Waka Waka Africa!

Twelve years ago, Shakira got us all up dancing and singing Waka Waka ("Let's go, let's go") as she officially opened the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg. South Africa had brought the soccer tournament to Africa, and the whole world was watching, cheering, and chiming in on the sing-along-friendly chorus, "This time for Africa." We all hoped that – finally – it was time for the African Lions to roar.?

But after spending a week in Kenya and Nigeria, I can't help but feel a little disillusioned about the general state of things. First, Covid-19 and all its associated challenges, and now the Russia and Ukraine trouble has diluted the joy and optimism and only made life more challenging and more precarious for many.?

This point was illustrated during a chat with one of our hotel drivers as he drove me to Lagos airport. The recent hikes in petrol prices mean that his daily commute to and from work – which can take up to three hours, depending on traffic – now eats up approximately one-third of his base salary after taxes (and we do pay fair wages at industry standard or above). Any young Dane offered such employment conditions would run from the job as fast as possible. But in a country with an unemployment rate of 33%, there aren't many places you can run to. "We manage," he told me, and then we moved away from this serious topic and back to cracking jokes. Humor is a natural and cost-free medicine known to reduce stress, anxiety, and tension. Luckily, there's much humor on the African continent.

A recent study showed that seven out of ten Nigerians would leave the country if given the opportunity. Unlike in times past, when most people desperate to abandon Nigeria were the suffering masses with no jobs and no hope, the majority of those wanting to leave now appear to be from among the middle class.?

Some have simply lost faith in Nigeria. They cannot imagine the present government – or any future one, for that matter – successfully navigating the country away from corruption, insecurity, and regression. Others again are alarmed by the plummeting value of the Nigerian currency.

When President Muhammadu Buhari came to power seven years ago, one US dollar was equivalent to about 200 Naira. Today, you need 700 Naira to buy a dollar on the black market.

Tragicomic, there was a similar situation when Buhari led the country as a military leader in the 80s. At this time, TV adverts were broadcasted encouraging people to stay home and build their country. In one of these adverts, Andrew (played by actor Enebeli Elebuwa) was famed for saying, "Men, I'm checking out. I'm tired of no water, light, and no good roads. You can't even find a bottle of soft drink." A hand grabs him, saying: "Don't check out." The patriotic Nigerian who stopped him then went on to infuse Andrew with words of hope about Nigeria's future, and Andrew repented his intention to desert. Right now, it's hard to see what will make those wanting to travel change their mind. (Andrew eventually checked out of Nigeria and died in a hospital in India in 2012).

The outlook might look slightly brighter in Kenya, where the government provides at least basics like power and water – essentials for any household or business to run smoothly. But also here, many are grappling with hardship. "When fuel goes up, everything around us becomes more expensive," noted the Uber driver who took me across Mombasa yesterday.

It's not all doom and gloom. There are bright spots and pockets of success we have to cling on to, learn from, and believe in. Creative industries, for example, are thriving. Just witness how Nigerian musicians are filling stadiums across the world.

Nigerian movies are popular, too, across Africa and the world in large African diaspora communities. The art scene is thriving, and fashion is too. Successful Nigerian footballers bring millions back home with them, and many contribute to their home villages' upgrades, constructing schools, and embarking on infrastructure projects.?Repatriation of funds is big business on this continent, and when the government doesn't provide for you, sometimes you have to take it up as your task to create a better environment for your people.

The significant challenges are a large part of the opportunity that startups across the continent wish to tackle, and new digital solutions have brought effective change; just look at the success of mobility providers such as Uber and Bolt across the African continent and how they have changed how we order a ride. In Kenya, cashless solutions are the norm when dealing with any government authority bringing transparency and effectiveness to government dealings. And also, in Kenya, the recent presidential election was reportedly free and fair. Even though the opposition has taken the winning party to court to contest the results, the court case is broadcast live in a surprising gesture of transparency, allowing the ordinary Kenyan to understand what accusations are being made and how the court is responding. Within a few days, the outcome is likely to be announced.

In 2023, Nigeria will also hold an election. Campaigning is already underway, as three candidates are presenting their visions of a better future for Nigeria. Everybody hopes that this time we will see change for the better.

I'll continue to believe in, invest in, and support businesses that seek to create jobs and opportunities on this continent. No, be beans - (Pidgin English: It's not easy) - and there are no shortcuts to the top of the palm tree. But to give work is one of the best answers I can come up with to tackle some of the issues addressed in this write-up.