We're Not Offline. We're Overexposed.
Dear fellow Strangers,
Today marks a milestone I've been building toward for months. Not Just Observers, the AI governance series I've been teasing and working on is finally here.
Episode 1: "Copper Kings and Cloud Lords" is now live.
In this first episode, I dive into something I call the "dual extraction" happening across our continent:
* Physical extraction: Our copper, cobalt, and lithium are flowing outward to power data centers in Virginia and semiconductor fabs in Taiwan
* Digital extraction: Our data is becoming raw material to train AI systems that may not serve our needs
But here's what's different about this moment: for the first time in history, we have the tools to do something about it.
This isn't another analysis of how Africa remains sidelined while others craft AI policies without us. We've done enough of that.
This is about the emergence of African agency.
What's Coming
Over this first season, we'll explore how African nations are:
* Asserting data sovereignty
* Building continental infrastructure
* Leveraging collective bargaining power
* Transforming surveillance into civic technology
Next episode dives into "The New Scramble", how critical minerals have become the new oil and how we're navigating the geopolitical implications.
A Personal Note
I'm calling this podcast "Not Just Observers" because that's exactly what we've been told we are, in every major global governance platform.
Well, I'm here to tell you that's changing. And this podcast is about how.
The tools for technological sovereignty exist. The talent is emerging. The political will is building. The question isn't whether Africa will participate in the AI revolution — we already are. The question is whether that participation will replicate historical patterns of extraction or forge new models of technological agency.
If something in this episode stirs your thinking, makes you uncomfortable, or gives you hope, I’d appreciate it if you shared it with a friend or colleague.
Remember: governance is about building community. We are not just observers.
Stay curious, stay critical, and stay in community.
P.S. You can find deeper dives into these concepts in my previous Substack essay titled Copper Kings and Cloud Lords. And if you're building something courageous in the Global Majority, reach out. I want to hear from you.
Follow the series on substack | Instagram | LinkedIn | Spotify | YouTube
With gratitude,
Zainab Taonga Chirwa
