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An Interview With The Innovative Ikenna Orizu, The Man Behind Truspot The Music Centred Social NetworkAn Interview With The Innovative Ikenna Orizu, The... We had the great pleasure to get the chance to Interview Mr. Ikenna Orizu, the founder of one of the few African success stories in African web 2.0. Mr. Orizu founded Truspot, a music centred social network. . TechMasai:...

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NaijaLingo Is An Online Dictionary Of Nigerian Pidgin NaijaLingo Is An Online Dictionary Of Nigerian Pidgin... Naijalingo is an online dictionary of Nigerian pidgin founded by two Nigerians.  The main idea behind Naijalingo is to provide definitions of Nigerian pidgin or slang terms. Signing up to NaijaLingo...

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An Interview With The Founder Of Microblogging Platform... Noel Hwande is a tech entreprenuer who founded one of my favourite Southern African start-ups, Qiqima. Qiqima call to fame is the heavy emphasis they place on SMS and text. This concept is especially...

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Gatorpeeps The Microblogging Platform From Afrigator Is Experiencing A Technical DifficultyGatorpeeps The Microblogging Platform From Afrigator... Gatorpeeps is one of the many microblogging platforms competing for market share in the African web 2.0 scene. The popular South African microblogging platform, created by the same people who created...

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Tru Spot Is One Of Africa’s Largest Music Platforms. They Are A Success Using Any Criteria You Could ChooseTru Spot Is One Of Africa’s Largest Music Platforms.... Truspot is a music platform with one of the largest user-base in Africa. The main idea behind Tru spot, is to provide a one stop place where people can come and share music from the motherland. The...

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Ushahidis’ Rise To Fame Continues, They Were Recently Featured In The NYTimes

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in International | Posted on 16-03-2010

Tags: African Start-ups, crisis management, technology, Ushahidi

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Ushahidi the crisis crowdsourcing platform developed in Africa is receiving  solid media coverage.

After being featured on CNN, Ushahidi made it to another influential American media company The New York Times.

The site collected user-generated cellphone reports of riots, stranded refugees, rapes and deaths and plotted them on a map, using the locations given by informants. It collected more testimony — which is what ushahidi means in Swahili — with greater rapidity than any reporter or election monitor.

Mr. Bill Gates Recent Took A Humanitarian Trip To Africa

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Pan-African | Posted on 15-03-2010

Tags: African Start-ups, African web 2.0, Bill Gates In Africa, Mr. gates in Africa, technology

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Bill Gates recently took a trip to South Africa and Kenya where he surveyed the work of his foundation: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

During the trip he first visited a clinic in Durban South Africa, which works to improve the quality  of water and sanitation. Then he visited Bophelo Pele a male circumcision centre.

In Kenya he went to the small town of Eldoret where he learnt about M-Pesa the successful mobile transfer service, ending the trip in the town of Kabiyet where he learnt all about dairy farming.

Quoting Mr Gates post at The Gates Notes concerning the trip

Screenshots Of Youtube’s New Interface. Visit Youtube With Chrome And See It

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in International | Posted on 13-03-2010

Tags: start-ups, technology, youtube, Youtube interface, youtube new design

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Youtube seems to have rolled out its new interface to selected Youtube users who use Google Chrome. The new Youtube Interface is pretty cool, and I actually have to say I am a fan.

If you can not view this interface, it may be because you are using a browser other than Google Chrome.

Pictures are below

Mammaput Is A Yet To Be Launched Crowdsourced Directory Of Eateries In Nigeria

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Nigeria | Posted on 12-03-2010

Tags: Mammaput, technology

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Mammaput is a interesting idea which is still on the drawing board.  The idea is to create a crowd-sourced directory of eateries in Nigeria.

This has potential since no big one exists in Nigeria, so there is most probably a market for such a product.

The team behind Mammaput has not released much information concerning the finished product except the information which can be found at their front-page.

Crowdfund Is An South African Start-up Which Aims To Get Entrepreneurs Funded

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in South Africa | Posted on 11-03-2010

Tags: crowdfund, seed fuding south Africa, South African venture fud, technology

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Crowdfund is a venture capitalist start-up from South Africa which has made a small impact on the African cyberspace. Crowdfund promises to invest in local South African entrepreneurs by raising money through a community based model.

The idea in their own words is that

  1. 1000 people get together and invest R1,000+ each by pooling the money into the Crowdfund.

Nigerian Celebrity Gossip Blogger Uche Eze Is Featured On Oprah

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Pan-African | Posted on 10-03-2010

Tags: Nigerian blogger, start-ups, technology, web 2.0

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Uche Eze, the founder of Bellanaija a blog which is can be described as a  TMZ for Nigeria, was recently featured on Oprah.

She was interviewed via Skype for a show called “Beauty Around the World

Ms. Eche said the following about the incidence

At the beginning of the year, I was having a conversation with my best friend – we were discussing our aspirations for the year and beyond. I can’t remember the specifics of the earlier part of the conversation but I remember the end. I said something along the lines of “…I really want to be on Oprah!…that’s the ultimate” I remember him saying “Well, you better hurry up because she is retiring her show next year”. So the conversation ended and life went on.

African Scholar Helps Students Along The Way To Acquire A Scholarship

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Pan-African | Posted on 26-02-2010

Tags: Africa, African scholar, scholar, start-ups, technology, web 2.0

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African Scholar is a website we found out about from Africa Unchained.  The aim of African Scholar is to

provide information on scholarships available to African Students, colleges and universities, test preparation, entry level job and internship opportunities, as well as opportunities to interact with admissions specialists, scholarships administrators and other Africanstudents around the world.

The goal is to help parents and students navigate through the sometimes complicated admissions process and give Africans an opportunity to capitalize on opportunities available to them around the world.

A Nigerian Company Named Starcomm Launches Location Based Service

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Nigeria | Posted on 19-02-2010

Tags: Nigeria, Starcomms, start-ups, technology, web 2.0

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Starcomm is an innovative Nigerian telecommunications company. According to Nigerian blogger Loy Okezie they have launched a location tracking service called Star Tracker. He stated

If you ever need to track your friends location within Nigeria via your mobile phone, Starcomms has just made it easier. Thanks to the availability of GPS-enabled phones among other factors, the LBS (location-based services) market is set to boom in Nigeria.

Google Pulls A Power Move And Launches Google Maps In Sub-Sahara Africa

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Pan-African | Posted on 18-02-2010

Tags: Afican start-ups, African web 2.0, google, google africa, technology

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Google continues its journey into the African tech market by launching Google Maps in over 30 Sub-Sahara African countries. Quoting their Press release

As of today new detailed maps of 30 African cities and towns are accessible on Google Maps through any web browser or via Google Maps for mobile on data enabled handsets.  The new service means that Google Maps users will now be able to search online maps, look up businesses, advertise for free via Google Maps Local Business Centre, create their own maps and even check locations while they’re on the move.

Qiqima Is A New Innovative Microblogging Platform From Southern Africa

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Pan-African | Posted on 17-02-2010

Tags: Qiqima, start-ups, technology

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Qiqima is a microblogging platform from Southern Africa. They like Kukurooku and Gatorpeeps are a custom made microblogging platform, which is commendable because it is innovative.

At Qiqima pronounced Kikima you are able to

  • Send a 150 character microblogging post
  • Use SMS to create an account
  • Use SMS to post a status update

Kenyan Mark Kamau Speaks At TEDxARMSTERDAM Concerning Aid And Development

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Kenya | Posted on 15-02-2010

Tags: African Start-ups, Mark Kamau, start-ups, technology, Ted, web 2.0

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TEDxAmsterdam: Mark Kamau from TEDxAmsterdam on Vimeo.

A Review Of Naijapulse, A Nigerian Microblogging Platform

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Nigeria | Posted on 10-02-2010

Tags: African start-up, African web 2.0, naijapulse, technology, web 2.0

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Naijapulse is a microblogging site from Nigeria, which launched a few months ago. As with all microblogging services, you are encouraged to update your profile using small pulses, which at maximum are 140 characters.

Naijapulse was founded by a group called Naijand which specializes in Nigerian web 2.0 technology. They did an average job.

Personally I found the idea of behind naijapulse very brilliant and innovative.

Some basic features include

  • Post your blog feeds to your profile
  • Set up an account using Open-ID
  • Send updates to your twitter or facebook accounts

Rumour Has It Google Adsense Is Now Making Use Of Kenyan Shillings

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Kenya | Posted on 06-11-2009

Tags: Google Adsense, Kenya, startups, technology, web 2.0

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We haven’t confirmed this, but respected SEO blog and social media blog Social Media Today has written a post stating that Google Adsense is now available in Kenyan shillings. I quote

Kenyan bloggers and website owners are now pleased to note that they can receive their Google Adsense earnings in Kenyan Shillings.

This was not the case previously and many website owners had difficulty banking the foreign currency(Dollar or Euros) cheques with their local banks, Further ,payment would be delayed for up to 21 working days from the date of receipt with Banks charging commissions on the cheques.

The Reasons Why I Am Planning On Leaving Twyka The Kenyan Microblogging Platform

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Kenya | Posted on 30-10-2009

Tags: Africa, startups, technology, twyka, web 2.0

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I was am a big fan of Twyka; the Kenyan microblogging platform until I could not take it any longer. I am done with Twyka until they fix the severe problems they have with their community, and interface.

The relationship started of wonderful enough, we were one of the first people who profiled Twyka just a few hours after their launch. We felt that Twyka was the one we were waiting for; the Kenyan microblogging platform which will allow us to forge a new connection with microbloggers in the region.

What The African Cyberspace Is Doing To Monitor The Riots In Kampala, Uganda

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Uganda | Posted on 11-09-2009

Tags: Kampala Riots, start-ups, technology, Uganda, web 2.0

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Ugandan Flag

A sad incident is taking place in Kampala, Uganda. Riots occurred when the president of Uganda had a misunderstanding with the Baganda King, one of the majority tribes in central Uganda. The situation got out of hand and now we have riots in Kampala. To read an article about the whole incident click here, or on Aljazeera here.

At this point details coming in are still sketchy at best, but you can read articles from Ugandan content sites like The Observer and The Monitor. You could also follow the following twitter accounts

African Cup Of Nations Website Hacked By “Moroccan Hackers”

Posted by Munashe Gumbonzvanda | Posted in Cameroon | Posted on 20-02-2008

Tags: African internet, african site hached, cyber attack, football, ghana 2008, hacked, technology

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African footballThe official website of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008) tournament, was hacked. It was done reportedly by fans claiming to be Moroccans. They allegedly were avenging the defeat of Morocco by the Black Stars of Ghana, during the African cup of nations tournament.

The hackers replaced the background of the website with a man clad in red hooded clothes and clutching the symbol of the Star of David.

In response, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Ghana 2008, has asked the programmers in charge to put more effort to protect the site. In  light to what can be said to be a totally embarrassing and humiliating incident.

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