Cassava brings Nvidia-powered “AI factories” to Africa

Training and running artificial intelligence needs enormous computing power, and until recently almost none of it was in Africa. Cassava Technologies, the digital infrastructure company founded by Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa, is building what it calls "AI factories": data centres packed with Nvidia graphics processors (GPUs).

What has launched

Cassava launched its AI factory in South Africa on 18 March 2026. Its Cape Town facility began going live in May, with more services being added in the following weeks. Businesses, researchers and developers can rent computing power or use AI models through Cassava's platform, which supports African languages including Swahili, Zulu and Afrikaans.

Early partners include South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Zindi, an African community of data scientists and AI developers.

What comes next

• A second AI factory in Johannesburg, with space for a 20MW installation.
• A target of 12,000 to 13,000 GPUs across the continent.
• Expansion to Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco, with timing depending on demand and investment.

"Once we have the Johannesburg facility in place, our reach into Africa allows us to expand further," said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava South Africa and Botswana.

Why it matters

Local AI computing means African start-ups and researchers do not have to rent expensive capacity abroad, and that sensitive data can stay in the country. It also makes it easier to build AI for African languages and needs, building on work such as Nigeria's AI push.