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Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of tech giant Nvidia and currently the tenth-richest person globally, has partnered with Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa, the wealthiest individual in Zimbabwe, to establish Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) factory. This groundbreaking initiative marks a historic step in the continent’s journey toward digital innovation and self-reliance.
The collaboration brings together two powerhouses: Masiyiwa’s Cassava Technologies, a leading pan-African technology firm, and Nvidia, one of the most valuable companies in the United States known for its industry-leading graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI infrastructure. Construction of the AI factory is already underway, signalling a transformative moment for Africa’s technological landscape.
As part of the rollout, advanced Nvidia GPUs—essential for powering AI applications—have already been shipped to South Africa, making it the first African nation to receive and begin deploying this cutting-edge technology.
“Partnering with Nvidia enables us to harness world-class computing power to spearhead AI innovation across Africa,” Masiyiwa said in a public statement. “It’s a strategic move to fortify the continent’s digital independence.”
Earlier this year, in April, Cassava Technologies disclosed its plans to invest as much as $720 million into this ambitious AI factory initiative. Speaking at the Global AI Summit on Africa 2025, held in Kigali, Rwanda, where Masiyiwa served as a co-chair, he emphasised the role of Africa’s youth in this digital transformation.
“The future lies in the hands of young Africans who are building applications and solutions daily. These small businesses and developers are the digital natives. What we’ve done is give them the tools they need to thrive,” Masiyiwa noted during the summit.
Cassava Technologies, which Masiyiwa founded, aims to roll out Nvidia’s powerful AI and accelerated computing infrastructure across major African economies, including Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and South Africa. This move is intended to democratize access to advanced computing and nurture local innovation across sectors.
According to official plans, Nvidia will implement its specialised AI systems using its NVIDIA Cloud Partner reference architectures. The initial deployment includes 3,000 GPUs in South Africa, with an additional 9,000 GPUs scheduled to be installed over the next three to four years across Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt, according to Hardy Pemhiwa, president and CEO of Cassava Technologies.
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Masiyiwa stressed the importance of digital infrastructure in preparing Africa for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: “To seize the opportunities of the AI era, Africa must prioritise building digital infrastructure. Our AI Factory is a critical part of that foundation. It offers African startups, researchers, and enterprises access to top-tier AI tools—right here on the continent.”
This partnership signals more than just technological advancement; it represents a bold vision to make Africa a global player in the AI economy, empowering the next generation of innovators without having to look beyond their borders.
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