When 31-year-old Mavis Makama tells people she plans to retire in nine years, laughter often follows. A broadcast journalist in Johannesburg, renting a modest bachelor flat and car-free, she’s still firm in her goal: live lean, invest wisely, and leave the 9-to-5 by age 40. “I don’t need luxury,” she says simply. “I want time. Time to live, not just work.”
Makama belongs to a growing wave of young Africans captivated by the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. It may have Silicon Valley origins, but in African cities like Nairobi, Accra, Harare, and Johannesburg, FIRE takes on a distinct local flavor.
Environmental Reporting: Publications are increasingly focusing on environmental
issues, raising awareness about climate change and conservation.
Jigsaw
Fun South African Fact: South Africa has one of the world’s most luxurious trains.
badger the burglar
Papua New Guinea: You have two cows. One eats the other.