J. Eric Wright was headed for Wall Street until he decided to take a year off in Africa. That short jaunt has stretched into nearly three decades on the continent — and led him to his life’s work. Today, Wright is chairman of Africa Venture Partners, a venture capital and private equity firm based in South Africa, and director at the Picasso Group, a private investment and project development firm in the U.A.E. focused on energy, agriculture and real estate ventures in emerging markets. Knowledge at Wharton spoke with Wright about the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa. An edited transcript of the conversation follows. Knowledge at Wharton : In recent years, Africa seems to be having this upsurge of entrepreneurial energy. From your perspective, what are some of the biggest opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa today and why? J. Eric Wright : I think the biggest opportunity for entrepreneurs is in the consumer space.…