Africa Tech Festival Kicks Off. Held in Cape Town, South Africa, the festival brought together innovators, policymakers, and investors from across the continent to discuss how to build a more inclusive digital future for Africa.
During the opening ceremony, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, emphasized the importance of establishing strong digital foundations across the continent. Malatsi said:
“If Africa is to benefit from the next wave of innovation, especially in artificial intelligence, we must get three things right at scale: affordable connectivity and devices, reliable digital public infrastructure, and practical digital literacy that meets people where they are.”
“Emerging technologies like AI will be tools of opportunity, not symbols of exclusion. We will turn prototypes into products, and products into public value to build a more inclusive digital future for our continent,” he added.
Now in its 28th edition, the festival is expected to host 17,000 delegates, 300 exhibitors, and 450 speakers.
Under the theme “Responsible Innovation, Inclusive Investment, Connectivity for Development, and Policy Harmonization,” the event features four main segments: AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and AI Summit Cape Town.
Africa has made significant progress in the technology sector in recent years, and this festival is seen as one of the most tangible examples of that advancement.