Last Updated: May 14, 2025

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the iAFRICA newsletter, podcast, website, Substack chat, and related services (collectively, the “Services”) provided by iAFRICA (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as the Substack Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Content Guidelines, which are incorporated by reference. If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use the Services.

1. About iAFRICA

iAFRICA is a publication dedicated to exploring Africa’s tech-driven future, covering how artificial intelligence, innovation, and technology are transforming the way Africans live, work, and play. Our Services include a newsletter, podcast episodes, Substack Chat for subscriber discussions, and related content accessible via the iAFRICA website and the Substack Reader app.

2. Eligibility

To use the Services, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old or have parental consent if under 16, in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

• Comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws.

• Not be a user previously removed from the Services by iAFRICA or Substack.

3. Subscriptions

• Free Subscriptions: Free subscribers are always welcome and will receive our weekly newsletter and select podcast episodes, subject to these Terms.

• Paid Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions may be offered in the future. Should this happen, paid subscribers would gain access to premium content, including exclusive newsletters, podcast episodes, and Substack Chat participation. Subscription fees would be set at our discretion (e.g., $5/month or $50/year) and processed via Stripe, subject to Stripe’s Service Agreement.

• Refunds: Subscription fees would always be non-refundable except as required by law. You would be able to cancel your subscription at any time via your Substack account settings, effective at the end of the most current billing cycle.

• Comped Subscriptions: We may offer complimentary subscriptions at our discretion, subject to these Terms.

4. User Conduct

You agree not to use our Services to:

• Engage in unlawful, fraudulent, defamatory, harassing, or abusive behavior.

• Post or share content that violates our Guidelines, including hate speech, threats, spam, pornography, or promotion of illegal activities.

• Infringe on intellectual property rights, including reproducing iAFRICA content without permission.

• Distribute viruses, malware, or other harmful code.

• Conduct automated data collection (e.g., scraping) without express consent.

• Advertise external products or services without our written approval.

We reserve the right to remove content or suspend/terminate accounts for violations of these Terms or Substack’s policies, at our sole discretion.

5. Content Ownership and Licenses

• Our Content: iAFRICA owns or licenses all content published through our Services, including newsletters, podcast episodes, and website materials. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without prior written consent, except for limited personal use (e.g., sharing excerpts with attribution, not exceeding 40% of a single post, as permitted by fair use).

• Your Content: You retain ownership of content you submit (e.g., comments, Substack Chat messages). By submitting content, you grant iAFRICA and Substack a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute your content to operate and promote the Services (e.g., displaying comments on our site or adapting content for mobile viewing).

• Public Posts: If you share content publicly (e.g., comments visible to all subscribers), you grant other Substack users a license to access and use that content as permitted by Substack’s functionality.

6. Substack Chat

• Substack Chat is a private discussion feature for subscribers. Only subscribers we authorize can participate.

• By participating, you agree to follow our guidelines in all Chat interactions. We may moderate or remove Chat content that violates these Terms.

• Direct messages in Substack Chat are not end-to-end encrypted. Do not share sensitive information, as recipients may retain messages, and we may access content to enforce these Terms or comply with legal obligations.

7. Podcast

• Podcast episodes are available to all subscribers.

• You may not redistribute, modify, or monetize podcast content without our written consent.

• We may distribute episodes via Substack and third-party platforms to reach a broader audience.

8. Intellectual Property

• All trademarks, logos, and content associated with iAFRICA are our property or licensed to us. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

• If you believe content on our Services infringes your copyright, please follow Substack’s Copyright Dispute Policy or contact us directly at legal@africa.com.

9. Third-Party Services

• The Services are hosted on Substack, and if payments are made, they are processed via Stripe. Your use of these third-party services is subject to their respective terms.

• We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party websites or services linked from our Services.

10. Termination

• You may terminate your use of the Services at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account.

• We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services for violations of these Terms, Substack’s policies, or applicable laws, without prior notice.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, iAFRICA and its affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Services. The Services are provided “as-is” without warranties of any kind.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold iAFRICA harmless from any claims, losses, or damages arising from your use of the Services or violation of these Terms.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. We will notify you of changes via email, a notice on our Substack site, or other reasonable means. Continued use of the Services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [insert your jurisdiction, e.g., California, USA], without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of [insert jurisdiction].

15. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, contact us at [insert contact email, e.g., ai@africa.com].

By using the iAFRICA Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.