Category: eMKambo

African territorial markets are masters of conversational commerce

Posted on by eMKambo

What makes African territorial markets different from other markets is that they are not just about financial transactions. They are masters of conversational commerce and reliable interfaces for discovery, comparison, recommendations and informed decisions. The diversity of commodities shapes what consumers can buy while conversations shape how consumers buy what they want. Whereas formal markets Read more about African territorial markets are masters of conversational commerce[…]

African mass markets as platforms for addressing hunger and malnutrition

Posted on by eMKambo

What makes African territorial markets impossible to underestimate is not just their power to aggregate diverse commodities from every corner. They also give value to commodities whose nutritional and monetary contribution may remain invisible. It would be difficult to attach prices to indigenous fruits and other commodities if these commodities were not brought to one Read more about African mass markets as platforms for addressing hunger and malnutrition[…]

Africa can feed itself and also be a source of food aid for the whole world

Posted on by eMKambo

The World Food Program’s 2026 Global Outlook projects 318 million people will face crisis levels of hunger this year and the most affected countries are Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. Meanwhile, African territorial markets in big cities like Kampala (Nakasero & Nakawa market), Arusha (Kilombero market), Nairobi Read more about Africa can feed itself and also be a source of food aid for the whole world[…]

When interpretation is more important than statistics

Posted on by eMKambo

While collecting statistics through crop and livestock assessments is necessary, the most important missing link is interpreting and analyzing what is happening to different value chains. Such interpretations and analyses are the domain of crop and livestock specialists not statisticians.  Also important is capturing and analyzing market trends in order to show the return on Read more about When interpretation is more important than statistics[…]

Webs of interdependencies keep African informal economies more resilient

Posted on by eMKambo

When you see traders in African territorial markets like Mbare in Harare selling Kapenta fish (Matemba), soya chunks, plastic packaging, potatoes and eggs, chances are that those traders don’t own those commodities but have been supplied by a bigger trader on credit. The commodities are co-owned by the trader and the supplier, based on long-term Read more about Webs of interdependencies keep African informal economies more resilient[…]

Headaches and pathways of translating infrastructure into better lives

Posted on by eMKambo

While infrastructure like road highways and irrigation systems continue to receive much attention, funding and media coverage, it has taken long for most intended beneficiaries to benefit directly from such investments. After investing infrastructure, most development organizations do not think about the sustainability model. The utilization of resources is more critical than just investing in Read more about Headaches and pathways of translating infrastructure into better lives[…]

How African territorial markets are quietly rewriting socio-economic rules

Posted on by eMKambo

Being self-organized for decades has enabled most African territorial markets to write their own socio-economic rules in ways that are contrary to formal systems that African governments borrowed from colonialism without questioning. For instance, whereas formal business often at 8am and close at 5pm, most African territorial markets operate 24/7 with restocking happening throughout the Read more about How African territorial markets are quietly rewriting socio-economic rules[…]

Transporters as unique knowledge brokers in African markets and food systems

Posted on by eMKambo

The process of moving food commodities from production areas to markets is rich with unique knowledge which you may not hear from farmers or traders but from transporters. In most value chain studies, transporters are often overlooked as key informants yet they get information from diverse actors and sources such as farmers, traders, other transporters, Read more about Transporters as unique knowledge brokers in African markets and food systems[…]

How colonialists used their language to undermine indigenous food systems

Posted on by eMKambo

In many African countries, colonialists did not just take the best land for producing their own food and raw materials for their own industries. They went further and used their own language to stigmatize indigenous food so that the young generation of Africans would completely delink themselves from food that is an integral part of Read more about How colonialists used their language to undermine indigenous food systems[…]

Domesticating wild animals and plants can strengthen African food systems

Posted on by eMKambo

For African countries that are preserving their biodiversity, domesticating wild animals and plants can be a promising avenue for strengthening food systems and creating totally new value chains. That will also liberate African communities from depending on corporate hybrids that are causing several health challenges to many populations. What prevents African countries from producing diverse Read more about Domesticating wild animals and plants can strengthen African food systems[…]