Ink & Insight

Something very close to my heart is finally ready. I’ve been working on it for over a year now. Two swans. One lake. And a story I can’t wait to share. Full details soon—right here.

In my series on Africa, we've explored its rich history, diverse geography, and vibrant culture. But if there's one thing that truly sets Africa apart, it's its people. The continent's youthful population is a powerhouse of innovation and entrepreneurship. With over 60% of its population under 25, Africa is the youngest continent on the planet. This demographic isn't just a statistic – it's a driving force behind the continent's growth. Young Africans are starting businesses, learning fast, and thinking big. Take Nigeria's fintech apps like Flutterwave, which are making waves globally. Or Rwanda's drone delivery system, designed and built by local talent to bring blood supplies to remote hospitals. Entrepreneurship is thriving across Africa. One in four adults runs a business, from Ethiopian coffee roasters exporting directly to European cafes to South African wine brands winning awards in Asia. These aren't small-time ventures; they're globa...

Africa's Culture: The Key to Unlocking Business Opportunities When people talk about Africa, they often focus on natural resources, big markets, or rapid population growth. However, that often gets overlooked: culture. Culture is the way people live, work, create, and solve problems together. Africa's young and dynamic population is driving innovation on the continent. Mobile money solutions like M-Pesa were pioneered in Kenya, and traders in Lagos run complex businesses that blend local knowledge with global reach. The concept of Ubuntu, "I am because we are," shapes how people build trust and work together. Africa is exporting culture at an incredible rate, from Nollywood films to African beats music, bold fashion, and innovative tech solutions. These ideas often grow out of local needs but have global appeal. To tap into Africa's business opportunities, we need to understand its culture. While numbers matter, but culture drives innovation, creativity, and conne...

Africa’s geography is nothing short of dramatic, home to towering mountains, sweeping deserts, and fertile river valleys. The Sahara, the world’s largest hot desert, spans the north, while Mount Kilimanjaro rises snow-capped in the east. The Nile snakes through the continent as the longest river on Earth, feeding agriculture and cities for millennia. To the south, the Kalahari Basin holds secrets of ancient life and rich mineral deposits. This diversity isn’t just beautiful—it’s strategic. The Great Rift Valley creates fertile lands and wildlife corridors, while coastal ports from Mombasa to Dakar have long connected Africa to global trade. From the Serengeti’s migrating herds to the Congo Basin’s rainforests, each ecosystem supports not just biodiversity, but economies and livelihoods. Africa’s landscapes have shaped powerful stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and reinvention. For today’s investors, this geography offers more than scenery. It offers access, opportunity, and a con...

One of the challenges of promoting Africa to the Singapore business community is that most Singaporeans have a wrong understanding of Africa.   One area where I could help is to provide some useful information about Africa so that people will have a more positive view of Africa. In this regard, I thought of doing a few short write-ups. I am happy to share the first part of the write-up.  Hope you find it informative Africa - Where It All Began Here's something that might surprise you: while we often think of Africa as "emerging," it's actually where everything started. Not just human civilization (we all have African ancestors!), but some of the world's most sophisticated ancient economies and trading networks.  Long before Europeans had figured out how to navigate beyond their own coastlines, African kingdoms were running international businesses. The ancient city of Timbuktu wasn't just a remote desert outpost—it was the “Silicon Valley” of its time, buzzing...