OpenSea and Coinbase jamming with Pudgy Penguin pfp’s? Cute, sure. Strategic? Maybe. While the crypto world coos over these chubby birds, I can’t help but wonder: What does this penguin parade actually mean for Africa?

The global Web3 narrative has almost become a luxury cruise liner at this point, while a lot of other people are still in canoe mode.

Penguins or Progress For The People?

Then we have OpenSea, the NFT world’s giant Walmart, and Coinbase the giant financial exchange, hitching their wagons to this Pudgy Penguins craze. They’re all just signaling their “Web3 savviness,” flexing that they understand the culture, the memes and the community. Which community are we discussing? Is it the one with the disposable income to drop serious cash on digital collectibles, or the one struggling with basic financial inclusion?

So, it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. The colorful art, the energized community, the potential of actual utility – that will definitely catch your eye. Instead, millions of Africans experience a daily battle even to get a decent internet connection. On top of that, they have to figure out how the NFT and crypto wallet thing works.

Let's talk numbers. We should ask ourselves, how many Africans can actually afford these NFTs? How many even know about them? This isn’t just any place we’re discussing; this is a continent where nearly half the people survive on less than two dollars a day. Are we really saying that Pudgy Penguins is the solution to all their prayers?

Forgotten Voices, Real Solutions Needed

The buzz gets loud when you’re even IN that echo chamber. What of the African voices themselves, those building real solutions to the world’s challenges? We need to highlight the work being done by those actually using blockchain for good. They’re tackling huge issues like land tenure, supply chain traceability and access to microfinance.

There are African creators making moves with NFTs to raise up homegrown talent, cut out traditional gatekeepers, and go straight to global audiences. In addition, there are blockchain-based developers creating decentralized platforms for easier cross-border payments, lower remittance fees, and increased financial inclusion. These are the stories that we should be TWEETING from the rooftops—not burying under a pile of stuffed penguins and t-shirts.

I had a wonderful conversation with Aisha, a young development prodigy based out of Nairobi. She’s developing a cutting-edge blockchain-based platform that enables farmers to monitor their produce and command more equitable pricing. We have no use for penguins, she said flatly. "We need tools that can help our people feed their families and build a better future."

Imagine if OpenSea and Coinbase shifted even a small percentage of their Pudgy Penguin promotional spend on funding these African-led projects. Imagine the impact they could have.

Here's the twist. The Pudgy Penguin craze is an opportunity to be the positive force for change. Imagine that, as a result, the creative projects partner with an African nonprofit organization. Together, they donate 25% of sales to increase access to education and entrepreneurship opportunities. Now imagine if, instead, it established a scholarship fund for African developers who want to learn how to develop on blockchain technology.

From Penguin Hype to African Hope

It requires a shift in perspective. It challenges us to cut through the hype and focus on what the African continent truly needs. We need to be open to hearing from African creators and developers. They are creating new, smarter solutions because they are getting out there to find out what people really need.

So if the whole Pudgy Penguin thing has you feeling NFT craze fatigue, don’t give up hope on the real work that’s underway. Let’s not miss this opportunity to uplift the perspectives of African innovators. With these guiding principles, we can build a Web3 ecosystem that works for all of us. The future of Web3 in Africa rests on it.

But it requires a shift in perspective. It requires us to move beyond the hype and focus on the real needs of the African continent. It requires us to listen to the voices of African creators and developers who are building solutions that address those needs.

It requires action.

So, what can you do?

  • Support African NFT Projects: Seek out and invest in local NFT projects that are focused on social impact.
  • Invest in Local Blockchain Initiatives: Support African-led blockchain initiatives that are addressing pressing issues like financial inclusion and access to education.
  • Advocate for Policies: Advocate for policies that promote financial inclusion and digital literacy across the continent.

Let's not let the Pudgy Penguin craze distract us from the real work that needs to be done. Let's use this moment as an opportunity to amplify the voices of African innovators and build a Web3 ecosystem that truly benefits everyone. The future of Web3 in Africa depends on it.