Africa is not the Future it's the Present!
In this short but powerful video, IMAP’s guest speaker at our recent Conference Symposium in Cape Town, Kerushan Govender, Tech Evangelist, Founder & CEO of Blacfox, highlights a transformative shift already underway: Africa’s demographic and economic rise is not something coming decades from now — it’s happening today.
While the rest of the world faces aging populations and shrinking labor forces, Africa is experiencing a youth boom that’s reshaping the global economy.
Africa by the Numbers: A Global Shift in Motion
Let’s put the timeline in perspective:
- By 2030 — just five years away — 1 in 5 young people globally will be African
- By 2035, 40% of the global workforce will be African
- And by 2100, 40% of the world’s entire population will be African
It’s a staggering trajectory. But this isn’t just a demographic story — it’s an economic one.
A New Generation of Workers. A New Generation of Consumers
Africa’s median age is just 19. In contrast, North America and Europe are approaching a median age of 40.
This means Africa is quickly becoming the dominant engine of global workforce supply and consumer demand.
A massive wave of young, ambitious African workers — and increasingly connected consumers — is already reshaping global markets, and that momentum is accelerating.
Are We Paying Attention?
Kerushan raises a critical question: Is the global economy truly prepared for this shift?
With trade barriers falling, manufacturing rising, and digital connectivity surging, Africa is integrating rapidly into global gig economies. Its consumer spending power is exploding — but are international businesses and investors building relationships with the region now?
Rethinking Reshoring in an African Context
As manufacturing returns home in developed markets through automation and robotics, one point becomes clear:
If tomorrow’s consumers live in Africa, reshoring strategies must evolve.
How will companies stay competitive if they ignore where the next generation of spending will take place?
The answer: they can’t.
Let’s Get Ahead of the Curve
Africa isn’t just "emerging" — it’s already here. It’s young, ambitious, and digitally connected. And it’s time the global M&A and investment community shifted its mindset accordingly.
Click HERE to watch the video and be part of the conversation.
