One of the most sought-after kinds of pepper in the world is Penja Pepper, also known as Poivre de Penja. Produced in Cameroon, it is prized for its intense aroma and distinctive floral and musky flavour notes, qualities directly tied to the volcanic soils of Mt. Kupe in the Penja Valley, where the pepper is grown. What makes Penja Pepper even more remarkable is that it was the first Geographical Indication(GI) registered in Africa. Sold under its GI label, it commands premium prices in European markets, transforming the livelihoods of local producers and contributing to the national economic development of Cameroon.
This is the promise of Geographical Indications in Africa. In most African countries, however, that promise is still being written.
What is a Geographical Indication (GI)?
A GI is simply a sign used on products from a specific region that possess qualities linked to that region, whether through natural factors, human factors, or both. Penja Pepper draws on both: the volcanic soils of Mt. Kupe and the community’s hand-harvesting traditions combine to produce a pepper ranked among the best in the world. Products like Champagne, Basmati rice, and Swiss watches command global recognition not merely because of branding and marketing, but because of the quality associated with the places where they are made, and crucially, because all of these are registered GIs.
For Africa, GIs represent something more profound than a legal label: a tool for sustainable development. They help small-scale producers capture greater value, preserve traditional knowledge, strengthen rural economies, and build competitive advantages in global and regional markets. In a continent where agriculture remains central to millions of livelihoods, GIs offer a pathway to dignity and prosperity. Yet across Africa, GI protection frameworks remain fragmented, underdeveloped, and poorly understood.
The current state of GIs in Africa:
Africa’s GIs landscape reflects a broader pattern: progress in pockets, stalled momentum in others, and growing continental ambition. By 2021, approximately 200 geographical indications had reportedly been registered across Africa.
The Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) member states have moved furthest. OAPI operates a dedicated sui generis GI system that has registered six GIs. The success stories speak for themselves: Penja Pepper (Cameroon) has seen price premiums of up to 300% compared to ordinary pepper; Oku White Honey (Cameroon) has achieved international recognition and market differentiation; Café Ziama Macenta (Guinea) and several others have similarly transformed producers’ incomes.
Technical support from international partners, along with the efforts of producer groups in promoting quality management and control systems, and sustained marketing efforts, contributed to the registration and success of most registered GIs in Africa. OAPI’s success demonstrates that when multiple factors align: legislation, institutional support, producer organization, and market linkages, GI systems deliver real development benefits.
While the numbers in ARIPO member states do not match those in OAPI regions, some ARIPO members are catching up, both in pursuing registration and in utilising other forms of intellectual property to protect products suited to GI protection. Kenya, for instance, has used certification and collective marks to protect products such as Taita baskets and tea. While functional, this approach has limitations: it denies these products the stronger protection that a dedicated GI framework would afford, reducing the economic benefits available to the communities involved.
As it stands, only three ARIPO member states, Ghana, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, have specific statutes for the protection of geographical indications, and Kenya’s Draft Geographical Indications Bill, first proposed in 2007 and only recently circulated again in 2026, reflects the slow progress in establishing standalone GI systems in the ARIPO region. Since Uganda operationalised its GI law in 2022, the country has registered two GIs: Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon Coffee and, in a significant milestone for foreign GI recognition, Champagne, which Uganda formally entered on its GI register as a protected GI in 2026. Having a dedicated legal framework is the first prerequisite for creating an enabling environment to boost registrations and promote products in support of national economic development.
The hope of a continental framework for GI protection:
In February 2023, the African Union adopted the Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). In February 2026, member states formally adopted detailed Annexes on various IP categories, including a comprehensive Annex on Geographical Indications.
For the first time, Africa has a continental legal framework that:
- Obliges AfCFTA parties to provide GI protection through sui generis systems, collective marks, or certification marks
- Establishes harmonised standards for GI registration and enforcement
- Creates pathways for intra-African recognition of GI protections
- Positions GI protection as central to the continent’s integration agenda
The AfCFTA IP Protocol shifts GI protection from a niche technical issue to a cornerstone of continental trade strategy. It signals that Africa is serious about building integrated markets where producers can trade confidently across borders, knowing their GI-protected products will receive protection.
Despite their potential, the adoption of GI systems across Africa has been slower than expected due to different reasons.
- Legislative gaps persist. Many African states still lack dedicated GI laws. Relying on collective and certification marks for products of such cultural and economic significance is an imperfect workaround and signals that GI protection has not been treated as a priority.
- Capacity is limited. Establishing a functional GI system requires specialised expertise: examiners who understand geographical standards, enforcement authorities capable of detecting misuse, and support structures to guide producers through registration. This capacity does not yet exist in many African IP offices.
- Law alone is not enough. Legislation is necessary, but only a means to an end. GI success also requires organised producer groups to manage quality and collective identity; infrastructure including processing facilities, certification systems, and export logistics; active market access and international promotion; and the security of the supply chain and political stability that enables long-term investment.
OAPI succeeded with Penja Pepper and Oku White Honey not just because legislation existed, but because French institutions provided decades of technical assistance, funding, and market-building support. Africa cannot replicate this for every product without substantial domestic and international investment.
- External dependence creates complications. Much of Africa’s GI agenda has been driven and supported by the European Union and other development partners. African countries must own their GI agendas, designing systems that prioritize African development and are central to the framework.
What can we learn:
For producers, investors, and policymakers, the lesson is clear: geographical indications are not abstract legal concepts. They are economic tools capable of transforming livelihoods when deployed strategically. The question is whether Africa will seize this moment to build inclusive, sustainable GI systems or whether the opportunity will drift away while external actors shape Africa’s choices.
Africa possesses countless products whose value is rooted in place, tradition, and reputation—from coffees and teas to honey, spices, textiles, and artisanal crafts. The challenge is no longer proving that geographical indications work. The challenge is building the legal, institutional, and market ecosystems that allow African producers to fully benefit from them. The AfCFTA framework provides a historic opportunity to do exactly that.
Join the discussions on Africa’s IP ecosystem and contribute to mainstreaming Intellectual Property for Africa’s Trade, Industrial & Creative Economy Transformation at this year’s All Africa IP Summit 7th Edition happening from 11th to 13th November in Nairobi, Kenya.
Summit Secretariat
All Africa Intellectual Property Summit 2026
Email: africaipsummit@it-rc.org
Telephone: +234 818 038 1825
Website: www.africaipsummit.com
