Diamonds in the Rough

An assessment of wealth using the Sun in the charts of Africa’s wealthiest

© 2019 Theodore Naicker, DMA., DAS.

What this article is about

This article will demonstrate the effectiveness of using the Sun Chart for obtaining general information
and specific dynamics of the financial flow possible to an individual. The chart is generally applicable to everyone
born on that day, and so would be particularly obvious in the charts of people who fall in the upper percentiles of
financial wealth in society. The aim of the article is to present such techniques that easily and clearly show the
financial flow dynamics available using the Sun Chart to establish proper context when delineating wealth.

Forbes Africa Top 15 Wealthiest People, 2019

Forbes Africa published their Africa Billionaires list on 1 February 2019 with values measured as of 4
Jan 2019 (Forbes Africa).

Here is a summary of the list:

#1 Aliko Dangote (US$10.3 billion), Nigeria
#2 Michael Adenuga (US$9.2 billion), Nigeria
#3 Nicky Oppenheimer and family (US$7.3 billion), South Africa
#4 Nassef Sawiris (US$6.3 billion), Egypt
#5 Johann Rupert and family (US$5.3 billion), South Africa
#6 Issad Rebrab and family (US$3.7 billion), Algeria
#7 Naguib Sawiris (US$2.9 billion), Egypt
#8.1 Koos Bekker (US$2.3 billion), South Africa
#8.2 Isabel dos Santos (US$2.3 billion), Angola
#8.3 Mohamed Mansour (US$2.3 billion), Egypt
#8.4 Strive Masiyiwa (US$2.3 billion), Zimbabwe
#8.5 Patrice Motsepe (US$2.3 billion), South Africa
#9 Aziz Akhannouch and family (US$2.1 billion), Morocco
#10 Mohammed Dewji (US$1.9 billion), Tanzania
#11 Othman Benjelloun and family (US$1.7 billion), Morocco
#12 Abdulsamad Rabiu (US$1.6 billion), Nigeria
#13 Yasseen Mansour (US$1.5 billion), Egypt
#14 Yousseff Mansour (US$1.2 billion), Egypt
#15.1 Folorunsho Alakija (US$1.1 billion), Nigeria
#15.2 Michiel le Roux (US$1.1 billion), South Africa

I did not find confirmed birth dates for Mohamed Mansour (# 8.2), Aziz Akhannouch (#9), Othman
Benjelloun (#11), Yasseen Mansour (#13), and Yousseff Mansour (#14), and they were not included in the work
for this article. All biographical information has been gleaned from Wikipedia and ForbesAfrica.com websites.

But first, a few concepts before we get started.

Working with the Sun Chart

For people without a birth time, most astrologers will either look at the chart with the Sun either rising
at the ascendant (i.e. Sunrise chart), or the Sun culminating on the MC (Culmination chart). These methods help
the astrologer to understand the general patterns and circumstances of the life, just as the Sun in general indicates
the collective spirit with which we resonate and partake of when we are born.

I am an advocate of interpreting charts generally first from the Sun and Moon, and finally from the
Ascendant for specific details and nuances. I will always keep the Sun chart and Moon chart significations in mind
when reading the chart from the Ascendant. This is because there is an enhanced value and meaning that comes
into how you understand the chart when astrological archetypes are understood generally first (or
universally/collectively) and then the same astrological archetypes are understood specifically. The general
archetype provides proper context for the specific, just as prenatal and postnatal circumstances beyond our control
provided the environment and opportunity contexts within which our specific intentions and inclinations later
manifested. Your astrological delineation and predictions are significantly enhanced in this way, by proceeding
from the collective to the individual, as we are created from cosmic consciousness and subsequently specified as
an individual consciousness. When even the process of astrological interpretation mirrors life (as it should), life
speaks to us through the symbolic language of astrology.

There is, however, additional interpretative value which can be extracted by looking at the Sun as an
ascendant (if the birth time is known) or the Sun on the ascendant (Sunrise Chart, for unknown birth times). In
this article I will demonstrate how this “Sun Chart” can be used to understand information pertaining to sustenance
and wealth in a general way.

The Sun and Mercury

Before we get started, a quick note on Mercury. The role of Mercury in business and financial astrology
often goes unnoticed. Mercury is keenly associated with the measuring, analytical, maintenance, profiteering,
optimizing, accounting, yield/quantity/measurable focus of Virgo, where Mercury is traditionally exalted. These
are core functions of business administration, which is responsible to a large extent for people taking their
inheritance or initial capital and growing it into something with increasing yield and financial dividends. Let us
not forget that business is essentially providing a service to their target audience (service = 6th house, natural sign
of Virgo). Therefore, in the charts of multi-millionaires, billionaires, and successful business Moghuls, I expect
to find a strong connection between the Sun and Mercury. We will investigate this as we look at the charts.

Of course, the difference in volume of such a connection comes from an assessment of the chart relative
to the Ascendant, but since we are using the Sun Charts in this article, we are only looking to see if this sort of
connection merely exists. We will be looking for a connection between either the Sun and Mercury by placement,
rulership, or via their dispositors.

The principle to bear in mind here is that if a connection between the Sun and Mercury exists, then
whatever is the nature of that connection is how the financial impetus of the Sun conceives of and manifests the
Mercurial concept of yield, and therefore this connection can play a defining role in the manifestation of financial
yield in the life of the person.

The primary influencers on the Sun

We will also be looking for the primary influencers of the Sun, specifically in the following ways:
• Separating conjunctions or oppositions to the Sun (<3° orb)
• The nearest aspect the Sun was involved in to a visible planet prior to the sunrise
• The MC at sunrise. Since the MC is defined by the intersection of the apparent path of the Sun around
the earth (the ecliptic) and the prime meridian, and marks the maximum altitude the Sun reaches in the
course of its diurnal motion, the MC partakes of exhibits the nature of the Sun. It is like a “secondary
Sun” in the chart, and its testimony becomes important especially for “prominence”.

Own Sign Results

A practical rule from foundational Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) stipulates that if a planet is in its own sign,
its external results are shown by the ruler of its sign of exaltation. If the Sun is in its own sign, its external results
are shown by Mars. If the Moon is in its own sign, its external results are shown by Venus. If Mars is in its own
sign, its external results are shown by Saturn. If Mercury is in its own sign, its external results are shown by the
North Node (the North Node also rules Virgo in Vedic Astrology). If Jupiter is in its own sign, its external results
are shown by the Moon. If Venus is in its own sign, its external results are shown by Jupiter. If Saturn is in its
own sign, its external results are shown by Venus. Bear this crucial rule in mind when we look at the Sun charts.

Chart Examples

The charts we are looking at are sunrise charts. These are charts I look at first for everyone to understand
the core dynamics of environment. Whether or not they optimize on this depends on the chart as read from the
Ascendant (for a timed chart). In each chart case, we will identify the relevant planets first (the Sun-Mercury
connection, and the primary influencers of the Sun), and then explore how these planets have played a role in the
financial dynamics of the person.
#1 Aliko Dangote (US$10.3 billion), Nigeria

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Mars (ruler
of the Sun sign is
disposed by Mercury).

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: Venus.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

Sunrise MC: Capricorn

ruled by Saturn.

The Sun’s previous aspect to a visible planet was the Moon, ruler of the 4 th house. The Moon is in Leo
conjunct Pluto (ruler of the 8th house, inheritance). He was born into a rich family legacy. His grandfather was the
richest man in Africa at the time of his death in 1955. This is shown also by the separating conjunction of Venus
with the Sun (Venus rules the 7th house = 4th from the 4th, father of the father = grandfather). Mars, the connection
between Sun and Mercury, also indicates the financial inheritance as Mars rules the 8 th house.

Saturn, ruler of the Capricorn MC indicates hard-labour industries such as construction and mining. The
Dangote Group first cuts its financial teeth in the construction industry, which laid the foundation for future
diverse ventures. Notable expansions of the business were into the sugar processing industry (Venus) and food
sectors (Moon), especially in the logistics and trade and supply of food commodities in Nigeria (note the partile
Saturn-Mars opposition in the 3rd/9th house axis → transport, trade, supply).
#2 Michael Adenuga (US$9.2 billion), Nigeria

Sun-Mercury
Connection: ruler of the
Sun (Venus) is partile
conjunct Mercury.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: Moon.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Aquarius
ruled by Saturn.

The ruler of the Sun is partile conjunct Mercury. The Sun is also strongly coloured by its separating
opposition to the Moon in Scorpio. He made his first million by age 26 by selling lace (Venus) and softdrinks
(Moon in water sign, liquid food). He then ventured into the oil sector (MC ruled by Saturn conjunct Neptune;
Moon in Scorpio – dead food, heated, pressurized underground → petroleum). He then went into the
telecommunications industry where he has also had great success (Aquarius MC ruled by Libra Saturn – air sign
dominance). Since Saturn rules the MC, this is what he became known for.
#3 Nicky Oppenheimer and family (US$7.3 billion), South Africa

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Mercury is
the ruler of the Sun,
Mercury own sign →
North Node.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Pisces
ruled by Jupiter.

All the planets involved indicate money through family wealth. The dispositor of the Sun (Mercury) is
in its own sign, so the results are shown by the North Node which is in the 2nd house Cancer (family money). The
North Node is conjunct Saturn, indicating the mining/construction industries.

The last aspect the Sun had with a visible planet was with the Moon, and in the sunrise chart the Moon
is exalted in Taurus (major family money). Taurus can indicate major wealth saved by previous generations (12 th
house Moon), as well as indicating Venusian accessories (jewellery, diamonds, etc). The beautiful things of the
earth that have sustainable and enduring value (Taurus).

The MC is at the last degree of Pisces and Jupiter in Virgo in the 4th sign, probably indicating that some
of the wealth can be lost or not handled very well by him. His grandfather started the De Beers company with
Cecil Rhodes in 1888, 40% of which he sold to Anglo American mining company in 2012 (Jupiter 3rd house
indicating the contractual deal, money going away as Jupiter is furthest from its home in Pisces).
#4 Nassef Sawiris (US$6.3 billion), Egypt

Sun-Mercury
Connection: The ruler of
the Sun and Mercury is
the same planet, Saturn.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Scorpio
ruled by Mars.

After graduating university in 1982, he joined his father’s company Orascom which began as a
construction company where he took on a major role from 1995, becoming CEO in 1998. Here you can see the
impact of the ruler of both his Sun and Mercury, Saturn indicating the construction industry. He has also acquired
stakes in cement giant Lafarge Holcim in France.

He also has a strong connection between the Moon and Mars from the 2 nd to the 6th house. His other
major cashcow is that he runs OCI, a separate company, which is one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer
producers. The Moon indicates food (especially on the 2 nd house cusp), with a connection to the 6th house
(traditionally a house of labour and servitude), together indicating the agriculture sector. In addition, Cancer Mars
is traditionally one of two alchemical Mars signatures (the other being Mars in Virgo). The Cancer Mars therefore
shows the application of chemistry/chemicals in the food industry (Cancer = Moon 2 nd house = food).
#5 Johann Rupert and family (US$5.3 billion), South Africa

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun is ruled
by Mercury.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Pisces
ruled by Jupiter →
Moon.

Rupert is the eldest son of South African business tycoon Anton Rupert who established the tobacco
company Voorbrand in the 1940s, which was renamed to Rembrandt in 1972. The ruler of the Sun is Mercury in
Taurus in the 12th house, indicating luxury/lifestyle goods (Taurus). Mercury rules the 4th house Virgo, which
contains the 6th house ruler Mars – showing some lifestyle problem/ilness (6th house) impacting the health (Virgo)
and breathing (4th house). The lifestyle choice is of a fiery, alchemical nature (Mars in Virgo). The tobacco
connection checks out with Mercury. Most notably, Mercury as ruler of the 4 th house shows money connection
through the family and especially father (traditionally the 4th house indicates the father).

The other planet indicated is the Moon, again ruler of the 2nd house indicating involvement with the food
industry. The Rupert family is indelibly involved in the South African wine industry, owning L’ormarins and La
Motte wine estates. They also have a stake in the Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, a wine-making partnership
between the two financial families. The Ruperts also partially control two of SA’s largest wine merchant houses,
Stellenbosch Farmer’s Winery, and Distiller’s Corporation, who together produce one out of every six wine bottles
in the country. Here you can see the conversion of Jupiter (grapes/vineyards) as ruler of the MC into food (Moon,
liquids). Sagittarius Moon is a classical indicator of wines (in medieval times, the clergy controlled the
manufacture of wine).

The involvement of the Moon with the 4th house (convalenscence) Virgo (health) and the 6th house
(traditionally of illness) with Mercury in the 12th house (hospitals) also indicate the medical/health industry. The
Rupert Group also owns South Africa’s second-largest chain of private hospitals, the MediClinic Corporation.
#6 Issad Rebrab and family (US$3.7 billion), Algeria

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun is rueld
by Mercury.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Aquarius
ruled by Saturn.

Saturn rules the MC Aquarius. He got into business in 1971 when a client suggested he buy shares in a
metallurgical construction company (he purchased 20% of the shares). He then went on to create his own
companies in the steel industry.

He left Algeria due to the impact of terrorism on the security of his assets, but returned in 1998 at the
head of the newly formed Cevital Group, the biggest group in the agricultural sector in the country (Saturn ruler
of MC is on the 2nd house cusp, food). Mercury, ruler of the Sun and Saturn, is also in Taurus, indicating the food
industry as the final or primary manifestation.

Finally, we have the Moon in Leo on the 4th house and ruler of the 3rd house. He also acquired a huge
media group for $45million. He also owns the French-Algerian news media house Liberte. Issad also owns Groupe
Brandt, a French home appliance company (Moon 4 th house cusp), and a German water purification company
(Moon 4th house = well, in Leo = purification).
#7 Naguib Sawiris (US$2.9 billion), Egypt

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun is ruled
by Mercury, own sign →
North Node.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: Mercury,
own sign → North Node.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Mercury →
North Node.

MC @ Sunrise: Pisces
ruled by Jupiter.

Just like his brother Nassef, he runs major subsidiaries of his father’s Orascom company (Mercury, ruler
of the Sun, rules the 4th house of father). He specifically handles the tourism and telecommunications technology
company set. In the list, the North Node clearly dominates since Mercury is in its own sign. The North Node is in
Sagittarius, indicating 9th house activities, one of which is tourism. Jupiter, the ruler of the North Node and also
the MC, as one of the other planets indicated, is in Leo the 3 rd sign and 2nd house, showing the financial rewards
coming to him. The North Node also indicates cross-boundary or global connections in particular, especially in
Sagittarius. As the founder of one of Orascom’s subsidiaries, Orascom Telecom Holdings, he has created one of
the world’s largest telecommunications companies, with operations and subscribers in 20 countries.

He also acquired La Mancha Resourses Inc., an international gold producer based in Canada with
operations and projects in Africa, Australia, and Argentina. This is perhaps shown by the Jupiter as ruler of the
North Node and the MC in Leo in the 2nd house – a tangible asset (2nd house) of the nature of the Sun (gold).
Through La Mancha, the family has stakes in Evolution Mining, Endeavour Mining, and Gold Star Resources –
companies which have gold mining operations in Africa and Australia.
#8.1 Koos Bekker (US$2.3 billion), South Africa

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun and
Mercury have mutual
dispositor, Jupiter.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Virgo
ruled by Mercury.

The ruler of the Sun is Mercury in Sagittarius and Mercury also rules the MC. He owns Naspers, a major
media marketing group operating in 130 countries out of South Africa, offering services in internet
communication, entertainment, gaming, and e-commerce. Naspers was started as a media marketing powerhouse
in 1915 by Jannie Marias and W. Hofmeyr with the support of Jan Christiaan Smuts, Louis Botha, and National
Party founding president J.B.M. Hertzog. Sagittarius is typically associated with media, publishing, and marketing
especially of a global or international nature. (With Mercury traditionally debilitated in Sagittarius ruling the 10 th
house of goverment, one could argue the origins of Naspers as a state propaganda media machine).

Major brands owned by Naspers include: Ibibo, Multiply, Property24, Buscape, PayU, Movile,
SimilarWeb, Avitor.ru (internet media); MultiChoice, SuperSport, DStv, MNet, Showmax (TV media); Media24
(print media); Takealot, OLX, eMAG (Shopping outlets).

Koos owns the picturesque Babylonstoren estate encompassing nearly 600 acres in the Western Cape
region of South Africa, featuring architecture dating back to 1690. Here you see the Jupiter in Taurus ruling the
4th house.

Naspers also has a 31% stake in Tencent, a major Chinese conglomerate. Tencent controls hundreds of
subsidiaries and associates in numerous industries and areas, creating a broad portfolio of ownerships and
investment across a diverse range of businesses including e-commerce, retail, video gaming, real estate, software,
virtual reality, ride-sharing, banking, financial services, fintech, consumer technology, computer technology,
automobile, film production, movie ticketing, music production, space technology, natural resources,
smartphones, big data, agriculture, medical services, cloud computing, social media, IT, advertising, streaming
media, artificial intelligence, robotics, UAVs, food delivery, courier services, e-book, internet services, education
and renewable energy.
#8.2 Isabel dos Santos (US$2.3 billion), Angola

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun and
Mercury have a mutual
dispositor, Mars.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise:
Capricorn ruled by
Saturn.

Isabel is the eldest child of Jose Eduardo, the former President of Angola (1979-2017). She is Africa’s
first billionaire woman. Her husband is the son of a millionaire from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mars rules the 8th sign Scorpio Moon (both planets are important for her financial determination). The
Scorpio Moon rules the 4th house (money is strongly related to home and family and father). Her first job as an
engineer was on a project to disinfect and clean up the city of Luanda (Scorpio represents themes of excretion and
buildup and removal of toxicity).

She subsequently got involved in a trucking business (Mars ruled by Saturn in 3rd sign Gemini indicating
transport). The led back to a focus on walkie-talkies and the telecommunications industry (Saturn trine Uranus,
Saturn trine Aquarius Mars). She has also got involved in multimedia investments (Saturn-Mars trine in air signs
and the 3rd/11th places of the chart). Saturn is the ruler of the MC at sunrise, indicating further determination
toward large-scale and established media/telecommunications industries. The MC as Capricorn means that she
did have to start from the ground-up, but due to the strong connection of Saturn to the other financial indicators
Mars and its ruler Uranus, the upward movement financially is strongly possible.
#8.4 Strive Masiyiwa (US$2.3 billion), Zimbabwe

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun and
Mercury have a mutual
dispositor, Saturn.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon

MC @ Sunrise: Scorpio
MC (conjunct Neptune),
ruled by Mars.

He initially worked for the state-owned Zimbabwean telecommunications company in 1984, but quit
soon afterwards, beginning his own telecommunications company with the equivalent of US$75. Mars in debility
in Cancer and Saturn conjoined a debilitated Jupiter (ruler of the 2nd house) show that his financial forays initially
will experience problems. Mars ruler of MC in debility specifically shows that financial problems linked to
government are possible. However, since both Saturn and the Moon are in their own signs, the results of all this
trouble end up with Venus, which is exalted and very well placed buffering his 2nd house savings.

The emergence of mobile telephones urged him to move into the telecommunications industry, but the
government of Zimbabwe refused to grant him a license for his company, Econet Wireless. The legal battle with
the government almost drove him to bankruptcy but the court ruled in his favour. Here you can clearly see the
impact of Neptune (associated with his 2nd house Pisces of savings) on the MC in Scorpio – the government
problem was driving him to bankruptcy. He was saved by the Venus in Pisces, which gives the external results of
both Saturn and the Moon in their own signs. The wisdom of Neptune was that through a conflict with the
government (Scorpio 10th house), his court case ruling formerly ended the government monopoly in the
telecommunications sector, opening the way for all subsequent private enterprise. Today Econet Wireless is the
second-largest company in Zimbabwe by market capitalization.

However, Venus which saved his financial savings, also rules the 4th and 9th houses, and together with
Saturn in the 12th house, indicates he would be better off financially living abroad in another country. The
combination of the 9th and 4th houses shows living abroad, and also the 12th house since it is the 4th house from
the 9th house. He moved to South Africa following persecution by the Mugabe government, from which the Econet
Group grew to have operations in 20 countries. After more than a decade in South Africa, Strive moved to the UK
where he currently resides.

Continuing the theme of the exalted Venus in Pisces, ruling the 9th Libra (diplomacy) and 4th houses
(homeland), Strive has since become a regular name in the world of philanthropy and progressive thought for the
African continent in world affairs. He sits on two UN Advisory Councils, and is the only African member of the
US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience. In 2012, he was invited by US President Barack
Obama together with four other Africans to attend the G8 Summit to address ways to reduce food shortages in
Africa. He is a panel member of the African Progress Panel, an advocacy group for the highest levels of equitable
and sustainable development in Africa.
#8.5 Patrice Motsepe (US$2.3 billion), South Africa

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun and
Mercury have mutual
dispositor, Saturn in own
sign → Venus.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: Venus.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Venus.

MC @ Sunrise: Scorpio,
ruled by Mars.

In contrast to the chart of Strive Masiyiwa, here we Mars ruling the MC and exalted in Capricorn,
showing phenomenal rise and success through connections with authority and those in government. He is brother-
in-law to both the current President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Minister in Parliament Jeff Radebe.
You can see the prominence of Venus in his financial indicators, and Venus ruler of the 4th house is partile conjunct
the 7th house ruler the Sun, indicating success through marriage and familial connections.

Patrice founded his company Future Mining, at a time when the government of South Africa began
implementing its policies promoting black empowerment and entrepreneurship. Saturn indicates the mining
industry (especially linked to Venus 4th house ruler), and Saturn is in the futuristic sign Aquarius, and the business
is called Future Mining.

Saturn is in its own sign so what this mining looks like is indicated by Venus which is conjunct the Sun.
The first major project of the Future Mining company was to remove gold dust from mine shafts. This can be
attributed to the Sun (gold) and being in detriment in the sign Aquarius – the removal of gold from the Saturnine
environment (mine).

In 1997 when the gold prices were low (Sun in detriment), he purchased low-cost shares in various
existing mining ventures which he later benefited from financially. From these successes, he created the African
Rainbow Minerals company, which has interests in gold, platinum, ferrous and base metals.
#10 Mohammed Dewji (US$1.9 billion), Tanzania

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Mercury
rules the dispositor of the
Sun, Venus.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Aquarius
ruled by Saturn.

Upon graduation from university in 1998, he assumed management of the MeTL commodities-trading
company started by his father in the 1970s, becoming the CEO of the company after two years. Venus, the
connection between his Sun and Mercury, is in the 2nd house and in a strong applying trine to Libra Uranus,
alternative ruler of the MC. The connection is a trading and commodities company which he would bolster by
riding technological and innovative waves in the respective industries being traded. It also indicates
telecommunications and media sectors (especially as Saturn ruler of the MC is in the 3rd house. The traditional
ruler of the MC Saturn is in a sign of the Moon and connected to the Moon indicating alternate industries such as
food and beverages.

Dewji is responsible for turning the company from a net worth of US$30 million in 1998 to $1.5 billion
in under a decade. Today the MeTL Group of companies is the largest privatized conglomerate in Tanzania. MeTL
is active in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages, and edible oils throughout Africa. The Group has
investments in manufacturing, agriculture, trading, finance, mobile telephony, insurance, real estate, transport and
logistics, and food and beverages.
#12 Abdulsamad Rabiu (US$1.6 billion), Nigeria

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun in own
sign → Mars ruled by
Mercury.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Taurus,
ruled by Venus.

Abdulsamad’s father was one of the leading industrialists in Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s. At the age
of 24 he began overseeing the family business. Abdulsamad created BUA International Limited in 1988 in
commodity trading, specifically of rice, edible oil, flour, iron and steel. Here you see the wonderful combination
of the Taurus MC (food, supply) with a strong trine from Saturn (metals). Saturn in dignity trining the MC
indicates work assistance for the government, and he received major financial windfalls as income from his work
as contractor the government-owned Delta Steel Company.

Saturn and the Moon (both financial indicators for this chart) are in the same sign. A few years after he
completed the above-mentioned government contracts, he stepped up the edible oil processing portion of his
company (the Moon represents fluids, and the Moon also represents the food industry, especially when associated
with earth signs).

However, Saturn is in its own sign, so the result of the food industry focus will go to Venus, and he
eventually got into the sugar processing industry (Venus is sugars), in which he became very successful (Venus
rules the MC), breaking an 8-year government monopoly in the sugar processing industry and commissioning the
second largest sugar refinery in the world.

After this financial foundation, he later ventured into the cement industry (Saturn in Capricorn). It is
interesting that the Sun being in its own sign its results are indicated by Mars in Gemini. Mars rules the 4th house
and the 9th house. It remains to be seen if he ventures into media technology and agriculture technology in other
countries.
#15.1 Folorunsho Alakija (US$1.1 billion), Nigeria

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Sun is
dispositor of Mercury.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Aries,
ruled by Mars.

Of all the financial indicators, the Moon is the controller as it is the dispositor of both the Sun and Mars.
Mars is the ruler of the 5th house and the MC, and the Moon is in Sagittarius connected to Venus. Her first
prominent and successful business enterprise was in the fashion industry (Sagitttarius-Venus-Moon-5th house
connections). Her company, Rose of Sharon House of Fashion became a household name in Nigeria, with ranking
customers in the government at the time.

Her foray into the Oil sector met with financial loss and opposition from the government. Saturn (general indicator
of the oil industry) rules the 8th house – not traditionally a house of much gain.

She has subsequently met with better success in the printing/publishing industry (Sagittarius).
#15.2 Michiel le Roux (US$1.1 billion), South Africa

Sun-Mercury
Connection: Mercury
rules dispositor of the
Sun, Venus.

Close separating
conjunction/opposition
to the Sun: None.

Previous visible aspect

of the Sun: Moon.

MC @ Sunrise: Pisces
(conjunct Moon), ruled
by Jupiter.

Michiel used to work as a director for Boland Bank, a small regional bank in the Western Cape of South
Africa, before launching his own bank – the Capitec Group in 2011, where he owns an 11% personal stake. Capitec
targets the emerging middle class in South Africa. The Moon as ruler of the 3rd sign and situated on the MC
indicates the nature of his work was regionally in various positions across the Western Cape. The Moon on the
MC indicates some work that is popular, the Moon on the MC is also a classic signature for big business (because
of the popularity factor). The natural colour of the Moon is white – a major colour in the brand template for
Capitec bank in its website and branch offices. The ruler of the MC is Jupiter which is very strong being stationary.
Jupiter connected to Venus naturally signifies wealth and abundance – Jupiter is the archetype for wealth
traditionally. Michiel is the most recent entry to the Forbes Africa billionaires list, having entered the billionaire
status for the first time in the 2018/2019 year. It remains to be seen how long he will remain in the “Club B”.

Key Learnings

The Sun Chart (sunrise chart for unknown times, Sun-on-AC charts for timed births) is a crucial tool for
getting a sense of the key financial dynamics and determinations accessible to a person, into which or toward
which they can apply their Ascendant-specific chart determinations. The general technique of looking at the
connection between the Sun and Mercury bears out in the examples. The principle is that Mercury shows the path
of physical manifestation for the Sun, and perhaps therefore so many people are not of natural phenomenal
financial means: Mercury is the planet most often under the sunbeams or combust. This makes any strong
connection between Mercury and the Sun vital for manifestation of tangible things in life. We also saw how the
strongest influences on the Sun play a role, as well as the MC of the Sun Chart and its ruler in the “prominence”
factor pertaining to wealth. I encourage astrologers to utilize this set of techniques in the Sun Chart to establish
proper context when delineating wealth for a person.

Works Cited
Forbes Africa. Fewer Billionaires, Poor Billionaires on African Continent 2019. 1 Feb 2019.
https://www.forbesafrica.com/lists/2019/02/01/fewer-billionaires-poorer-billionaires-on-african-
continent-in-2019/. 15 Feb 2019.

Theodore Naicker, DMA., DAS., Specialist Western & Vedic Astrologer

Find out more about Theodore at https://www.spicastrology.com/about-theo/