The Deep Learning Indaba 2025: AI, Research, Rwanda, Policy and everything in-between

Few scribbles on my time at the Deep Learning Indaba in Rwanda

The Deep Learning Indaba: The pulse of the African AI ecosystem

So, this is not my first time attending the Deep Learning Indaba (DLI). I was fortunate enough to attend the first two inaugural events in both Johannesburg & Stellenbosch. I have very fond memories of both editions, having formed lifelong friendships and collaborations through them.

However, this year’s edition felt very different. It was a cross-pollination of AI research, policy, and industry, infused with a strong sense of African optimism. The DLI is now at a point where it now actively engages with key decision-makers on the continent. For me, it has undeniably become the premier AI conference in Africa—the pulse of the continent’s AI efforts.

The AI research climate on the African continent

During the conference, I spent a good deal of time supporting Mila’s recruitment efforts, and I’m especially grateful for their generous sponsorship, without which my participation would not have been possible. As part of these efforts, much of my time at the conference was spent networking and learning more about attendees and their AI research.

My biggest takeaway from the conference was that, while Africa has some critical mass of AI practitioners, a significant technical gap remains. And although it was encouraging to see strong emphasis on African challenges, truly foundational AI research was still scarce.

One might ask: why is representation in foundational AI research so important? The answer is simple—bias exists at every level of these systems, especially at their foundations. Until these shortcomings are addressed, we remain at risk of being vulnerable to the very systems we are building.

There are certainly a few actors in the space who are bridging the gap. I was particularly delighted to learn about the burgeoning Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at Wits, my alma mater, led by my former research advisor, Prof. Benjamin Rosman from the RAIL Lab. The research coming out of South Africa over the past five years—much of it led by Wits—has been nothing short of remarkable. Sister institutes, such as the University of Pretoria’s Data Science for Social Impact, as well as historically strong programs at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town, further highlight this progress.

These efforts clearly cement South Africa’s intellectual leadership on the continent in AI. But there is a pressing need to expand similar initiatives across Africa, which is, in large part, the aim of the DLI.

AI Entrepreneurship in Africa

This is a topic that I hold particularly close to my heart. While research is undoubtedly important, it is often through entrepreneurship that these ideas are realized at scale. Three names immediately come to mind: Instadeep, Lelapa, and Cassava AI.

Instadeep

I’ve known Instadeep for some time through previous editions of the DLI, and it has been remarkable to witness their growth as a company. I was fortunate to visit their offices at the vibrant Norrsken House in Kigali, and I was impressed by their expansion across Africa, especially following their acquisition by the pharmaceutical giant BioNTech.

Beyond their cutting-edge work in reinforcement learning and AI-driven drug discovery, Instadeep is deeply embedded in the African AI ecosystem, which is incredibly encouraging. Notably, the company achieved the largest AI startup exit on the continent to date—a testament to their impact.

The talent at Instadeep is truly staggering, and Africa has every reason to be proud. I anticipate that many more successful companies will emerge from their alumni in the years to come.

Lelapa

Lelapa is arguably one of the most strategically important companies for Africa in the global AI race. We are, after all, in the midst of a highly competitive push for AI supremacy.

Investment in AI across Africa still pales in comparison to North America—by orders of magnitude. The narratives are strikingly different: in North America, the focus is on leading and being first, whereas in Africa, the approach is often more protectionist and solution-driven. Like much of the world, Africa is initially a consumer of these technologies.

Lelapa stands out strategically because it is at the forefront of developing a language model by Africans, for Africans. Hearing about their progress was particularly exciting, and from what I gather, they are poised to raise the stakes and firmly plant the African flag in the global AI race.

Cassava AI

Although I unfortunately didn’t have the chance to engage with representatives from Cassava AI, their presence was impossible to miss, with branding visible all over the streets of Kigali.

The promise of bringing more compute infrastructure to the continent is an exciting one, and I was particularly thrilled to learn about their partnership with Nvidia to help make this vision a reality.

I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on their progress.

AI Policy in Africa

I was particularly moved by the illuminating speech delivered by the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Ms. Lerato D. Matabogee. I couldn’t have written a better speech myself—it addressed many of the critical gaps that need to be bridged across the continent in AI research, policy, and education. It was also clear that policymakers are actively engaged, as I had the opportunity to meet them during the conference.

I had a few questions about the stance African policymakers are willing to take on AI regulations, and from what I gathered, these issues are actively being considered and discussed. Progress is happening, and there is growing attention on these challenges. Of course, Africa faces many pressing priorities, and AI might not yet feel like the most urgent. Still, the developments are very encouraging.

Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda is nothing short of remarkable. Many of the ingredients needed to create an environment capable of competing on the global stage are clearly in place. On my flight from Kigali to Durban, I picked up the latest edition of Forbes Africa, and much of it rightly praised Kigali as a premier destination.

My heart was especially warmed upon arriving in Kigali and realizing that the country is visa-free for all Africans. Throughout the conference, I met Africans from all walks of life and from all four corners of the continent. This is the Africa we want. I strongly encourage other countries to take note—together, we are stronger. Urunana.

Message of Thanks

A special Thank You to Mila and Black@Mila for making this trip possible.