Is Davos Relevant for Africa?

Every January, the world’s most powerful gather in a Swiss town to shape markets, capital, and influence. Africa attends, praised and applauded, yet presence does not equal power. Davos rewards those who set terms, not those who seek approval, and African participation is often visible but fragmented. Panels highlight potential, while value chains stay offshore, capital remains conditional, and leverage goes unused. This episode of The Breakdown asks the question Davos avoids: who truly controls the agenda? From the World Economic Forum’s origins to today’s scramble for minerals, markets, and influence, we connect energy transitions, demographics, urban growth, and geopolitics to Africa’s negotiating position. Davos is not the enemy, but a marketplace that respects coordination, scale, and clear red lines. Until Africa unites and leverages its power, it will leave with promises, not outcomes.