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 "kร njรบ" 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]
Ugandaโs "push-pull" farming: Farmers plant pest-repellent grasses alongside crops to combat pests without pesticides. [4]
3. Energy Solutions
Nairobiโs "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
Malawiโs bicycle ambulances: Bamboo frames attached to bicycles transport patients in remote areas lacking roads. [8]
DRCโs "pharmacy motos": Motorcycle delivery networks supply medicines to conflict zones. [9]
5. Urban Housing
Lagosโs "container homes": Shipping containers converted into affordable housing units amid housing shortages. [10]

Citations
- Nigerian Tribune (2023), "Inside Lagosโ Computer Village."
- GSMA Mobile for Development (2022), "Circular Economy in Africaโs Tech Sector."
- FAO (2021), "Zai Pit Farming in Burkina Faso."
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (2020), "Push-Pull Pest Control."
- African Journal of Science (2019), "Jua Kali Solar Innovations."
- Energy for Growth Hub (2023), "Ghanaโs Dumsor Resilience."
- 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/
- UNICEF Malawi (2022), "Bicycle Ambulance Initiative."
- The Lancet (2021), "Medicine Delivery in Conflict Zones."
- 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.