternative source of income for Africa’s most popular aid recipient, Ethiopia. The Ethiopian floriculture industry became the fourth largest flower exporter in the world and second largest in Africa in the last five years. The paper also discusses the industry’s impact on the Ethiopian economy, which has experienced rapid growth, suggesting that international investment and trade should be encouraged as a substitute for foreign aid.

This paper discusses how Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, can be used to help boost Nigeria’s nation-brand abroad and internally, thereby improving tourism. It discusses nation-branding initiatives and highlights some of the challenges faced in current campaigns. It is argued that Nollywood boosts Nigeria’s reputation as a tourism destination. It focuses on the ability of film to influence Nigeria’s reputation and encourages the government to invest in Nollywood as an integral part of building a positive nation-brand for Nigeria.

This paper explores the rising popularity of African house music, within the context of this genre as a global phenomenon, and links it to the narrative of the rise of Africa that has recently dominated debates. It offers a brief overview of, and investigates the reasons behind, this development in music. The paper seeks to evaluate the symbolic value of an African presence in the global mainstream of popular music, and finally turns to the question of economic opportunities that could arise from this development.

This paper considers the contributions of women to the African technology sector, which plays a key role in the continent’s development. It briefly outlines the role of technology in development and the limited involvement of women in this field. It then describes the work and impact of several women entrepreneurs and women-focussed initiatives on the African technology scene. It is argued that the establishment of true egalitarianism in the technology sector will achieve optimum development.

This paper explores the concept of upcycling and the benefits thereof when compared to other traditional methods of resource recovery associated with waste. It discusses some examples of successful businesses based on upcycling from across Africa. Upcycling not only impacts the environment, but also helps to sustain communal memory and legacy. It is argued that upcycling is key to preserving and ascribing historical value to what would otherwise be discarded.

This paper explores the issue of adequate housing as a right to be enjoyed by all Africans. It discusses the international criteria for adequate housing and some of the consequences of neglecting these criteria. Examples of effective housing solutions being implemented by Governments, the private sector, and the citizen sector from across Africa are presented with the view to illustrate that housing for everyone is indeed possible.

This paper explores the role of business incubators as important vehicles for facilitating small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth in Africa. The paper briefly discusses the importance of SMEs in emerging economies and examines the obstructions to their growth in African contexts. The paper then describes the business incubator model and gives various examples of current incubators from across Africa and concludes that business incubators will play an integral part in Africa’s future economic success.

This paper explores the development of the biggest radio telescope in history and why the developing continent of Africa was chosen as the main site of construction over the developed countries of Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, the paper discusses the significant political, economic, environmental, technological, legal and social ramifications and benefits the SKA has for the African continent and its inhabitants. While it has certain pitfalls, such as financial and educational constraints, these are, however, not insurmountable.

This paper considers the role of African youth in building their communities through social entrepreneurship. It briefly describes current African youth demographics and highlights three successful social entrepreneurial initiatives. It also considers the nature of the communities that these youth are forming around social entrepreneurship. Africa is increasingly being viewed as a continent of opportunity and progress, both from within and outside of its borders.