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Abstract
Africa’s greatest wealth and real potential are in its youthful population. The frequent exclusion of its young people from political and economic opportunities, however, indicates that their potential is undervalued. This chapter is intended as a think piece and it highlights the creative potential of young Africans to craft their own and their societies’ futures. Through the example of Collins Nji, a young man from anglophone Cameroon who won the international Google Code-in competition despite an emergent political crisis, we will explore how young Africans, when confronted with challenging political and economic environments are able to show a spirit of innovation and an ability to form networks across cultural and geographical boundaries. To make our argument, we will also draw on examples of young African artists, notably the Nigerian Afrobeats singer Wizkid, who have gone global and have firmly placed Africa on the map of global trend setting.