Faith Nyasuguta
Zimbabwean telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies is joining forces with US tech giant Nvidia to establish what is being hailed as Africa’s first AI factory.
Cassava, founded and chaired by Masiyiwa, plans to construct a “super-secure and powerful data centre facility” equipped with Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI computing technology. The first phase is set to go live in South Africa by June 2025, with further expansion aimed at Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. The facility will integrate Nvidia accelerated computing and AI software, using the company’s cloud partner (NCP) reference architectures at Cassava’s data centres across the continent.
The AI factory is set to revolutionize the African tech landscape by providing local businesses, governments, and researchers access to world-class AI infrastructure.
Cassava says this will allow African innovators to develop smarter AI-driven products, optimize operations, and remain competitive globally. Importantly, the facility will also ensure that data remains within Africa’s borders, addressing long-standing concerns about data sovereignty.
California-based Nvidia, valued at nearly $3 trillion, is a leader in AI hardware and software, specializing in designing graphics processing units (GPUs) and application programming interfaces crucial for data science and high-performance computing. Cassava confirmed that Nvidia’s GPU-based supercomputers will power the AI factory, enhancing AI model training, fine-tuning, and inference capabilities.
The facility will tap into Cassava’s expansive pan-African fibre-optic network and data centres to offer AI as a Service (AIaaS). This will enable African enterprises and governments to develop homegrown solutions tailored to local challenges, all while adhering to global and regional regulations.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STARTUPS
Masiyiwa emphasized that the AI factory will introduce a new era of digital innovation in Africa. “For Africa to fully seize the opportunities presented by the fourth industrial revolution, we need to build the infrastructure that powers AI,” he said. “This AI Factory will give African startups, businesses, and researchers access to cutting-edge technology, transforming bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs without relying on resources outside the continent.”
He further highlighted the importance of digital independence, noting that Nvidia’s collaboration will provide Africa with the advanced computing power required to drive AI innovation.
Jaap Zuiderveld, Nvidia’s vice-president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, praised the initiative, stating that Cassava’s infrastructure and software will help accelerate AI adoption across various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, and financial services. “AI is helping solve some of the world’s toughest challenges, creating new opportunities for innovation across Africa,” he said.
This groundbreaking partnership is poised to position Africa at the forefront of the global AI revolution.
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