0076/HAAC/01-2023/pl/P
Recently, renowned entrepreneur and international consultant Barry Johnson visited Angola for the first time, as a guest speaker at the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit held in Luanda. Following his inspiring keynote address entitled “Why Family Offices Are Key to Africa’s Future,” Mr Johnson accepted an invitation from entrepreneur Pinto Matamba, founder of the Kiyamata Business Center group, to witness first-hand an innovative project in the field of sustainability and waste recycling—an initiative that reveals Africa’s potential to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
Under Mr Matamba’s leadership, the project focuses on the reuse of used tyres, paint buckets, empty cement bags, and other plastic waste. These materials are carefully recycled and transformed into urban gardens, flower beds, and growing containers, thereby promoting urban agriculture, food security, and the reinforcement of a circular economy. This initiative not only contributes to pollution reduction but also adds value to discarded waste, converting it into useful resources for local communities.
“Pinto Matamba represents a new generation of African entrepreneurial leaders who combine innovation with ancestral wisdom to design sustainable and economically viable solutions,” remarked Barry Johnson during his visit. “His project is a remarkable example of how creativity and entrepreneurship can turn waste into nutritious food, contributing to food self-sufficiency and local development.”
According to Mr Matamba, the initiative holds the potential to revolutionise both agriculture and the economy across the African continent: “Just a few years ago, we were dependent on millions of dollars’ worth of imports for basic food products. Today, we are turning waste into opportunity—feeding our people and tackling malnutrition. Africa’s young entrepreneurs need technology, technical know-how, and funding to cultivate the land and scale up this potential.”
For Mr Johnson, the initiative is a testament to the strength of African entrepreneurship and its ability to create sustainable solutions that foster social inclusion, reduce pollution levels, and drive the circular economy. Moreover, the project stands out as a high-impact social strategy by empowering local communities and promoting economic self-reliance.
Mr Johnson, currently Executive Chairman of 7 Generations Africa and the 7 Generations Institute, also leads the first public-private movement dedicated to increasing the number of genuine Family Offices on the African continent. His mission aims to strengthen the wealth, well-being, and positive impact of African families, while encouraging governments to adopt public policies that attract development capital and foster inclusive and sustainable prosperity.
“I am convinced that projects like this represent the true future of Africa—a compelling combination of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship that can turn environmental challenges into engines of economic development,” concluded Mr Johnson.
This encounter underscores the potential of Angola—and Africa as a whole—to lead a new era of sustainable innovation, establishing itself as a hub of creativity and economic progress, driven by a deep commitment to positive social and environmental impact.
