The Economist has this article about Africa’s electricity shortages.

Basically, Africa can’t produce enough electricity to keep up with good growth and increasing urbanisation.

From the article:

• With nearly 1 billion people, Africa accounts for almost a sixth of the world’s population, but generates only 4% of global electricity.
• By some counts, only 17 of Nigeria’s 79 power stations are still working.
• Kenya’s power utility estimates that it adds 12,000 households a month to the national grid.