Author Jaco Maritz returns with 15 stories of founders turning ideas into thriving
ventures in the world’s final business frontier.
Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA – 12 February 2026: A new book, How we made it in
Africa II, by South African author Jaco Maritz, chronicles the journeys of
entrepreneurs building remarkable companies across the continent. Commissioned
by the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies, the book was officially launched in
Singapore on Friday, 6 February.
Building on the success of the acclaimed first edition, Maritz returns with 15 fresh
case studies of founders creating successful businesses. The entrepreneurs
featured come from a variety of countries – from South Africa and Nigeria to Kenya
and Egypt. The stories also cover a wide range of sectors, from retail and agriculture
to healthcare and technology. Each chapter takes a frank look at the path from idea
to profitable venture, covering the mistakes, the challenges, and the hard-won
lessons.
“With a population of over 1.5 billion and home to 11 of the world’s 15 fastest-
growing economies in 2026, Africa is a market that cannot be ignored. My aim is for
readers to learn from and be inspired by some of Africa’s most interesting founders,”
said Maritz.
The book tells the stories of individuals who saw possibility where others saw
obstacles. For instance, Joël Sikam capitalised on an opportunity to replace imported
cleaning products with local production in Cameroon. In Egypt, Magda Habib sought
to bring order to a fragmented health system with a chain of clinics dubbed the
‘Starbucks of healthcare’, while Godiragetse Mogajane spotted a gap for logistics
services in South Africa’s townships.
However, the path to success was rarely a straight line. Most of these entrepreneurs
faced significant headwinds. In Rwanda, the bank took possession of Herve
Tuyishime’s family home after his sausage-making venture could no longer repay its
loans. Meanwhile, Debby Lawson, founder of the cookie company Fastizers, had to
continually adapt her products to ensure they remained affordable to price-sensitive
customers during periods of economic volatility in Nigeria.
MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS
1. Herve Tuyishime (Rwanda): Betting the family home on sausages in
Rwanda
2. Seid Mohammedbirhan (Ethiopia): Ethiopian entrepreneur turns a single
sewing machine into factories, a hotel, and a mall
3. Leonard and Emily Mcharo (Kenya): The Kenyan real estate company
selling financial freedom
4. Debby Lawson (Nigeria): Cookie company cracks the Nigerian market
5. Calisto Radithipa (Botswana): Trading knock-off jeans for mining contracts
in the Congo
6. Hadija Jabiri (Tanzania): Exporting Tanzania's agricultural produce to Europe
and beyond
7. Wandia Gichuru (Kenya): The business of fashion in East Africa
8. Magda Habib (Egypt): The Starbucks – or rather the McDonald’s – of
healthcare in Egypt
9. Lesly Marange (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwean entrepreneur braves multiple
obstacles to build food company
10. Katlego Maphai (South Africa): The story of the blue card machine
11. Joël Sikam (Cameroon): The quest to create the Procter & Gamble of Africa
12. Godiragetse Mogajane (South Africa): Seeing profits in South Africa’s
townships
13. Ismael Belkhayat (Morocco): Groceries supplier becomes something that
looks more like a bank
14. Charles Antwi-Boahen (Ghana): Side hustle grows into nationwide retailer
15. Affiong Williams (Nigeria): Persistence pays off for dried fruit entrepreneur
The paperback and digital versions of the book are available here:
books.howwemadeitinafrica.com
About the Author
Jaco Maritz is a South African media entrepreneur, speaker, and Africa expert. He is
the founder and editor-in-chief of the award-winning business publication How we
made it in Africa, which he established in 2010. Maritz published his first book in
2018. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of Africa Private Equity News. Prior to
founding his own platform, he was the editor of the Nigerian business publication
TradeInvest Nigeria, and previously worked at Media24 in Cape Town.