InsiderPR In Conversation With Semafor Africa
Alexis Akwagyiram is the Managing Editor at Semafor Africa, where he oversees reporters across the continent. He covers a range of topics including politics, tech, business, and policy-making.
What specific topics or discussions within your beat are currently drawing your attention, and what drives your interest in them?
Politics in Africa is beyond interesting. Everyday politics that affect people's lives is fascinating because that's what people care about on the continent. All politics are local. I am currently in South Africa for the elections, and I’ve realized that when you go past the manifestos, slogans, and electioneering, politics really comes down to the topics people care about, like employment, feeding one's family, and healthcare.
Looking ahead, how do you anticipate these discussions evolving over the next year, and what specific developments are you eager to see unfold?
We are seeing trends around governance, with questions about democracy and whether it's a viable model for countries on the continent. Many of these discussions have been spurred by the waves of coups in West and Central Africa. It will be interesting to see how questions around governance evolve in South Africa, a major economy whose political future is unclear at the moment.
Another level of governance is policy-making: how are governments innovating to return more wealth and add value locally, especially with critical minerals and the energy transition? Can governments retain benefits for their people, or will we see more cronyism? Key countries to watch are South Africa, Ghana, and Senegal, especially during this big election year. There's been a surge of literal populism with the masses versus a big cabal, exemplified by figures like Senegalese President Faye.
In your opinion, what are some underreported or overlooked aspects within your beat that deserve more attention?
In tech and business reporting, I'd like to see more conversations and reports on how tech affects our lives and what that means for the future of African economies. Startups get reported globally, focusing on entrepreneurs, fundraising, etc. However, what's underreported are broader, longer-term trends within an African context. For instance, we frequently talk about demographics and also cover a lot of AI, but will young Africans be overlooked in an AI-driven future? Can Africa follow a similar development pathway like India did in the service economy in a world with pervasive AI?
There's a lot of talk about the youth dividend, but we need more reporting on how it plays out and why. Of course, it can be helpful in terms of economic growth, but it's not a universal positive to have a young, underemployed, and undereducated population. We need to address what jobs they'll get and their education options.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges or misconceptions people have about your beat?
One common misconception is that African stories are just about Africans in Africa. Traditional media often creates a false dichotomy, implying that if a story is not covering Africans who are in Africa, it's not an African story. At Semafor, we address this misconception head-on. The world is interconnected, and we focus on global Africans, connecting African stories with the diaspora—issues cut across borders and continents.
Remittances are an obvious example. Foreign policy and immigration policies in the US and UK have downstream effects on tech and demand for remittances. For example, the UK’s migration policies recently cracked down on students bringing their families. Nigerians were the most affected as the UK's largest foreign contingent of students- even more than Indians. Such changes have a knock-on effect on where Nigerians want to study. Similarly, with President Ruto in Kenya, for instance, there are fiscal problems in Kenya so he is encouraging Kenyans to go work abroad and send remittances. This requires playing nicely with the US and the international community– so in a sense, Kenyan domestic policy has gone global.
What are some key sources or resources you rely on to stay informed and ahead of developments within your beat?
Key sources are people. It's always people. Journalists are essentially high-functioning gossips who constantly need to talk to people and get information. You get scoops, but more importantly, you deepen your knowledge of issues. Finding connected and knowledgeable people and asking them questions, even basic ones, is crucial.
Social media is helpful, though I’m concerned about how X (formerly Twitter) has lowered verification standards. LinkedIn has become even more useful. I still use some RSS feeds, as they cover a broad range of publications and help spread out any bias. Feedly is particularly useful as it can import feeds from other people, exposing me to publications I’ve never heard of. I also grew up with radio and worked in broadcasting so I love radio– especially talk shows where they bring on insightful guests. When it comes to sources and resources, it’s all about getting out of your own echo chamber.
Read Alexis’ stories here.
"InsiderPR Conversations" is a monthly series where we delve into topics beyond the news with journalists. Sign up for the Semafor Africa newsletter here, and while you’re at it, consider subscribing to our coveted newsletter.