On Africa Day, pan-African strategic communications firm Sakaza Afrika has announced the commercial launch of two platforms: Social Sense and Simu, alongside a broader call for communications to be recognised as core infrastructure for development, business and public trust across Africa
The launch reflects the firm's belief that outcomes whether in business, policy, advocacy or customer engagement — are shaped by how effectively information is communicated, understood and acted upon, says the firm.
"The work of building Africa depends on people understanding, trusting and responding to information. If communications infrastructure is weak, outcomes are weakened with it. You cannot separate the message from the mission," says Nelisa Ngqulana, Founder and CEO of Sakaza Afrika.
Founded across Nairobi and Johannesburg, Sakaza Afrika positions itself as a firm focused on "PR'ing Africa" through blending strategic communications, storytelling, digital tools and narrative intelligence to help organisations communicate more effectively across diverse African markets and audiences.
Social Sense
Social Sense is an AI-powered platform designed for organisations that need deeper insight. It helps brands, institutions, campaigns and communications teams identify emerging narrative shifts and interpret how conversations evolve across platforms.
Built for corporates, development institutions, advocacy campaigns and organisations managing complex environments across multiple markets.
Simu
Simu is a multi-channel platform designed for organisations collecting stories, feedback and responses at scale. Working across WhatsApp, SMS, email, QR codes and direct web links, Simu gathers structured responses into a centralised real-time dashboard — with identity and location verified at the moment of capture.
Designed to work without requiring an app download, the platform supports field research, journalism and evaluation, and large-scale insight gathering across both public and private sectors.
The launches coincide with Africa Day, which commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963.
"For too long, Africa's stories have been interpreted through systems and platforms built elsewhere. Investing in African communications capacity — including technology built with African realities in mind — is part of shaping how the continent is understood and what becomes possible for its future," concludes Ngqulana.
For more information, visit www,sakazaafrika.com. You can also follow Sazaka Afrika on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor