Afrotalks Founder Pushes for African Integration and Lower Flight Costs

Founder of Afrotalks, Bright Tenbil, has called for stronger conversations around African integration, the high cost of flights within the continent and the need for policy reforms to improve connectivity and economic cooperation among African countries.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Highway 10.19 on ZED FM, Mr Tenbil explained that Afrotalks is focused on building conversations and research around some of the major challenges confronting Africa’s development and integration agenda.

“So it’s a whole ecosystem. There are so many moving heads when it comes to challenges we face day and night,” he stated.

According to him, one of the key focus areas for Afrotalks is research into the high cost of air travel across Africa and how governments can implement policies to reduce the burden on travelers and businesses.

“We are doing research especially on the cost of flights in Africa and then what we can do about it and push policymakers if they can at least do something about it,” he explained.

Mr Tenbil argued that taxes imposed by governments across the continent contribute significantly to the high cost of flights rather than the airlines themselves.

“The cost of flights in Africa is because of the tax of the government. The governments are the ones making the costs so high, not the airlines,” he said.

He acknowledged that airlines also face operational costs such as fuel, maintenance and logistics, but insisted that tax policies remain a major factor affecting affordability of air travel within Africa.

According to him, reducing travel barriers and improving movement across African countries are essential to achieving the vision of a borderless continent.

As part of that agenda, Afrotalks is preparing to host a major event in Kigali, Rwanda, focused on African integration and development.

“Now we are moving to Kigali. We are going to have a conversation on integration,” he revealed.

Mr Tenbil questioned whether African countries are fully prepared for true integration, citing language barriers, cultural differences and social attitudes among Africans themselves.

“You talk about borderless Africa and all that. Are we really ready to integrate?” he questioned.

Sharing his personal experiences from visits to Togo and Benin, he observed that language and familiarity often shape how Africans relate to one another.

“There is no racism in the world. People just feel comfortable with the people they are convenient with,” he noted.

The Afrotalks founder disclosed that the Kigali event would feature discussions on several key issues affecting the continent, including governance, fintech, technology, visa-free travel and the future of work.

He announced that renowned Pan-African scholar Prof. PLO Lumumba would speak on the topic “The Africa We Want,” while former Member of Parliament Ras Mubarak would address issues surrounding visa-free travel and borderless Africa.

“We have Prof. PLO Lumumba, who is coming to talk about the Africa we want,” he stated.

Mr Tenbil added that the event would also host discussions on financial technology with participation from investors, officials from the Ministry of Finance in Kigali and representatives from the Bank of Kigali.

According to him, the week-long programme will also include startup pitch sessions, masterclasses and networking events aimed at supporting young African entrepreneurs and innovators.

“It’s a very packed experience we are going to have in Kigali,” he added.