- dillion s. phiri - might have something to say
- Posts
- Level Up at 36: African CCI Real Talk - UI/UX, No-Code & This Week's Opportunity!
Level Up at 36: African CCI Real Talk - UI/UX, No-Code & This Week's Opportunity!
Started a newsletter
dillion s phiri
April 04, 2025
A Note from Me (Turning 36!)
Hey everyone,
Turning the big 3-6 today, and what better way to kick off the next year than to launch this thing – my weekly download on what I'm seeing, feeling, and building in the wild world of African Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). Been in this game for over 15 years, and honestly, the opportunities are massive. But I'm also seeing some interesting shifts, and as I'm on this "second mountain" journey, I'm keen to share the real stuff – my insights, my takes, and just the straight-up observations from the ground.
Yep, thats me!!!
No Code & Vibe Coding for African products
This week, my brain's been buzzing about UI/UX and this no-code wave. When no-code first landed with platforms like Framer, Webflow, Adalo, FlutterFlow, Bravo, Bubble, etc., I was really hoping more African designers and founders would jump on it. Now, things are moving even faster with what I'm calling "Vibe Coding" – it's all about using AI to spit out code from your ideas, and you're there to guide it and make sure it works right. If you're curious, there's a cool Forbes article on it: What Is Vibe Coding And Why Should You Care? With platforms like bolt.new, Loveable, dreamflow, and others making it even easier to get this vibe going, I'm practically begging folks to leverage this stuff to build and innovate like crazy! Feels like finally, the starting line for getting your ideas built is getting way closer. Now it's about figuring out how to nail those MVPs, maybe even with a little AI help. I'm watching closely to see who else is building with these tools and see what the next big thing outta Africa will be – especially those initial versions that give you something real you can actually run with. It’s about that blend of no-code speed with the smarts to really make it work.
Opportunities
Got a mic, a pen, or a lens? Africa No Filter and the Ford Foundation are looking for storytellers – journalists, podcasters, content creators – to help shape how young Africans experience the digital work scene. Applications for their Work Reimagined StoryLab close April 30, 2025. This could be huge!
Just read a cool report from Proparco highlighting some wins in the creative industries across Africa and beyond. It's good to see ventures getting the spotlight, something I think we need more of. Speaking of wins, kinda surprised Bathu wasn't featured – that proudly African sneaker brand that came outta the J&B Hive (yeah, that was me and my partners!) is now rocking 32 stores across South Africa and just went international with their first spot in Namibia. That's a real testament to how even a little fuel can spark major growth for the right entrepreneur. It just screams that we need way more creative venture incubators on the continent to help more of these stories take off. That's been my wish and part of why I even started Creative Nestlings – to try and map this whole ecosystem and connect the dots.
Tool I'm Digging This Week:
Still all about Framer for websites. Seriously believe it’s the future. The pricing is on point, the design freedom is amazing, and it makes whipping up landing pages, portfolios, and even quick prototypes a breeze. E-commerce isn't quite fully integrated yet, and direct database connections would be killer, but if you need to get a site up and running fast or prototype an idea, it’s a game-changer.
Till the next one.
Guess where I am off to?
What are your thoughts on the UI/UX scene in Africa? What no-code tools are you vibing with? Hit reply and let me know! You can also find me on Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter, VSCO and see what I'm up to on my website: https://dillionsphiri.com/
If you're keen to dive deeper into these conversations, you can check out my podcast, Creativity Knows No Borders, and learn more about my recent short documentary, Seeds of No Change.
