African Geek (theafricangeeks.com) is a free resource for Canva designers across Africa. We take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it and how you can control it. We comply with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and, where it applies, the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
1. Who we are
African Geek is operated by The African Geeks, based in Ghana, West Africa. If you have any questions about this policy or your personal data, write to hello@theafricangeeks.com.
2. What information we collect
2.1 Information you give us directly
- Your email address, when you subscribe to the African Geek newsletter.
- Your name, country, design niche, Instagram handle, bio and portfolio image, when you submit work to the designer showcase.
- Invoice details, entered in your browser in the invoice generator. Nothing from that tool is sent to our servers.
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Usage data: pages visited, time on site, scroll depth and clicks, through Google Analytics.
- Device and browser type, operating system and screen size.
- Approximate location, at country or city level, derived from your IP address.
- Ad interaction data, meaning whether ads were seen or clicked, through Google AdSense.
2.3 Cookies
- Analytics cookies from Google Analytics, to understand how the site is used. Set only after you consent.
- Advertising cookies from Google AdSense, to serve relevant ads. Set only after you consent.
- One value in your browser's local storage, to remember your cookie consent choice.
3. Why we collect your information
| Data | Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Email address | Send design tips, tutorials and updates in the newsletter | Consent: you opted in |
| Showcase submission | Feature your work and profile on the designer showcase | Consent: you submitted it |
| Analytics data | Understand what content is useful and improve the site | Consent: the cookie banner |
| Advertising data | Serve relevant ads that help fund the free content | Consent: the cookie banner |
4. Third party services
We share data with the following services, and only as far as each service needs it:
- Resend (email delivery) stores your email address to send the newsletter. Resend privacy policy
- Google Analytics (usage analytics) receives anonymised usage data, and only after your consent. Google privacy policy
- Google AdSense (advertising) may set advertising cookies, and only after your consent. Google privacy policy
- Paystack (payments in the shop) handles card details directly. We never see your card number. Paystack privacy policy
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to anyone.
5. How long we keep your data
- Newsletter email: kept until you unsubscribe. Every newsletter includes a one click unsubscribe link.
- Showcase submission: kept until you ask us to remove it by email.
- Analytics data: retained for 14 months by Google, which is their default.
- Cookie consent preference: stored in your browser's local storage and cleared when you clear your browser data.
6. Your rights
Under POPIA, and under GDPR if you are in the EU, you have the right to:
- Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion: ask us to delete your data, subject to our legal obligations.
- Opt out of the newsletter: click the unsubscribe link in any email, or write to us.
- Withdraw consent: change your cookie preference at any time from the cookie banner, or by clearing your browser data.
To exercise any of these rights, email hello@theafricangeeks.com. We respond within 30 days.
7. A note on the designer showcase
When you submit work to the designer showcase, your name, country, design niche, Instagram handle, bio and portfolio image are publicly visible on this site. By submitting, you confirm that:
- You own, or have the rights to, everything you submit.
- You grant African Geek a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display the work on this site.
- You keep full copyright of your work. We never claim ownership.
To have a submission removed, email hello@theafricangeeks.comwith the subject line "Showcase removal request".
8. Security
The site is served over HTTPS and sends security headers that prevent clickjacking and cross-site scripting. The free tools, such as the invoice generator and the brand kit planner, process your data entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers unless you explicitly submit a form.
9. Children's privacy
The site is intended for people aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has submitted data to us, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, the last updated date at the top changes. Please review this page now and then. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
11. Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data? Email hello@theafricangeeks.comwith the subject line "Privacy enquiry".
If you live in the EU and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.