Wimbart, an independent PR agency specialising in Africa and emerging markets, has interviewed and spotlighted Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Editor-in-Chief of African Eye Report.
The interview focused on his journalism profession, the African business landscape, and African tech, AI, among others.
Below is the full article
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
Our latest Media Spotlight features Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, from the African Eye Report. He shared his thoughts on what he would have done if he weren’t a journalist, his thoughts on why the African business landscape is unique, journalism and AI, and more.
What led you into journalism, and what would you be doing if you weren’t a journalist?
What led me into journalism is my passion to tell the African story with facts and figures. I find it weird reading materials about Africa produced by non-Africans. As a pan-Africanist, I have always maintained that we Africans, particularly those of us living and working on the African soil, are the best tellers of the undiluted African story. So, we must be more empowered to keep telling our story.
I would have been an agripreneur to transform Africa’s agricultural sector and enable us to create wealth, reduce poverty, and end hunger on the continent.
It is a paradox that Africa has a greater percentage of its land being arable and suitable for animal production. Yet hunger among its people is rising while it is declining globally.
Hunger, according to several studies, is driven by climate change, political and economic instability, conflicts, and the aftermath of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
However, with sustained investment in the continent’s agricultural sector and greater value creation across its value chain, we can solve the hydra-headed challenges in that sector.
So, I could have been an agripreneur to help change the current face of agriculture into a very beautiful one. But Allah (God) had His own beautiful plans for me.
When you’re researching stories, what compels you to work on sharing a particular story with your audience? Any hot trends we should look out for in the coming months?
Every good journalist, including myself, does research before putting ink to paper. I would have loved to inform you about what’s to come in the next few months, but suspense is sometimes beneficial in journalism.
Why is the African business landscape unique, and what makes it exciting to report on?
As you acknowledged, the African business landscape is unique. This is because most sectors are still underdeveloped, and we need reforms to unlock their potential for the benefit of our people.
Also, the uniqueness of the African business landscape lies in the diversity of the continent, with several languages and peoples. Another unique thing about the African business landscape is that it is not fully integrated into the larger global economy like the U.S, Europe, and Asia.
Furthermore, the potential in the African business landscape is huge and waiting to be explored. Therefore, as an economic and financial journalist, it is exciting to report on such a diverse African business landscape. The little contributions on my side are helping to enhance policy reforms and economic transformation, among others.
Which sectors or industries do you like to cover most, and why?
The sectors or industries that I like to report on are: Telecommunication/ICT, energy and green transition, mining, agriculture, trade and investment, tourism, health and education, and manufacturing.
These sectors or industries are the heart and nerve of every economy. Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to shed more light on the above-listed sectors or industries.
Why is it important that people around the world get to hear about young, growing companies on the continent?
It is important to hear from young and growing companies on the continent because they need support, which could be financial, technical, and emotional, to weather the competitive business environments.
How can we encourage more people to tell stories about African tech and business?
We can do so by supporting them to build their capacities through education, training workshops, among others. We should also consume the stories that they’ve told to urge them to share more.
What are your thoughts on Artificial Intelligence in journalism?
My major take is that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enhance journalism, but it can never kill journalism. For instance, AI can write stories. It, however, can’t add voices, quotes, or sources. Whereas journalists write stories with voices, quotes, and sources, thereby bringing human faces into the stories. So, I am emphatic that journalism will survive in this era of AI.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity.
