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Moussa Bagnon, one of the members of the Ivorian team that won the Sony Talent League last March recently agreed to talk to We Are Tech Africa. During this interview, he discusses the competition, his ambitions for the animation and special effects sectors as well as the Afro VFX training program that enabled him to enter the industry.
We Are Tech: Hi Mr. Bagnon, can you tell us a bit about your background?
Moussa Bagnon: I have a degree in electronics and a passion for the digital, photography and video. I was part of the first cohort of the Afro VFX training course organized by Orange Côte d'Ivoire in 2022. The aim of the course was to introduce young people to special effects and animation.
WAT: Before this training, were you already familiar with special effects and animation?
MB: No, I had no prior knowledge. I did start out in related fields with computer graphics and video editing. I had some idea of the tools that could be used to create 3D and animation, but I had no skills in these areas.
WAT: How did you join the first cohort of the Afro VFX training program?
MB : I heard about the training at the Orange Digital Center Côte d'Ivoire, a center dedicated to coaching and developing digital skills. I took part in Orange Summer Challenge 2021, a summer internship that enables young people to carry out a project to solve a social problem. After that, I kept up a good relationship with the members of the Orange Digital Center Côte d'Ivoire, which I visited regularly. Then I heard about Afro VFX and applied.
WAT: How did the apprenticeship go when you were selected?
MB: The apprenticeship began with MASTERCLASSES on special effects. Following a selection process, the most motivated and able, whether amateurs or beginners, were selected to follow the certification course. The first sessions focused on Maya software for 3D modeling and animation. Next, we learned about simulation using software such as Houdini. The sessions took place online every Saturday with different trainers over several weeks.
WAT: Did the training meet your expectations? In particular, in terms of the animation skills you were looking for?
MB : When I entered the Afro VFX program, what I really wanted was to be able to animate and create special effects like professionals. I can't say that I have become a professional after the course but I did learn a lot about the basics of the trade. We were given technical skills, but first, we had to learn about the industry's ecosystem with the world of studios and how animators collaborate. I believe three months of training can not make me a professional who can start applying for animation jobs. It is just an initiation. Also, I was looking to upgrade myself to international animation and special effects standards. So, this level can’t be reached within just three months. Nevertheless, I have learned a lot and I’m still learning. We are already seeing animation projects by very talented people in Côte d’Ivoire, but I’m really aiming for international standards. So, I still want to improve my skills.
WAT : With the skills you acquired during the 3-month training, you and other students from the Afro VFX cohort won the Sony Talent League (a worldwide digital competition) in March with your animated documentary "Djossi Heroes". How did you get to take part in such a high-profile competition when you were still not confident your skills would match international standards?
MB : We heard about the competition through Dedy Bilamba, one of the co-founders of the Afro VFX program, who shared the competition link with us. We heard about it a few weeks before the first deadline, but the criteria were really up to the international standards I was aiming for, for example. It was an opportunity for us to gauge our current level. We set off to discover the competition and put our new skills into practice. We didn't really think we'd win the competition. First, we had to submit a pitch, and out of the 600 projects submitted, five, including ours, were selected and then we had to work for 10 weeks with our mentors to present the final version.
WAT: Can you tell us about the project that made you win the competition?
MB : It's called Djossi Heroes, a 15-minute documentary series that puts the spotlight on petty traders. The first episode, for example, is about a water vendor and her business. For us, these people are everyday heroes. Our job was to use animation to bring the heroine's ambitions and dreams to life so that they would shine in the documentary. We collaborated with two other students from the Afro VFX cohort and a cartoonist, under the supervision of our instructors who helped us structure the project.
WAT: What do you think attracted the judges to Djossi Heroes?
MB : The 5 finalists submitted great projects, but I think what made the difference with our project is the social impact and awareness-raising on immigration and other important subjects that we dealt with in the episodes. I think the jury was more attracted by the impact of our project.
WAT: What do you plan to do next?
MB: For now, the plan is to improve Djossi Heroes. The next step will be to find investors to finish and distribute it on a large scale. At the same time, I will continue to train myself to reach the skill level I desire. I want to contribute to the improvement of animation and special effects in Côte d'Ivoire, and Africa.
WAT: Are you planning to take part in the next Afro VFX cohort?
MB : Of course. The first cohort was more of an initiation than anything else. The second cohort provides for real specialization, and there I'll have the opportunity to choose a very specific area of special effects. It's a much broader sector than you might think. There are people who do texturing, some specialize in animation, others in composition. I will have the chance to perfect my simulation skills.
WAT: You've greatly stressed on international standards. Do you think that Africa is still far from reaching those standards?
MB: We're gradually getting there. With what we're seeing in certain countries like Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, there are quite a few studios doing good work. We're not up to international standards, but we're not far off.
WAT: Do you think there's a real demand for animation specialists in Africa right now?
MB : I think there's a real need because the continent is producing more and more content, especially animated films. There are more and more African projects of this kind, but the people behind these initiatives are often obliged to outsource the animation part and entrust it to professionals outside Africa, in order to get quality animation. That's why training is so important. In Africa, we have great stories, but we need to train animators and special effects specialists to perfect the narration.
WAT: What message would you like to pass on to young people like yourself who want to get into animation and special effects?
MB: I want to encourage them because we're seeing more and more African animated films on well-known platforms like Netflix, so we can say that the sector is growing. Africa is very closely watched by the outside world in this field, so I'd ask them not to hesitate. It's a sector that feeds its people and has a future. I'd also like to appeal to African authorities for more support in the field because it can create a lot of jobs for Ivorians and Africans in general.
WAT: I think your appeal will be heard. Thank you for your time.
MB: Thank you too.
Interview by Servan Ahougnon
Incumbent operator Telecom Egypt is gradually moving towards its goal of becoming the leading connectivity services provider in the region. As part of its strategy, the company is teaming up with like-minded international partners.
Egyptian telecom operator Telecom Egypt and 4iG, a Hungarian IT service management company, signed a memorandum of understanding in Cairo on Wednesday, October 4, to link Egypt and Albania via a high-capacity fiber optic submarine cable.
The cable to be built will be a new traffic entry to Europe via Albania and will add a new multiple route to Egyptian-European traffic. "With an open access model and multiple branching units, the system is set up to be a new European cable entry point with a different transit passage compared to the already existing Mediterranean routes to the main internet Point of Presence (PoP) such as the ones in Frankfurt in addition to numerous potential Points of Presence in Eastern Europe," said 4iG in a press release.
For Budapest-based 4iG, the new agreement represents a gateway to “enter as a new player in the market for intercontinental data transmission infrastructure between Europe and Asia, and Europe and East Africa.” Meanwhile, Telecom Egypt indicates that the initiative is part of its strategy to diversify transit options in the Mediterranean basin by means of multiple, high-capacity submarine cables linking Egypt and Europe.
According to Amr Talaat, Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the country is already connected to 14 international submarine cables, and work is underway to establish five new cables. In addition, Telecom Egypt is the partner of choice for the deployment of submarine cables for over 160 companies worldwide.
Ultimately, the new submarine cable will, among other things, facilitate connectivity in the countries concerned and create new opportunities for cooperation with partners in many countries.
Samira Njoya
The test is carried out in preparation for a service rollout in 2024.
American satellite service provider Starlink has rolled out its services in Tunisia for a three-month trial period. This was announced, on Monday, October 2, by the Ministry of Communication Technologies during a workshop organized to discuss the present and future situation of satellite internet in Tunisia.
The test will be carried out in three cities, namely Tunis, Ariana, and Gabes. It aims, among other things, to help discover satellite Internet technologies and compare them with traditional methods currently available in Tunisia, such as internet services offered by telecom operators, fiber optics, or subsea cables. It will also offer the opportunity to review the legal and regulatory framework surrounding the marketing of the services as well as the business model.
Tunisia, like most countries on the continent, is looking for alternatives to connect the majority of the population, in this case those in landlocked and/or remote areas, through its national strategy for the development of digital infrastructure and technical solutions. This pilot phase follows Tunisian ICT Minister Nizar Ben Néji's visit to the United States in July. During his visit, the government official signed a partnership agreement with the American firm to enable his ministry, the national spectrum agency, the Telecommunications Research and Studies Center, and the telecoms regulator to draw up licenses for the provision of satellite Internet services.
According to its roll-out schedule published earlier this year, Tunisia is not due to receive Starlink’s internet services in 2024. The pilot phase launched this month (the first month of the fourth quarter of the year), confirms this schedule.
Let’s note that according to DataReportal, in Tunisia, Internet penetration rate was 66.7% in 2022.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With the advent of digital technology, Kenya has turned to biometrics to improve the identification of its population. Thanks to a system already in place, in the coming months the executive will be able to provide a digital identity to all registered citizens, refugees, and foreigners.
Kenya has postponed the launch of its "Maisha Namba" digital identification system and biometric identity cards originally scheduled for October 2. In a statement released on Friday, September 29, Julius Bitok (photo), Principal Secretary of Immigration and Citizen Services, said that a new date would be communicated in due course.
“We wish to inform the public and all stakeholders that due to unavoidable circumstances, the official launch of the Maisha number and the digital ID ecosystem that was to be presided over by his excellency, President William Ruto on October 2nd has been postponed,” Julius Bitok indicated in the release, adding that nationwide public and stakeholder engagement activities and forums on Maisha Namba would continue as planned.
Last August, when signing an agreement with the UNDP to raise funds to support the development of the said system, the government indicated that it would be launched on October 2. The system is in line with the executive's actions to improve government services through digital transformation, to digitize up to 80% of the said services. Through the new system and the biometric identity card, the government aims to provide every Kenyan with a unique number that will become his/her personal identity number for life.
Samira Njoya
In today's digital age, the importance of a skilled workforce cannot be overstated. That's why governments all around the world are working hard to upskill their youth and drive growth.
President William Ruto announced, Sunday October 1, successful negotiations with tech giants Google, Intel, and Apple, which would result in the creation of over 300,000 job opportunities for Kenyans in the digital sector. The announcement was made during a church service in Nairobi.
The said negotiations were made during the President's visit to the United States, where he toured these tech companies. They underline the government's commitment to fostering digital opportunities for the Kenyan youth.
With over 70% of Kenya's population under the age of 35, this demographic dividend offers a unique opportunity for the nation to tap into the global digital economy.
This collaboration with global tech giants marks a pivotal step toward transforming Kenya's digital landscape, creating an environment where businesses and the nation's youth can thrive in a seamlessly interconnected digital world. President Ruto's announcement underscores the government's dedication to improving the digital payment landscape in Kenya, ultimately empowering individuals and businesses alike.
Hikmatu Bilali
Last week, Starlink signed an agreement with Paratus for the distribution of its services through Paratus. It is now teaming up with Jumia to further its expansion in Africa.
On Monday, October 2, e-commerce platform Jumia announced a partnership with American satellite Internet provider Starlink to expand its services in Africa. The aim is to market Starlink kits and terminals in the eleven countries where Jumia operates, starting with Nigeria and Kenya.
"We have seen Starlink do these types of deals in Southeast Asia and South America, and now Africa will also have the opportunity to access fast-speed internet services. The plan is to start selling through our sites and agents in Nigeria this month, and then Kenya," explained Hisham El Gabry, Jumia's Chief Commercial Officer.
Starlink, which is already present in Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, and Malawi, is multiplying partnerships to facilitate access to its Internet access kits and terminals. Jumia, with its 8.4 million active consumers and one billion visits by 2022, may prove to be a partner of choice, especially as it will also make it possible to reach regions where official addresses and city mapping are limited, unworkable, and/or economically unviable for traditional providers such as mobile operators.
"We had to establish our own business models and transportation network, even mapping to a certain extent when we started building an African e-commerce business," added Hisham El Gabry.
This year, Starlink was planning to roll out its satellite internet services in 23 African countries. However, as of the start of the fourth quarter, it is present in only five countries. The delay is due, among other things, to the time-consuming procedures in obtaining operating licenses in several countries.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Telecom operators are increasingly investing in fifth-generation Internet. In Sierra Leone, French telecom giant Orange is entering this segment, adding to the list of countries where it has already launched 5G.
Last week, Orange Sierra Leone announced the launch of the pilot phase of fifth-generation mobile Internet, to offer subscribers higher connection speeds, improved connectivity, and low latency. This pilot phase will take place solely in the business district of Freetown, the country's capital.
"This launch is indeed an important milestone for Sierra Leone. I am delighted that Orange Sierra Leone is taking the lead in setting the baseline technology standard for 5G by deploying this state-of-the-art pilot phase on our network, in line with the company's vision to become a leading mobile Internet service provider in Sierra Leone," said Sekou Drame, Chairman and CEO of Sonatel, the parent company of Orange Sierra Leone.
During an audience with Sonatel’s delegation, Julius Maada Bio (photo, center), President of Sierra Leone, praised the initiative. Internet is a key point in Sierra Leonne’s 2019-2029 National Innovation and Digitalization Strategy. In that context, the 5G test is in line with authorities’ ambition to boost access to the Internet.
Let’s note that Orange is multiplying its investments in 5G technology on the continent. Among other countries, the telecom company has carried out 5G commercial tests in Botswana, Tunisia, DRC, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Last week, it inaugurated a 5G lab in Madagascar, to enable local tech players to discover this technology, demonstrate use cases, and test its impacts on their products and services.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
During Buhari's presidency, Isa Pantami, the former Minister of Digital Economy, succeeded in making Nigeria shine on the international technological and digital scene. His successor wants to do even better in the next four years.
Bosun Tijani (photo), the Nigerian Minister of Digital Economy appointed last August, plans to lead Nigeria into the ranks of thriving digital nations. To this end, on August 2, 2023, on X (formerly Twitter), he unveiled a draft strategic plan that would serve as a catalyst for the development of the technology economy over the next four years.
The plan, entitled "Accelerating our collective prosperity through technical efficiency", is built around five key economic pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, entrepreneurship & Capital (IEC), and Trade.
According to the Minister, the plan has been carefully drafted based on extensive engagement with stakeholders from the Ministry of Digital Economy, departments, units and parastatals, ecosystem stakeholders, and his immediate team.
Among other things, the plan in its implementation calls for the training of 3 million tech talents by 2027, increasing the digital literacy level of the population to 70% by 2027, and positioning Nigeria in the top 25th percentile of research globally in 6 key areas: artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), IoT, robotics, blockchain, and additive manufacturing.
In terms of infrastructure, the government's ambition is to provide data download speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025. Coverage will also be increased to 80% of the population, with a particular focus on underserved and unserved populations.
Aware that startups play a vital role in the development of the digital economy, the government plans to increase to 100% the number of technology startups with access to public procurement opportunities in Nigeria. To this end, the Ministry and its partners are committed to supporting programs focused on AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, MediaTech, CleanTech, CreTech, among others.
Speaking of commerce, which is the final axis of the strategy, the federal government plans to increase spending on e-commerce to $75 billion by 2025. The aim is to boost Nigeria's participation in global technology trade over the next four years.
The plan, which will be continually refined, is in line with President Bola Tinubu's program unveiled last May. The program is based on seven strategic axes, including the creation of one million jobs in Nigeria's ICT sector within the next two years.
Samira Njoya
To accelerate the implementation of “Digital Egypt 2030”, its digital transformation strategy, Egypt bets on international cooperation. In its bids, it is supported by several strategic partners.
On Saturday, September 28, Microsoft Egypt and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation to advance sustainable development and promote digital innovation in Egypt.
Under the agreement, UNDP and Microsoft will work together to promote digital skills and skills enhancement for future jobs and employability, with a focus on empowering women and girls, among other things.
"We are thrilled to enter this strategic partnership with Microsoft Egypt. This collaboration signifies our joint commitment to harnessing the power of digital innovation and technology for sustainable development in Egypt. By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to empower Egyptian youth, and promote gender equality," said Alessandro Fracassetti (photo, center), UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt.
According to the UNDP press release, the agreement also highlights progress in agro-technology and the transformation of the food system. In this sense, the agreement will enable the implementation of agritech solutions that address food security challenges and promote sustainable agriculture in Egypt. Both parties will also share expertise and best practices to support the digital transformation of the public sector, improving service delivery and governance processes. The partnership also aims to advance digital transformation programs in the public sector, including the integration of AI.
The MoU adds to the international cooperation actions undertaken by the government to successfully implement “Digital Egypt 2030,” its digital transformation strategy. According to Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, the Ministry's development cooperation portfolio included 34 projects in the fields of innovation, digitization, and entrepreneurship. They are valued at one billion dollars, representing 4% of the overall portfolio.
The ongoing digital transformation has shown its potential to accelerate development across Africa. Recognizing that potential, most countries on the continent are embracing it to speed up the achievement of development goals.
Kenya has joined the Pan African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS), Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria announced on X (formerly Twitter) on September 29.
According to the government official, the "Central Bank of Kenya has signed the instruments that have finally seen Kenya join the Pan African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS)."
Kenya's participation in PAPSS is a significant step towards promoting smoother and cost-effective intra-African trade and enhancing economic collaboration across the continent.
The move further strengthens the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative as it enables Kenyan companies to settle trade transactions with other countries in the PAPSS network using local currencies.
PAPSS, launched in January 2022, is a digital centralized payments and settlement system designed for intra-African trade. It is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, and is overseen by African Central Banks. With more than 25 leading banks across Africa, including Ecobank, Zenith Bank, and Stanbic, connected to it, the system simplifies payment transactions. It enables companies to settle trade transactions in their local currencies, helping save on foreign exchange costs and the liquidity challenges companies would have faced if they were to rely on non-African correspondent banks for trade settlement.
The introduction of this system will help African nations save close to $5 billion annually in trade transaction costs.
Hikmatu Bilali
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Thanks to the regional fiber loop it is building by interconnecting with its neighbors, Tanzania aims to form a large regional loop that will enable it to offer its population high-quality, affordable, and ultra-high-speed connectivity.
Tanzania will connect Uganda to its National Fibre Optic Cable network named National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB). This is one of the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed between Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) and the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) on Friday, September 29, to strengthen the ICT cooperation between the two countries.
The 15-year agreement will be implemented by NITA-U and TTCL, costing $28.8 million.
"ICT connections with Uganda will create another connection opportunity with other countries. The government will continue investing in infrastructure management to increase productivity,” said Nape Nnauye, Tanzania's ICT Minister, adding that the agreement offers an important opportunity to establish a connection between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan in the coming months.
This ICT partnership between Tanzania and Uganda is the result of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit to Uganda in May 2022. During that visit, she agreed with her Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni to integrate the two countries' ICT backbones for improved internet services.
According to Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda's Minister of ICT and National Orientation, the MoU will transform people's lives by providing them with opportunities. It will also stimulate economic growth in both countries through the use of ICT.
Tanzania's fiber optic link with Uganda will follow that currently underway with Malawi. Earlier this month, Tanzania signed an agreement with Malawian authorities to extend its national fiber optic infrastructure to the border town of Kasumulo. Once the interconnection is complete, Uganda will join the list of countries with which Tanzania shares an interconnection. These include Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, and Rwanda.
Samira Njoya
French telecommunications group Orange is stepping up its investments to facilitate digital transformation in its operating countries. The lab inaugurated is its third in Africa and the 19th worldwide.
Orange, a French telecoms group operating in 16 African countries, inaugurated its 5G lab in Antananarivo, Madagascar, last Thursday, September 28. The lab was inaugurated during a trade fair organized to showcase the 5G internet speed. It enables various players in the technology sector to discover 5G, demonstrate its use cases, and assess the potential of 5G in their products and services.
"This fair marks the launch in Madagascar of an Orange 5G Lab, which is based at the Orange Digital Center Madagascar premises in Ankorondrano. The Orange 5G Lab Madagascar program aims to help digital and economic players better understand the opportunities, value, and usefulness of 5G," Orange indicates in a press release.
5G offers higher upload and download speeds and more consistent connections, revolutionizing the technology sector in many ways. With its labs and similar investments, Orange is increasingly establishing itself as a key player in the acceleration of digital transformation in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Antananarivo-based Orange 5G Lab is the third it inaugurated in Africa. In June and September 2022, it respectively inaugurated Orange 5G Labs in Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).
Adoni Conrad Quenum
The healthtech startup is taking that difficult decision four years after its creation with some $45 million in funding attracted and numerous strategic partnerships.
For several days now, startup 54gene's website has been inaccessible. According to sources close to the company quoted by Nigerian media outlet Techcabal, the company is winding down operations. The process, initiated in July 2023, was prompted by financial challenges and internal conflicts.
In early 2023, Abasi Ene-Obong, the figurehead of healthtech specializing in genomic research, tendered his resignation following accusations of financial malfeasance. Ron Chiarello, who was appointed in March 2023 to replace him, left three months later. Last July, he said the company “could not continue to operate financially.”
Founded in 2019 by Abasi Ene-Obong, Damilola Oni, Gatumi Aliyu, and Ogochukwu Francis Osifo, 54gene had a grand ambition: to bridge the genomics research gap in Africa with the aim of discovering new healthcare solutions for the continent's populations and those of African descent. Strategic collaborations have been initiated to this end.
In May 2022, 54gene signed a memorandum of understanding with the Académie Nationale des sciences et techniques du Sénégal (ANSTS), the human genetics department of the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odonto-stomatology at Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University. The aim of the collaboration was to gain a better understanding of hereditary diseases and improve medical monitoring of the Senegalese population.
SEN-GENOME, a study of the genetic heritage of populations, was scheduled to start in July 2022. It was to trace the history of Senegalese populations and identify genetic risk factors for diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, certain infectious diseases, and rare genetic diseases. Initial results were expected in December 2023.
This research will probably be concluded by the Senegalese party unless Abasi Ene-Obong, the former CEO of 54gene who had materialized this cooperation, takes it over. On September 15, on social media, he announced the launch of his new company Syndicate Bio. This company is also focused on genomic research and precision medicine.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
With digital transformation accelerating worldwide, interest in cloud services is intensifying. Other continents have made considerable progress in that field while Africa barely accounts for 1% of the data centers installed globally.
Chinese tech giant Huawei will invest $200 million to create Africa's first public cloud center, offering over 200 cloud services. Terry HE, President of Huawei Northern Africa (North, West, and Central Africa), made the announcement at the opening of the 8th edition of "Huawei Connect", held from September 20 to 22 in Shanghai, China.
"Every technological evolution is the result of perseverance, exploration, and investment," said Terry HE (photo), before adding that "to expedite intelligent transformation in Northern Africa, Huawei will intensify its investments in technologies, ecosystems, and talent."
The $200 million investment announced is part of the $430 million the company plans to invest in Africa over the next five years. Under that investment plan, Huawei will make a further $200 million available to support 200 local software partners and strengthen 1,300 distribution partners. The remaining $30 million will be injected to train 10,000 local developers and 100,000 digital professionals, creating a skilled workforce to drive smart transformation in the region.
This initiative is part of Huawei's new strategy to assist Africa toward a "smart, connected future". In addition to improving deployment capacity, reducing costs, and securing data storage, Huawei's public cloud will also provide services capable of supporting extensive, efficient, and high-quality digital coverage, while reducing carbon emissions.
It should be remembered that Africa's share of the cloud market is still relatively marginal compared with the global market, which reached $445 billion in 2021. According to the report "Global Cloud Computing Market (2021 to 2028)", that market will triple to $1,200 billion by 2028. To improve its share in the market, Africa needs significant investments.
Samira Njoya