Entrepreneurship in Southern Africa

This monograph explores the dynamic entrepreneurial landscapes of seven African nations—Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the broader continent. Through vivid case studies and personal encounters, the author examines how cultural values, informal markets, and global influences shape business practices. From Dinapama Manufacturing in Namibia to livestock economies in Lesotho, and informal vendors in Mozambique and Botswana, this volume reveals the resilience and innovation driving African enterprise. Drawing on the scholarship of Léo-Paul Dana and development pioneers like Sivan Yari, it contrasts firm-type and bazaar economies, highlighting the role of relationships, networks, and mindset. Richly illustrated and deeply reflective, this book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit and its place in the global economy.

Léo-Paul Dana is Professor at ICD Business School Paris and Professorial Research Fellow at the Next Society Institute (NSI) of Kazimieras Simonavicius University (KSU), in Lithuania. A graduate of McGill University, he has served as Marie Curie Fellow at Princeton University and Visiting Professor at INSEAD and at Kingston University. He has published extensively in a variety of journals including: Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, International Business Review, International Small Business Journal, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Small Business Management, Journal of World Business, Small Business Economics, and Technological Forecasting & Social Change.
Aidin Salamzadeh is an Associate Professor and the Vice Dean of the College of Management at the University of Tehran, and a researcher at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto. In 2024, Stanford University listed him among the top 2 percent of scholars in the field of business and management. His interests include startups, new venture creation, and entrepreneurship. Aidin serves as an associate editor for several well-known academic journals. Additionally, he co-founded the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Lab (London).