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Transforming Africa: Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA Unveil First AI Factory

March 25, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Cassava Technologies, a pan-African tech company, has partnered with NVIDIA to launch Africa’s first AI Factory. This initiative will involve the installation of NVIDIA’s supercomputer GPUs at Cassava’s hyperscale data centers in five African countries, aimed at boosting the continent’s AI capabilities.

Internally dubbed “Project Mufungi,” this project marks one of Cassava Technologies’ most ambitious efforts since the creation of Liquid’s extensive fibre optic network, which took over twenty years to complete. The AI Factory is projected to become operational in 18 months, with the first GPU cluster expected to be activated in June this year.

Cassava AI, the division managing this initiative, has introduced “Cassava Intelligence as a Service” (CIaaS) to offer tailored AI solutions that address the unique challenges of the African context. This service aims to support the development of large language AI models for indigenous African languages, which demand substantial computational power. The integration of NVIDIA’s GPUs is anticipated to facilitate these projects, enabling the creation of AI models that represent Africa’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity.

The initiative is spearheaded by a leadership team that includes Group President and CEO Hardy Pemhiwa, Group COO and Chief AI Officer Ahmed El Beheiry, CEO of Liquid C2 Cloud and Cybersecurity Oswald Jumira, and AI experts Dr. Prince Abudu and Gavin Manning. The team has expanded to over 100 members, with plans for further growth. Cassava Technologies is actively recruiting professionals with advanced degrees in Computer Science or Engineering to help shape Africa’s AI future.

The AI Factory is expected to impact various sectors, including healthcare and agriculture. Current collaborations involve AI medical startups working on generative AI solutions for nurses and initiatives aimed at creating AI tools for smallholder farmers. These efforts are designed to leverage AI to tackle specific challenges faced by African communities, fostering innovation and economic development.

This collaboration between Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA underscores a commitment to ensuring Africa’s active participation in the global AI landscape. By developing AI solutions grounded in African data, languages, and cultural contexts, the initiative aims to empower local entrepreneurs and innovators, contributing to the continent’s digital transformation.