Cassava Partners with Nvidia to Launch Africa’s First AI Factory
Zimbabwean telecoms tycoon Strive Masiyiwa is making history once again, this time by bringing Africa’s first AI factory to life.
His company, Cassava Technologies, has joined forces with U.S. tech giant Nvidia Corp. to establish a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub that could redefine Africa’s digital landscape.
According to an official statement from Cassava Technologies, the partnership will see Nvidia’s powerful AI computing infrastructure integrated into Cassava’s data centres in South Africa by June 2025, with plans to expand into Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria.
This bold move is set to supercharge Africa’s AI capabilities, granting businesses, researchers, and governments access to high-performance computing power without relying on overseas infrastructure.
The AI factory will provide the necessary supercomputing and software to train AI models while keeping sensitive data within Africa’s borders.
Masiyiwa, a champion of digital transformation in Africa, stressed the importance of developing AI infrastructure to ensure the continent is not left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI tools to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs,” Masiyiwa said.
“Now, they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.”
Nvidia, the global leader in AI and accelerated computing, is equally optimistic about Africa’s digital future.
Jaap Zuiderveld, VP EMEA at Nvidia, hailed the partnership as a game-changer for Africa’s tech ecosystem.
“AI is helping innovators solve our greatest challenges in agriculture, healthcare, energy, financial services, and beyond.
“As an Nvidia Cloud Partner, Cassava Technologies is providing the infrastructure and software to help pioneering companies and organizations accelerate AI development and foster innovation across the continent,” Zuiderveld stated.
Cassava Technologies is now at the forefront of Africa’s AI evolution, but global tech giants are also making moves.
In 2023, Microsoft Corp. and UAE-based AI company G42 announced a $1 billion investment in a geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya.
As the world races toward an AI-driven future, Africa is no longer just a consumer of technology—it’s becoming a builder.
With Cassava Technologies and Nvidia leading the charge, the continent may be on the brink of an AI-powered transformation that could redefine its place in the global tech arena.
