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The Continental Pulse: This Week in African Capital Markets is all about Sovereignty, Scale and a $5bn Bet.

By Africa Capital Week Media Team

It's been a big fortnight for African capital markets. Nairobi's exchange broke through the $31 billion mark for the first time, Kenya put its Sovereign Wealth Fund into law, Afreximbank pulled off its largest bond sale on record, Dangote lined up what could be the continent's biggest-ever IPO, and Tanzania signalled it's ready to follow Kenya and Nigeria into the listings game.

Five different countries, four different capital-raising mechanisms, one shared direction: African capital markets are deepening in real time.

Here's what happened, and why it matters for where Africa Capital Week 2026 picks up the conversation.

  1. Nairobi's exchange just crossed $31 billion
    The Nairobi Securities Exchange closed above KSh 4 trillion in market capitalisation for the first time this month - a milestone nine months in the making. It's a strong marker of the market infrastructure AfCW2026 is convening around. Read more →
  2. Kenya signs its Sovereign Wealth Fund into law
    Kenya's new Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill embeds governance separation and defined funding sources from day one - a direct move toward the economic sovereignty AfCW2026 puts at the centre of its agenda. Read more →
  3. Afreximbank raises its largest-ever bond
    The pan-African lender priced a $1.5bn dual-tranche Eurobond, with demand peaking at $3.8bn - more than double what was offered. It's a credibility signal for African-led institutions accessing global capital on their own terms. Read more →
  4. Dangote eyes Africa's largest-ever IPO
    Nigeria's Dangote Refinery is preparing a $5bn raise via an October listing - a pipeline story that, if it lands, would be the biggest IPO in the continent's history. Read more →
  5. Tanzania joins the listings wave
    Dar es Salaam plans to list up to five state-owned enterprises by 2026/27 - proof that the privatisation-to-listing story reshaping African capital markets isn't confined to Kenya. Read more →

This is the conversation Africa Capital Week 2026, on the 7-11th September 2026 in Nairobi, exists to convene. Join it by registering your interest at www.africacapitalweek.org 

#AfricaCapitalWeek2026 #AfCW2026 #TheContinentalPulse

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