There is excitement within and outside of the continent, centred on the possibilities of the contribution of home-grown philanthropy. Africa has only been second to China in the growth of High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs). ‘Africa’s Rising’ is not only based on increased led levels of Foreign Direct Investment but there is an increasing number of African led enterprises contributing to the growth. The millionaires and billionaires that have emerged on the continent have expanded their tentacles into philanthropy. However very little is known about their giving outside of the widely publicised big gifts. Through qualitative desktop based and survey data the study examines how HNWIs accumulated their wealth and the ways in which they give it away.