How people in Africa think about solar pv power generation?

Small solar is very popular in Africa. I mean very small; just enough to charge a cell phone or power a couple LED lights. This is becaue it is CHEAPER than stringing power lines to every isolated village to connect them all to the grid.

On a related topic, a few years ago I heard a story about millions being spent to extend power lines to a small community that was off grid on an Indian reservation in the USA. It was very clear to me that they could have put enough solar panels and batteries on each building there for FAR less money that it took to build those miles of power lines.

It is good for their daily life, but maybe feel that the cost is a bit higher.