By Ayomide Otitoju
Africa Tech Festival, the continent’s most influential technology event, has announced an expanded line-up of speakers for its 2025 edition, further cementing its status as the leading platform driving conversations around Africa’s digital transformation. The event will gather influential voices from government, business, innovation, and sport to explore strategies shaping the continent’s tech-driven future.
Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, will deliver the ministerial welcome and opening address, underscoring the host nation’s commitment to inclusive connectivity, digital literacy, and policy frameworks that support a thriving digital economy.
Also joining the line-up is Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, former Springbok rugby star and founder of The Beast Foundation, which empowers African youth to realize their potential both on and off the field. From the enterprise technology space, Adil El Youssefi, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Data Centres, will discuss advancing Africa’s AI readiness through sustainable and scalable data infrastructure.
Other high-profile speakers include Mlindi Mashologu, Deputy Director-General for Digital Society and Economy at South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies; Obed Frimpong, Chief Information Security Officer at First National Bank Ghana Ltd; and Charles Murito, Regional Director for Government Affairs & Policy (Sub-Saharan Africa) at Google. Their contributions will span AI governance, cloud innovation, and the development of a digitally skilled African workforce.
“Africa Tech Festival continues to be the continent’s leading platform for creating national digital strategies, driving economic growth, and fostering public-private collaboration,” said Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival. “The addition of these speakers reinforces the Festival’s cross-sector influence — it’s where vision meets action and where leaders, innovators, and changemakers come together to inspire real transformation.”
Now in its 28th year, the Africa Tech Festival 2025 will be held from 11 to 13 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The event will feature four flagship programmes — AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and The AI Summit Cape Town — addressing the continent’s key digital priorities under the themes of responsible innovation, inclusive investment, connectivity for development, and policy harmonisation.
