October 2016 saw Kenya host the first ever beauty pageant for people with albinism. Held in Nairobi, and an initiative of Kenya’s first albino MP Isaac Mwaura (who also founded of the Albinism Society of Kenya), the event saw 20 contestants competing for titles and prizes. Activities involved in the national pageant included singing and dancing. In many parts of Africa, albinism is considered a curse, and albinos are discriminated against and regularly fall victim to violence.

August 2016 saw the launch of PrideTV: South Africa’s first LGBT video-on-demand channel. Priced at ZAR 79 (USD 5.50) per month, over 200 titles were available at launch, including content from African directors and studios. PrideTV’s content spans numerous genres – including documentaries, comedies, and dramas. Around 65% of the content is gay male focused, with 35% having a lesbian and transgender interest.

In August 2016, the Refugee Olympic Team competed in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. An initiative from the UN Refugee Agency and the International Olympic Committee, the team was made up of athletes from Syria, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – all of whom had fled their countries in the face of violence, war and persecution. The Refugee Olympic Team competed in sports including swimming, running and judo.

October 2016 saw Angola-based Bantu Games launch Zungueira Run: a free video game based on Angolan peddler women who sell goods in the street from large bowls carried on their heads. The Temple Run-style game allows players to assume the character of a peddler woman (also known as Zungueira), to collect coins while running away from the taxman. Zungueira often experience harsh treatment by authorities trying to crack down on the informal economy, with heavy fines and threat of imprisonment in place to deter the street vendors. The game made it to the semi-finals of Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition.

In November 2016, a group of five teenagers in Port Said organized the first mass bike-riding event to protest against the intolerance of female cyclists. Calling themselves ‘There Is No Difference,’ the group aim to promote cycling as a viable option for women and put an end to harassment of those who choose to cycle in the Egyptian city.

LagosVegFest’s 2016 theme was ‘green living and yoga’, with workshops and stalls showcasing food and fitness products and services designed for a healthy lifestyle. The three-day event, held in November 2016, included yoga classes from teachers across Nigeria, stalls showcasing vegetarian and vegan foods and events promoting green, sustainable living.

October 2016 saw the launch of the Bachir Mentouri internet rehab program in Algeria. The program treats those suffering the effects of internet addiction such as red eyes, headaches, anxiety and back pain. Treatment is funded by the Algerian government and includes counseling, meditation, exercise and music therapy.

Zipline began running a drone delivery service in Rwanda during November 2016. With an operational distance of 150km (93 miles), the drones are being used to provide blood, plasma and coagulants to hospitals in rural areas of Rwanda, landing thanks to parachutes which are attached to the small packages. The battery-powered drones guide themselves via GPS system, and the service is paid for by Rwanda’s health department on a per-delivery basis.

During September and October 2016, 19 malls across the Middle East and North Africa offered complimentary heart health testing to female shoppers. Provided in partnership with the UAE’s Ministry of Health and City Centre Clinic, the service aimed to raise awareness of heart health while motivating women to exercise more. At certain malls, the Feel the Beat campaign recorded participant’s heartbeats via a digital stethoscope. A DJ was on hand to mix individual heartbeats with a track from a selection of 500 songs to create a personalized song. All participating malls were equipped to measure blood pressure, blood sugar and Body Mass Index, with the aim of promoting heart health awareness.

August 2016 saw the opening of the Flora Blend Bar: a pop-up dedicated to educating consumers about the margarine spread. Located in a South African department store, visitors to the pop-up could learn about key ingredients via an interactive digital board as well as observe the blending process. Guests could also raise money for the Heart and Stoke Foundation by clocking up miles cycled on a stationary bike and a variety of margarine-based foods were on offer to try. The aim of the bar was to educate people, and help them make informed choices about their heart health.

Flutterwave is a financial transactions system allowing people to process secure payments and access banking services in Africa. Beta-launched in August 2016 offering services to Nigeria and Ghana, the US-based online system offers a safer infrastructure, facilitating simple card payments and bank transfers across Africa. Flutterwave’s digital payments system is accessible via APIs facilitating all payment options.

A payment platform focusing entirely on subscription payments launched in Nigeria in June 2016. Amplify automates transactions which typically happen via cash, such as monthly pension contributions, insurance premiums, internet service subscriptions, and membership club fees. Aimed primarily at subscription businesses, customers can create, view, upgrade, monitor and cancel subscription plans; businesses are provided with insights and analysis in order to support their brand.

Standard Chartered Bank has unveiled video banking services for customers across nine countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Initially launched in July 2016 in Malaysia and Singapore, the channel allows people to access many of the services available in store, such as taking out a loan, or signing up for new cards. Banking services are free to use, and selected markets also have access to wealth management advice.

A free app facilitating the digitization of payments of church tithes and offerings in Nigeria was announced in August 2016. Introduced by Nigerian technology company netplusdotcom, the Ten mobile app works with the Central Bank of Nigeria, aiming to offer an additional channel for contributions alongside traditional methods. The free app also allows churches to offer other benefits such as streaming current and past services and the provision of a calendar of events.

Launched in Nigeria and Sudan in April 2016, the Watly is a solar-powered machine aiming to provide electricity, clean water, and internet services across rural Africa. The device captures solar energy via photovoltaic panels on its surface, delivering 5,000 liters of drinking water each day, and providing wireless internet access within an 800-meter radius. The unit also operates as a charging station for electronic and mobile devices.

November 2016 saw Uber in Johannesburg provide aid to residents in Alexandra who were affected by flash floods. UberCOMMUNITY allowed users to request a car that would collect and deliver items such as toiletries, babycare products, feminine hygiene products and non-perishable food items to over 130 people left homeless by the disaster. The transport provider offered the service for free, and requested that donations were boxed up and marked clearly to make the process as seamless as possible.

May 2016 saw Montana Lisboa launch a campaign aiming to help prevent the spread of malaria in Angola, where the disease is responsible for more than 6,000 deaths every year. The Lisbon-based graffiti store developed Zero: a spray paint made with citronella, which keeps mosquitoes away up to 30 meters from where it’s applied. Montana Lisboa then gave the paint to three well-known graffiti artists and asked them to create art works on empty walls on Luanda’s streets. The paint remains active and functional even after rainfall, preventing mosquitoes from breeding in nearby puddles.

From November 2016, organizations and individuals holding a training event in Lagos, Nigeria can use Hotels.ng’s premises for free. Provided that the event is taking place at the weekend, and that it concerns software, digital marketing or engineering, office space for up to 50 people is available. Hotels.ng provides electricity and internet for the event, which must be free for participants to attend.

2016 saw the City of Kigali unveil a fleet of 400 smart buses equipped with 4G wifi. The Rwandan city’s buses also have a cashless payment system which functions via Tap and Go cards. Wifi speed on the buses is amongst the best in Rwanda, and the initiative is part of government plans to scale up broadband provision across the country.

May 2016 saw the introduction of a new wifi network on the Congolese island of Idjwi. The mesh wifi network is beamed across the lake by a powerful antenna, with the signal being transmitted by masts. Around 10,000 islanders can access the wifi for free via a kiosk in the island’s largest village, where there are four computers and five tablets which villagers can use. The cable-free wifi network can also be picked up within 100 meters of the kiosk, although people can also make their own homemade antennae in order to share the connection. The project was developed by Congo-based social incubator Ensemble Pour La Difference in partnership with British innovation consultancy Fjord.

In November 2016, a prolific Nigeria-based blogger and entrepreneur launched Linda Ikeji Social: a social network that combines new reports, social interactions and online shopping, and pays users with over 50,000 followers. The network also plans to reward users with NGN 8,000 (USD 63) for original news content pieces. The cash incentives are paid out via the wallet section on the network where people can add their bank account details. According to Ikeji, the aim of the business is to give back to the online community, with the hope that the network’s popularity will rival that of Facebook.

InstaVoice Celeb is a service giving subscribers access to audio updates from their favorite celebrities. Launched by Zambian telecommunications company Zamtel, the service allows people to follow famous individuals such actors, musicians and fashion designers and receive periodic voice updates. Subscribers can also receive InstaVoice Sport updates, giving them access to audio alerts and updates from favorite soccer clubs, such as Manchester United and Arsenal.

In May 2016, South Africa-based NetFlorist launched a campaign filming people’s reactions to flower deliveries. A targeted online campaign directed consumers to the florist’s website where they were able to select the Happy Cam button and the delivery person filmed the reactions of the recipient and emailed the recordings to the sender. Netflorist’s videos could also be shared across social media.

In October 2016, Nigeria-based Balogun Market launched an app that allows people to buy products and services via chat. The online marketplace was developed to make the goods sold at Balogun Market in Lagos more accessible by allowing customers to avoid travel and high temperatures in the city. According to the brand, many people people visit physical markets as a way of socializing and communication is often a prelude for commerce. BuyChat enhances service by recreating a market experience as users can browse, interact with sellers, haggle, and complete sales through the app. Shoppers can also book flights and hotels, order food, and connect with local brands.

Launched in South Africa in June 2016, Wango is a mobile dating app promising a ‘women-centered approach’. Male users are granted a ‘Gentlemen’s Badge’ on sign-up, but lose it if two users report ‘misbehavior’. The free app features icebreakers and one-click date requests, and all dating arrangements can be made in-app without the need to exchange phone numbers.