The Knowledge to Decide

Africa’s fashion industry is emerging as a serious global competitor and one that is known for its daring use of bright hues. Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel and footwear market is now worth an estimated USD 31 billion. Singer Beyonce recently wore the Maki Oh label from Nigeria. African design houses are not limited to fashion but make luxurious accessories and jewelry. The rising fashion industry is good news for African economies. Textile factories are growing in number and capacity. However, the industry has been calling on African governments to invest more in training, finance and credit schemes as well as improved transportation infrastructure. This is necessary to help the industry attract the investment it needs to be competitive. Can Africa become a global fashion powerhouse? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/africa-the-rising-star-in-fashion/

Africa is becoming a new growth market for Google with Android-enabled devices – it launched services for Google Play Music in South Africa in December 2015 to enter the fiercely competitive market for on-demand music streaming services. Interestingly, Apple Music is already present since its launch in June 2015. This means users will have unlimited access to a variety of music – spanning international and local artistes. For early subscribers, the monthly cost will be USD3.50 until January 26, 2016. As South Africa boasts to be the most advanced digital media market in sub Saharan Africa, the availability of such streaming services signifies the market opportunity of mobiles in Africa – particularly those users with smartphones. Will Google manage to capture Africa’s digital media market despite fierce competition? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/google-sets-up-shop-in-africas-music-market/

Renowned for its beauty, texture and strength, the Indian hair export market is worth about USD393.5 million. With rising demand in the African subcontinent for extensions and wigs, Indian companies are now keen to invest into the hair business more than ever. The recent announcement of South Africa-based hair extension company Friska Hair being acquired by Godrej Consumer Products India shows that hair export is serious business. One driving factor is Africa’s young and growing population, which helps ensure that consumer spending grows in lockstep with GDP. This is good news for Indian hair exporters. https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/indias-hairy-exports-to-africa/

Women farmers in Africa are quietly learning new technologies to increase their crop yield. For this, training is being provided in different rice farming technologies targeting three groups from the Saakoba Gbugli, Kukuo and Yipelgu communities. Successfully implemented in 15 West Africa states, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative – through the Agriculture Technology Transfer project – will enable farmers to increase productivity. These groups were exposed to technologies for weed control, rows transplanting and the application of briquetted urea fertilizer on rice farms. The program has been a success so far due to NGO intervention efforts (on behalf of USAID) to overcome challenges. For instance, farmers are now aware of the correct way to apply fertilizer and methods to increase productivity levels through in-depth training sessions. Asia already benefitted from a Green revolution in the 1960s which enabled it to feed over 50%

The African division of the Cambridge University Press recently partnered with NGO digital book provider Worldreader to showcase a fresh approach to reducing illiteracy across the African continent. Technology adoption has made education more accessible in developing countries. The special Worldreader app is doing exactly that. It allows users to access a rich digital library without having to pay extra. The best feature of this system is its accessibility. People with a simple feature phone equipped with a Java-enabled browser can access it. Moreover, the app will be made available to users via the user-friendly biNu cloud platform – which recently opened its office in Cape Town. Will this technology change the dynamics of education in Africa? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/worldreader-phone-app-aims-to-widen-access-to-books-in-africa/

The transportation of human organs – especially a donor’s heart – is usually done by packing it in ice inside a cooler box and getting it to the hospital as quickly as possible. Transporters have to race against time. The heart is only viable and capable of being transplanted between 4 and 6 hours after death. But a lot can go wrong during such journeys – traffic jams, bad weather or mechanical difficulties can cause delays. In addition, a heart can be damaged if it is warmed up at the end of surgery; meaning it cannot be “tested” until the transplant operation is complete. The introduction of a new heart-preservation system is set to change all that. Manufactured by Transmedics Inc. in Massachusetts, it is specifically designed to pump oxygenated donor blood and keep the heart in “a warm, beating and functioning physiological state outside of the body”. Moreover, the heart can be monitored to keep beating for up to 12 hours. Should trials of this new system be successf