Pan-African Research & Strategy

Africa's Emerging Markets, Decoded.

We help global organisations navigate the continent with clarity, conviction, and context. 

Our work is at the intersection of technology, finance, culture, and strategy — turning complexity into actionable intelligence.

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Impact Footprint

Where We Work

Research and strategy delivered across Southern, East, and West Africa — with clients and readers across Europe and Australia.

SOUTHERN EAST WEST EU AUS
Onyx Africa Key Themes
Latest issue · May 2026 · 8 min read
What We Do

Three offerings.

One intelligence layer.

We work at the intersection of research, strategy, and culture. Here is how we help organisations navigate Africa’s most complex challenges.

01

Copywriting

Content, narrative, and brand voice for Web3, FinTech, and next-gen consumer brands connecting with modern multiplexed audiences.

Gen Z/Alpha
Web3 native
Cultural auth.
02

In The Ether

Strategic advisory for FinTech and Web3 ventures — core issue identification, long-term vision alignment, and actionable roadmaps. 

Beyond obvious
Systems thinking
Cross-border
03

Ethnography [via WhatsApp]

Mobile-first qualitative research from communities across the continent — voice notes, diary studies, real-time human-centred intelligence.
90%+ WA reach
Real-time
Cultural nuance
Selected Work

We do not just analyse Africa.

We work inside it.

“A collaboration built around a real problem, a sharp insight, and a measurable result.” 

Publication / Community

15+ countries. Global readership.

Brand Strategy

30+ stores. 200+ jobs created.

Digital Analytics#

Full-funnel Google Ads optimisation.

Platform Strategy

Pan-African commerce repositioning.

Media / Podcast

5-country audience since 2024.

FinTech / Crypto

Mzansi Crypto launch.

Enterprise Development

Women in Agri Accelerator.

HealthTech

East Africa community content.

Knowledge Exchange

3 national expositions.

Product Research / Behavioural Insights

WhatsApp ride-request adopted by thousands. 

Venture Building

Ongoing digital product partnership. 

Ready to navigate Africa with confidence?

Book a call and let’s build something that matters.

Publication / Community Building 

This Month in Africa

The Problem

Building a credible, owned research voice in a continent where most African insights are filtered through foreign lenses. 

Our Approach

Launched This Month in Africa as a research-driven Substack publication exploring the intersection of technology, finance, culture, and societal transformation across the continent. Built around the belief that owning your audience and shaping your own narrative matters in the digital age. 

The Outcome

A global platform reaching readers in over 15 countries, having built a highly engaged cross-border intellectual community around the African Renaissance. The publication positioned Onyx Africa as a forward-thinking voice within conversations around Web3, African innovation, financial systems, and cultural shifts. 

Brand Strategy / Narrative Development

Indulge Café

The Problem 

Indulge Café had a cultural insight and a bold ambition: to transform kota from a township staple into a scalable, modern South African fast-food brand without losing its authenticity. 

Our Approach

Partnered with Indulge Café to shape and articulate its long-term vision. Centred around the positioning ‘The Future of Kota,’ we helped refine the brand narrative, growth strategy, and market positioning — aligning the business around quality, consistency, youth culture, and scalable township entrepreneurship. 

The Outcome

Indulge Café has operated 30+ stores, created 200+ jobs, and established itself as one of South Africa’s most ambitious emerging food brands. 

Digital Analytics / Growth Strategy

Victor Debt Counselling

The Problem

Victor DC had an active Google Ads ecosystem but lacked the analytical clarity to understand what was working, what was wasting budget, and why some campaigns were generating irrelevant enquiries. 

Our Approach

Conducted a full-funnel performance review: campaign analytics, keyword optimisation, audience refinement, and search terms analysis. Identified wasted spend, improved targeting precision, and developed trust-led messaging aligned to a high-scepticism industry. 

The Outcome

A clearer, more data-driven growth strategy designed to scale what was already working, filter out low-intent traffic, and improve overall conversion quality and lead acquisition efficiency. 

Platform Strategy / Brand Repositioning 

TengaMore

The Problem

TengaMore needed to evolve from a conventional eCommerce platform into infrastructure built intentionally for the next generation of African entrepreneurs. 

Our Approach

Assisted with refining brand identity, shaping the strategic roadmap, clarifying product positioning, and aligning technology, operations, and marketing around a scalable Pan-African vision. Guided the platform rebuild strategy, marketplace narrative, and seller acquisition direction. 

The Outcome

TengaMore repositioned as a platform built for African hustlers underserved by existing global platforms — not simply another marketplace, but owned digital infrastructure for African commerce. 

Media / Podcast Strategy 

Untapped Azania

The Problem

Despite the rise of podcasting globally, there was a gap in the African market for thoughtful, culturally grounded conversations exploring the continent’s future beyond surface-level discourse. 

Our Approach

Helped conceptualise and position Untapped Azania as a platform for bold conversations around culture, economics, technology, identity, space exploration, and the broader African Renaissance. 

The Outcome

Since launching in 2024, the podcast has grown into an emerging cross-platform media property with audiences across five countries, 1000+ TikTok followers, 300+ YouTube subscribers, and a growing community engaging with nuanced conversations shaping Africa’s intellectual landscape. 

FinTech / Crypto Marketing

Liquid Bridge Fund

The Problem

As one of South Africa’s first authorised Crypto Asset Service Providers, Liquid Bridge Fund needed strategic communications support for the launch of Mzansi Crypto — one of South Africa’s first actively managed crypto funds. 

Our Approach

Assisted with the promotion and launch communications for Mzansi Crypto, crafting messaging that made an emerging asset class accessible and credible to South African investors. 

The Outcome

Successful launch of a pioneering crypto product in a market still developing its regulatory and consumer frameworks around digital assets. 

Enterprise Development / Research

AgriVuno

The Problem

AgriVuno’s inaugural Women in Agri Accelerator Programme needed rigorous participant assessment and mentorship support to identify and elevate the most promising women-led agricultural ventures. 

Our Approach

Assisted with interviewing, mentoring, and scoring participants across the programme. Focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and promoting gender equality in agriculture. 

The Outcome

Successfully identified and supported women making meaningful strides in the agricultural sector, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable food systems ecosystem in South Africa. 

HealthTech / Community Content 

Immunify Life

The Problem

Immunify Life’s transformative healthcare ecosystem needed targeted content to educate and engage a Telegram-based community around critical healthcare data management challenges in East Africa.

Our Approach

Curated targeted content promoting Immunify Life’s platform, empowering patients and healthcare workers to harness the value of their health data. 

The Outcome

Strengthened community engagement around a platform addressing one of East Africa’s most pressing digital health infrastructure challenges. 

Enterprise Development / Knowledge Exchange

Enactus South Africa

The Problem

Early-stage student entrepreneurs needed access to ideation frameworks, mentorship, and evaluation from practitioners with real-world experience in innovation and strategy. 

Our Approach

Hosted Knowledge Exchange Sessions on Ideation Principles and Methodologies. Mentored startups from multiple higher learning institutions. Provided guidance during the MTN Digital Innovation Hackathon in 2024 and 2025, and returned as a mentor for the MTN Digital Innovation Challenge Prototype Builderthon 2026 — a 24-hour build sprint where 21 of South Africa’s most promising student-led digital innovations refine their MVPs, validate problem–solution fit, and prepare for evaluation ahead of the Top 15 advancing to the Enactus SA National Expo. Our founder has also served on the semi-final judging panel at the Enactus SA National Exposition in 2023, 2024, and 2025. 

The Outcome

Fostered a culture of innovation across the South African student entrepreneurship ecosystem, helping shape the next generation of purpose-driven builders. 

Product Research / Behavioural Insights 

Bodaboda

The Problem

BodaBoda wanted to better understand how riders were actually navigating their transport journeys and where friction existed within the customer experience. Traditional assumptions about user behaviour risked overlooking how people were already solving these problems themselves. As Bodaboda expands its mobility platform, the challenge is not simply acquiring more users but understanding how riders are already navigating transportation in their everyday lives. 

Our Approach

Through Onyx Africa’s mobile-first ethnographic research methodology, we conducted WhatsApp-based surveys, voice note interviews, and digital diary studies to observe user behaviour in real time. The research revealed a recurring pattern: many riders were already using WhatsApp to coordinate key aspects of their transport journeys. Rather than viewing this as an isolated user behaviour, we identified it as evidence that riders were naturally gravitating toward communication channels they already trusted and used daily. 

The Outcome

The insight informed the development of a WhatsApp-based ride request feature, allowing riders to book trips seamlessly within a platform they were already using daily. The result was a more accessible user experience, reduced friction for riders and drivers, and a feature now used by thousands of users. More importantly, it demonstrated how research can move beyond observation and directly shape product decisions that create measurable value. Today, the WhatsApp integration is used by thousands of riders and drivers, demonstrating how research can move beyond insight generation to directly influence product development and user adoption. The project reinforced a core belief at Onyx Africa: research creates value when it changes decisions. 

Venture Building / Digital Product Strategy 

Kardia Systems

The Problem

Kardia Systems needed a strategic partner that could translate market insight and brand thinking into tangible digital products and owned audience ecosystems.

Our Approach

Onyx Africa’s collaboration with Kardia represents the shift from actionable insight to execution — building owned digital ecosystems for creators and businesses: fully branded platforms designed to help clients monetise audiences directly, reduce platform dependency, and create long-term digital infrastructure. 

The Outcome

An ongoing venture-building partnership driving the creation of digital platforms and products that serve African creators and entrepreneurs at the intersection of strategy and technology.