With a good enough model, could we throw the bones and predict the impact of the Deep Learning Indaba on ourselves, and on the continent? Rarely, with the benefit of hindsight, there is a moment that stands out as wildly impactful. For me, attending the Deep Learning Indaba (DLI) in 2022 was one of those […]

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This last year has been one of our most ambitious, and throughout we  preserved the pioneering, experimental and service-driven nature of the Deep Learning Indaba’s work and culture. The theme for the Annual Indaba in 2024 was the Wolof phrase Xam Xamlé, which means to gather knowledge and share it, which perfectly captures our charitable […]

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Shakir Mohamed

Dear Indaba Community, As I reflect on my journey, from a fresh engineering graduate with a new interest in machine learning, to my first exposure to research during my MPhil in Cambridge, and now as a Google DeepMind researcher with a PhD in machine learning, I’m struck by the large role that the Indaba has […]

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The Deep Learning Indaba’s aim is geared towards fostering and strengthening the machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) community across Africa. Since our inception in 2017, the annual gathering (the Indaba) has served as a platform for African researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts to come together, share knowledge, and advance AI on the African continent. The […]

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We are thrilled to announce that the Research in Africa showcase will continue at the Deep Learning Indaba 2025, which will be held in the vibrant and beautiful country of Rwanda. A key highlight of the Indaba is the Research in Africa Days, a platform dedicated to showcasing and amplifying the voices, ideas, and ground-breaking […]

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Ubuntu is ubiquitous for me as an African, and an avid Linux user. Broadly a philosophy of humanity and connectedness [1],  I often see the term used as a self-evident truth or mantra of appreciation for a community. Yet, for this cherished and connected Indaba community, I want to reach beyond appreciation and attempt a […]

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This year’s gathering in Dakar was electrifying, inspiring, and filled us all with hope for the future of AI in Africa. I am still buzzing from it. Through the Deep Learning Indaba, we have collectively created a thriving community of AI researchers, builders, and practitioners. The growing Indaba community and our gatherings demonstrate that Africa […]

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6th September, 2024 Dakar, Senegal The GeoAI for a Sustainable Future in Africa workshop was organised by the GeoAI-Africa community in a collaborative spirit among representatives from diverse organisations such as Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Google Research, and IBM Research. The workshop brought together students, experts, innovators, and enthusiasts to explore the transformative potential […]

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The Workshop’s  Vision and the Inaugural Instalment Despite the promising future of robotics and AI, Africa’s footprint in this field remains limited. Access to robotics hardware is a significant hurdle that hinders research and development on the continent. This challenge is reflected in the underrepresentation of African researchers at international robotics conferences. Driven by the […]

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Modern neuroscience uses mathematical models and artificial intelligence to understand brain function. AI offers tools that can help us better understand brain processes, and in turn,  studying the brain can lead to more efficient, brain-inspired AI systems  (Badrulhisham et al., 2024; Macpherson et al., 2021). Despite its contributions, Africa accounts for very little of global […]

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There’s a principle in the hindu traditions called the 3 gunas. These are three phases which we are thought to enter on periodic cycles across varying timespans. I’ll start with my interpretation of sattwa. This guna (or force) represents inspiration and creativity. It is a time when ideas are by the bounty and our will […]

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The drum beats as we count the days until we reunite in Dakar, Senegal for the 6th Deep Learning Indaba. A gathering of minds and spirits that will take us one step further along our journey – a journey of inclusion, of community, and of AI researchers and practitioners galvanising across the African continent. As […]

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For the past few months, our Awards team has worked hard reviewing all applications and nominations. We thank everyone who applied or was nominated. It is inspiring and uplifting to see homegrown research done by African researchers excel. This year, we have Awards in four categories: the Cheikh Anta Diop early-to-mid career, Thamsanqa Kambule Doctrial, […]

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Deep Learning Indaba 2024: Africa’s biggest AI Community Gathers in Dakar, Senegal Dakar, Senegal (August, 2024) – The Deep Learning Indaba (DLI), Africa’s premier machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) event, returns for its 6th edition, promising an inspiring and collaborative experience for the continent’s AI community. The event will be held from September 1st […]

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Over the years I have been able to witness the power of building together through the incredible work that is achieved by the organisers and sponsors of the Deep Learning Indaba. The planning of the conference takes less than one year, with each team working to place a block towards achieving milestones and working together […]

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2019 was my first attendance at the Deep Learning Indaba (DLI) following the organisation of the first IndabaX event in Senegal that same year. I was so excited to be going to the Nairobi airport, full of enthusiasm at the idea of meeting enthusiasts and experts in the field of artificial intelligence. This field, which […]

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The IndabaX Central Steering Committee is thrilled to announce the launch of the IndabaX Webinar Series 2024. This series is part of a transformative initiative designed to educate, inspire, and empower an African audience with the knowledge and tools needed to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) effectively. With a robust line-up of topics and expert speakers, […]

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One of the most important awards at Deep Learning Indaba is the Maathai Impact Award. This award, rightfully honours Prof. Wangari Maathai, and encourages and recognises work by African innovators that shows impactful application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. For Kenyans, Wangari Maathai is not just the Nobel Peace Prize winner, she is the […]

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The missing continent is a known phrase in the Indaba community. It is one of the phrases that sparked the Indaba movement. Those who have attended Deep Learning Indaba are familiar with the initial email thread that went between the founders of Deep Learning Indaba, to address the missing continent. From a few attendees in […]

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We are releasing our annual report that provides a high-level overview of the work of the Indaba over 2023. We share this as a record of the work of the Indaba, as a form of accountability to our beneficiaries and donors, and as a source of lessons for other organisations like ours. Please read and […]

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My name is Aya Salama. Since 2019, I’ve had the privilege of being involved with the Indaba community, starting when I first applied to host an IndabaX in Egypt. Throughout the years, I’ve contributed to various committees including the IndabaX Steering Committee, Programme Committee, and Applications and Selections Committee, and I’ve even dabbled in sponsorship […]

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The Deep Learning Indaba (DLI) is the annual meeting of the African machine learning and AI community with the mission to strengthen African AI. This year, it will be taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from the 1st to the 7th of September 2024 at Amadou Mahtar Mbow University (UAM), comprising keynotes, tutorials, workshops, panel discussions, […]

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Becoming creators of machine learning  We have heard calls for us, the African Machine Learning (ML) community, to move beyond being consumers of the latest ML techniques (such as 1 and 2). Whether we are solving African problems or core theoretical challenges, we should be part of creating and building this technology. We shouldn’t be […]

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The Deep Learning Indaba 2024  has been announced officially ON since the start of the year ! The new edition will be taking place in Dakar, Senegal from the 1st to the 7th of September.  With a new edition, this year’s awards has been announced with a new category this year !  As always, we are […]

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In the New Year, Shakir Mohamed (Deep Learning Indaba Co-founder and Trustee) put forward an inspiring message to the Deep Learning Indaba organisers, aptly titled “Planting the Flag of Knowledge in 2024 and Beyond,”. This message quoted Mariama Bâ’s, a Senegalese author, equally poignant post from her first book titled, ‘So Long a Letter‘ – […]

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In 2024, we will be gathering in Dakar, Senegal for the sixth annual Deep Learning Indaba. While there will be many announcements to follow with more information about the event and the application process, we’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the Indaba’s journey and look to the future. A Milestone Year: 2023 […]

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I was first introduced to the Deep Learning Indaba in 2018. At the start of this year, I had quite literally packed my bags and left a career in Physiotherapy to start from scratch in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to this, I’d been working as a clinical physiotherapist at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital […]

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This has been an interesting year, with the rest of the world starting to wake up to the power and potential of AI. Fortunately, the African AI community has been waking up for the last few years, in time to make sure that Africa has a seat at this very important table. The 2023 Deep […]

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Before the rest of this intro I want us all to thank all the organisers, volunteers and participants of the 2023 Deep Learning Indaba in Ghana. You made it the experience that it was.  Now, on to some thoughts post the Indaba to inspire the next year. It is time to stretch and test our […]

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The Indaba community inspired me and reopened my eyes, seeing people to look up to from all over Africa succeeding in industry and academia made me realise that all hardships can be harnessed, that I can myself be part of the African and Global AI advancement. Anonymous Travelling to Accra, meeting like-minded people, engaging in […]

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I arrive at the venue a few hours early to check the setup and prepare for registration. It’s almost eerily quiet, just the occasional light hum of activity around as volunteers, suppliers and sponsors make last minute adjustments. The calm before the storm. All those months of late nights preparing, the moment has finally come! […]

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As a Ghanaian machine learning practitioner in the United States, I’m constantly searching for ways to contribute to capacity building efforts in Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa. When I stumbled upon the Deep Learning Indaba in 2018, I couldn’t help but join forces with this great organisation to promote their noble […]

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A community, by my layman definition, is a group of individuals with a shared mission, goal or purpose. There should ideally be leadership, with distinct roles, policies and platforms that govern the interaction of the community. Communities can be large, vibrant ecosystems. They may not be as organised as we think, maybe things just work […]

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وما نيل المطالب بالتمني  *** و لكن تؤخذ الدنيا غلابا وما استعصى على قوم منال  *** إذا الإقدام كان لهم ركابا The desired goals are not attained through mere wishes  But rather the world is conquered through endeavour No achievement is beyond the reach of those Who take on the road with determination أحمد شوقي […]

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It is now at least seven years since the first seeds for the Deep Learning Indaba were planted. I have often wondered what the causal factors are behind the phenomenal growth and impact of the Deep Learning Indaba community. There are communities and teaching events in two thirds of the countries in Africa now. Our […]

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We have an Indaba (gathering) ‘refresh meeting’ every year to reconnect and refocus as a group. This is the Indaba’s Indaba, and I get the chance to put forward a new vision for us as a working group each year. For 2023, we used Kwame Nkruma’s famous line from his 1960 speech, We face neither […]

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In 2023, we launched the Deep Learning Indaba’s newsletter Sauti Yetu | Our Voice. Each newsletter features progress updates from the organising committee, some recommendations for reading material and important dates for your diary. Notably, each newsletter also features a letter to the community, written by members of the community. These letters always carry a […]

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Kambule Doctoral Award The Kambule Doctoral Award, held in honour of one of South Africa’s greatest mathematician and teacher, Dr Thamsanqu W. Kambule, recognises  excellence in research and writing by doctoral candidates at African universities, in any area of computational and statistical sciences, and whose work demonstrates excellence through technical rigour, significance of contribution, and […]

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The Deep Learning Indaba is approaching very fast, and we are very excited to launch our second edition of the Ideathon! Each year brings new experiences to the Indaba. One of last year’s adventures was a new competition aiming at fostering innovation and building bridges across the continent. The Ideathon took shape to provide a […]

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Deep Learning Indaba 2023 What are the Kambule and Alele-Williams Awards? The Thamsanqa Kambule and Grace Alele-Williams Awards recognise and encourage excellence in research and writing by doctoral and master’s candidates, respectively, at African universities, in any area of computational and statistical sciences.  The Kambule Doctoral Award celebrates African research excellence: its recipients uphold Thamsanqa […]

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Deep Learning Indaba 2023 What is the Maathai Impact Award? The Wangari Maathai Impact Award encourages and recognises work by African innovators that shows impactful application (including but not limited to technical, societal,  environmental, and economic) of machine learning and artificial intelligence. This award reinforces the legacy of Wangari Maathai in acknowledging the capacity of […]

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By Amelia Taylor Machine Learning (ML) is the talk of the tech-town. It is a tool everyone can use and it holds many promises: from being able to reveal hidden information in large data to being able to predict the “future” based on past data and sophisticated heuristics.  ML is seen as the swiss army […]

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The IndabaX-nometer is rising higher! This post is about celebrating the IndabaX events which are taking place in African countries in 2023! Entering its 5th year, the annual local Deep Learning Indaba events called IndabaX, are growing stronger. This year, in 2023, a record number of 36 countries in Africa will organise IndabaX events!    […]

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It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the Indaba Awards 2023, a celebration of African research excellence and impactful work in Artificial Intelligence. The awards recognise the outstanding work of individuals, teams, and communities who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and benefiting local communities across the continent through […]

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The Indaba is a learning opportunity, but also an opportunity to connect different actors in the continent around Machine Learning and related topics. This proposal took shape after hearing about the successful experiences from a sister summer school in a different part of the world to build research bridges across the borders. We propose therefore […]

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Amal Rannen

#masirouna #indaba2022 مصيرنا In a few weeks, the African AI community will gather again for the 2022 Deep Learning Indaba. We’ve come a long way since the very first Indaba in 2017. At that first Indaba we dreamt of a community of people–all curious, innovative and with unique ideas– who would shape the destiny of […]

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The Deep Learning Indaba will meet again in August 2022 in Tunisia. Strengthen African Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence by nominating yourself to join this year’s organising committee. Nominate yourself or someone you know by completing this form by 10 April 2022. Deep Learning Indaba 2022 The COVID19 Pandemic prevented us from hosting the Deep […]

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After not taking place these past two years, we excited to announce the Deep Learning Indaba for 2022 that will be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from the 21st to the 26th of August. Applications to participate are now open. An Indaba in 2022 While the global pandemic still makes planning uncertain, we believe that we […]

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We hope you’ll nominate yourself to join the IndabaX steering committee, which is the leadership team that oversees the IndabaX programme. We are seeking 4-5 new members to join the IndabaX leadership. Nominations due by 31 October 2021. To nominate simply send an email answering a few questions (see below). IndabaX and our Community’s Health […]

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Shakir Mohamed

The 2021 IndabaX meetings will take place in 24 countries across our African continent, happening throughout this year. We are proud to enable these communities and future leaders. Even during this ongoing period of global pandemic, African machine learning is strong and thriving. deeplearningindaba.com/indabax An IndabaX is a locally-organised Indaba (meeting) that helps spread knowledge […]

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Amal Rannen

In executing our mission to Strengthen African Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, this year, instead of hosting our usual activities (the annual Indaba, IndabaX, or the Maathai and Kambule awards), we are experimenting with several new programs, one of these being the IndabaX-AI4D Innovation Grants, which aim to fund 6-month projects that support AI research […]

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Kathleen Siminyu

The coronavirus pandemic has spread across the world, and its effects are being felt across our continent, with 16 people already having died from Covid-19 in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Sudan. The Indaba leadership has been tracking the development of the coronavirus and given the seriousness and uncertainty regarding the spread of the virus, have […]

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Shakir Mohamed

This year we say Sauti Yetu/Our Voice. Our voice can be strong; our voice can create change; we have many different voices that must be heard. We hope that you will use the Indaba as part of your voice.

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Shakir Mohamed

We also release our report summarising the outcomes of this programme and share its key recommendations.

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Shakir Mohamed

The 2019 IndabaX meetings will take place in 27 countries across our African continent, during the months of March to May. We are proud to enable these communities and future leaders. African machine learning is strong and thriving. An IndabaX is a locally-organised, one-day Indaba (meeting) that helps spread knowledge and build capacity in machine […]

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Shakir Mohamed

On the 10th of September this year (2017), we took our first uncertain step through a doorway. For all the months prior, starting in February, we operated in the realm of imagination, of planning, of spreadsheets and budgets, driven by a mission to ‘Strengthen African Machine Learning’. Crossing the threshold that Sunday afternoon, we entered an […]

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Shakir Mohamed

Across the African continent, our communities gather to create spaces where we share our experiences, seek advice, and discuss the pressing issues of the day. In Zulu, this type of gathering is called an Indaba. This September, the first Deep Learning Indaba will take place: a shared space to learn, to share, and to debate the state-of-the-art in […]

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Shakir Mohamed