Kanju: For When Formal Systems Fall Short

note: this post is a largely AI-generated exploration of ideas

African kanju (a term rooted in West African Pidgin English, from the Yoruba word "kànjú" meaning "urgency" or "hustle") refers to innovative problem-solving in resource-constrained environments. Below are some examples:

1. Informal Tech Repairs

Lagos "Computer Village": A market in Nigeria where technicians repair and refurbish electronics using scavenged parts (e.g. soldering discarded phone components to build new devices). [1]

Kenyans repurposing old phones: Modified mobile phones used as remote controls, flashlights, or radios in rural areas. [2]

2. Agricultural Adaptations

Zai pits in the Sahel: Farmers dig small pits filled with organic waste to concentrate water/nutrients in arid regions, boosting crop yields. [3]

Uganda’s "push-pull" farming: Farmers plant pest-repellent grasses alongside crops to combat pests without pesticides. [4]

3. Energy Solutions

Nairobi’s "jua kali" artisans: Welders and mechanics build low-cost solar water heaters from scrap metal and recycled materials. [5]

Ghanaian "dumsor" innovations: During power outages (dumsor), households rig car batteries to power lights and fans. [6]

Bitcoin Miners in Nigeria: Trojan Mining 2 MW hydropower bitcoin mining site has created jobs, funded local initiatives, and demonstrated a sustainable energy solution [7]

4. Healthcare Improvisation

Malawi’s bicycle ambulances: Bamboo frames attached to bicycles transport patients in remote areas lacking roads. [8]

DRC’s "pharmacy motos": Motorcycle delivery networks supply medicines to conflict zones. [9]

5. Urban Housing

Lagos’s "container homes": Shipping containers converted into affordable housing units amid housing shortages. [10]

Citations

1. Nigerian Tribune (2023), "Inside Lagos’ Computer Village."
2. GSMA Mobile for Development (2022), "Circular Economy in Africa’s Tech Sector."
3. FAO (2021), "Zai Pit Farming in Burkina Faso."
4. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (2020), "Push-Pull Pest Control."
5. African Journal of Science (2019), "Jua Kali Solar Innovations."
6. Energy for Growth Hub (2023), "Ghana’s Dumsor Resilience."
7. From One S9 Miner to a 2 MW Hydropower Site in Nigeria: https://chaintum.io/2025/01/21/from-one-s9-miner-to-a-2-mw-hydropower-site-in-nigeria/
8. UNICEF Malawi (2022), "Bicycle Ambulance Initiative."
9. The Lancet (2021), "Medicine Delivery in Conflict Zones."
10. African Urban Institute (2024), "Container Architecture in Lagos."

Kanju reflects a broader African ethos of "sankofa" (using past wisdom to address present challenges) and thrives in contexts where formal systems fall short.