Africa’s technology leaders opened the 28th annual Africa Tech Festival 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) with a unified call for responsible, inclusive, and people-centred innovation to drive the continent’s digital transformation.
The opening ceremony brought together top government officials, global technology giants, and leading startups, all emphasizing the importance of ethical governance, inclusive access, and social impact in Africa’s digital journey. Among the key voices were South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon. Solly Malatsi, Deputy Minister Hon. Mondli Gungubele, and representatives from Cassava Technologies, OpenAI, and Meta — each pledging to champion collaboration and ensure that no African nation is left behind in the age of AI.
Building a Digitally Inclusive Continent
Minister Solly Malatsi set the tone with a powerful keynote stressing that Africa’s technological progress must uplift communities and create equitable opportunities.
“For South Africa to benefit from and participate in the next wave of innovation — particularly AI — three foundations are essential: affordable connectivity and devices, reliable digital public infrastructure, and digital literacy,” said Malatsi. “When these foundations are strong, everything else accelerates.”
Echoing his sentiments, Cassava Technologies announced a milestone achievement — becoming Africa’s first NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP). The company will deploy NVIDIA GPUs across five sites, enabling scalable AI innovation across sectors from health to agriculture.
“Africa will not be left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Cassava Technologies. “Through partnerships with Google, Anthropic, and others, we are ensuring that Africa has access to world-class AI tools designed for African industries.”
Governance for a Tech-Driven Africa
Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele, speaking during his session “Building Digital Nations – Governance for a Tech-Driven Africa,” highlighted the importance of digital systems in building transparent, citizen-centred governments.
“Africa is not waiting to be connected — we are building our own digital future that is sovereign, interoperable, and human-centred,” he stated.
He spotlighted South Africa’s national AI policy as a model for responsible innovation, ensuring safety, inclusivity, and social benefit.
AI for an Open and Equitable Africa
The AI Summit Cape Town featured a dynamic discussion titled “OpenAI for an Open Africa” with Emmanuel Lubanzadio (OpenAI Africa Lead), Akim Benamara (TechAfrica News), and Thabo Makenete (Meta). The panel explored open-source collaboration, language diversity, and equitable AI access across the continent.
In another high-profile session, “Unlocking Agentic AI – The Next Leap in African Innovation,” experts Dr. Santiago Erroz Ferrer (Lufthansa Group), Katarzyna Hewelt (Resolutiion), Abdul Kader Baba (Infrastructure South Africa), and Ravi Bhat (Microsoft Africa) discussed how autonomous AI systems could revolutionize industries while maintaining ethical design and governance.
“A Movement, Not Just an Event”
Reflecting on the festival’s mission, Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival, underscored its broader purpose:
“Africa Tech Festival has always been more than an event — it’s a movement that celebrates Africa’s ingenuity and ambition to lead in the digital age. This year is about ensuring that innovation is responsible, inclusive, and anchored in real-world impact.”
She added that the conversations around AI, cloud, connectivity, and policy reaffirm Africa’s growing role in shaping the global digital economy on its own terms.
A Week of Innovation and Collaboration
Preceding the official opening, AfricaIgnite Founder Day on 10 November showcased Africa’s brightest innovators and entrepreneurs, drawing investors and founders from across the continent. The day concluded with AFest at Grand Africa Café & Beach, an evening of networking, music, and celebration.
Running from 11 to 13 November 2025, Africa Tech Festival 2025 brings together over 15,000 delegates, 500 speakers, and 300 exhibitors across its four flagship events:
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AfricaCom – Africa’s largest telecoms and connectivity gathering
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AfricaTech – The hub for enterprise and innovation
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The AI Summit Cape Town – Where commercial AI comes to life
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AfricaIgnite – Driving growth and impact in Africa’s startup ecosystem
As Africa continues to shape its digital destiny, the call from Cape Town is clear: the continent’s digital transformation must be guided by inclusion, integrity, and innovation with purpose.
