Cassava Technologies Partners with Nvidia to Build Continent’s First AI Factories
JOHANNESBURG — In a move that could reshape Africa’s technological landscape, Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has committed $720 million to build five state-of-the-art artificial intelligence data centers across the continent, marking the largest AI infrastructure investment in African history.
The initiative, announced through Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies in partnership with chip giant Nvidia, represents a bold bet that Africa can compete in the global AI race while addressing the continent’s chronic shortage of computing power.
From South Africa to the Sahara
The first facility, set to launch in Johannesburg as early as June 2025, will house 3,000 Nvidia processors capable of performing the complex calculations required for training large language models and other AI applications. The rollout will subsequently extend to Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco, creating a network of “AI factories” spanning the continent’s major economic hubs.
“This is about building Africa’s sovereign AI capability,” industry analysts say, referring to Cassava’s strategy of providing local access to advanced computing infrastructure rather than forcing African institutions to rely on overseas providers.
Pre-Sold Before Launch
The appetite for local AI computing power has exceeded expectations. More than 90% of the Johannesburg facility’s capacity has already been reserved by African universities, financial institutions, and technology startups before the data center even opens its doors. African researchers and developers have similarly booked much of the computing power across all five planned facilities.
This unprecedented demand underscores a critical gap in Africa’s technology ecosystem. Until now, African organizations seeking to develop AI applications have largely depended on infrastructure located in North America, Europe, or Asia—a dependency that creates latency issues, data sovereignty concerns, and significant cost barriers.
The Nvidia Connection
The partnership with Nvidia, the world’s dominant AI chip manufacturer, lends significant credibility to the project. Nvidia’s involvement goes beyond simply supplying processors; the company is providing its complete supercomputing architecture, including the networking and software infrastructure that enables thousands of processors to work in concert on complex AI tasks.
The timing is strategic. As global demand for AI computing resources has created shortages in established markets, Cassava is positioning Africa as an alternative destination for AI development—one with untapped talent, growing digital infrastructure, and increasingly favorable regulatory environments.
Beyond the Hype
While the announcement has generated considerable excitement, challenges remain. Africa’s AI ecosystem still faces hurdles including inconsistent electrical power supply, limited fiber-optic connectivity in rural areas, and a shortage of AI-specialized talent. The success of Masiyiwa’s vision will depend not just on building the physical infrastructure, but on cultivating the human capital and business environment needed to utilize it effectively.
Nevertheless, the $720 million investment represents more than just hardware. It signals growing confidence that Africa can be more than a consumer of AI technology—it can be a creator, with its own models trained on African data, addressing African challenges, and keeping African intellectual property on the continent.
As the first processors begin humming in Johannesburg later this year, the world will be watching to see whether Masiyiwa’s AI factories can deliver on their promise to democratize access to one of the 21st century’s most transformative technologies.
The first AI factory in South Africa is expected to begin operations in June 2025, with subsequent facilities coming online throughout the year across Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.
