Africa’s technology leaders officially opened the 28th annual Africa Tech Festival 2025 in Cape Town with a strong call for responsible, inclusive, and people-centered innovation to drive the continent’s digital future. The festival, which brings together government representatives, global tech firms, and startups, underscored that Africa’s digital transformation must be guided by ethical governance, equitable access, and meaningful social impact.
Government Leadership and Policy Commitments
South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi, along with Deputy Minister Hon. Mondli Gungubele, reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering inclusive digital development. Minister Malatsi highlighted three foundational pillars for leveraging emerging technologies like AI: affordable connectivity and devices, reliable digital public infrastructure, and widespread digital literacy. These pillars, he explained, are critical to accelerating digital transformation both in South Africa and across the continent.
Deputy Minister Gungubele reinforced this vision, emphasizing transparent, citizen-centric governance and Africa’s proactive approach to building a sovereign, interoperable, and human-centred digital ecosystem. South Africa’s national AI policy was highlighted as a model for safe and inclusive AI innovation.
Private Sector Innovation: Cassava Technologies Leads AI Integration
During the festival, Cassava Technologies announced its achievement as Africa’s first NVIDIA Cloud Partner, deploying NVIDIA GPUs across five sites to drive AI innovation. Founder and Executive Chairman Strive Masiyiwa noted that strategic collaborations with companies like Google, Anthropic, and other global tech leaders are enabling African industries to access world-class AI solutions, unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and innovation.
AI Summit Cape Town: Open-Source and Ethical AI Discussions
The AI Summit Cape Town hosted sessions focusing on open-source innovation, equitable AI access, and ethical design principles. Notable speakers included Emmanuel Lubanzadio (Africa Lead at OpenAI), Akim Benamara (TechAfrica News), and Thabo Makenete (Meta). Discussions explored how AI can be leveraged across Africa while respecting language diversity, cultural inclusion, and social equity.
A session titled Unlocking Agentic AI, The Next Leap in African Innovation examined the potential of autonomous AI systems for industry and public service delivery, while ensuring ethical deployment. Speakers highlighted how AI can transform sectors such as education, healthcare, and government services without compromising human-centric values.
Africa Tech Festival: A Movement Beyond a Conference
Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival, described the event as more than a traditional conference, a movement showcasing Africa’s ingenuity and leadership in the digital age. This year, the festival emphasizes responsible innovation, inclusive investment, and measurable social impact, reflecting the continent’s growing influence in the global digital economy.
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The festival spans four flagship programs: AfricaCom, AfricaTech, The AI Summit Cape Town, and AfricaIgnite, covering themes from AI and cloud computing to connectivity and digital policy harmonization. Highlights included AfricaIgnite Founder Day on 10 November, which showcased African entrepreneurship and attracted founders, investors, and venture capitalists. The opening day concluded with AFest at Grand Africa Café & Beach, providing delegates with an evening of networking and live entertainment.
The 28th Africa Tech Festival 2025 sets the stage for a week of innovation, collaboration, and dialogue, positioning Africa as a proactive, inclusive leader in the global digital landscape.
