Deep Learning Indaba @DeepIndaba

Community Showcase: @ml_collective Africa 🔥 Building world-class AI research from Africa, for the world! ML Collective Africa is a pan-African research community empowering the next generation of African AI researchers through mentorship, paper reading groups, and collaborative projects. From publishing at top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, EMNLP, AAAI, and MICCAI, to securing prestigious global fellowships, their members are making remarkable contributions to the global AI landscape. Their impact goes far beyond peer review. Through active grassroots fundraising, they have continuously supported members to attend multiple Deep Learning Indaba conferences while fostering deep collaborations with vital ecosystem partners like @MasakhaneNLP and @tonative_org . They are proving that Africa is a key creator and leader in the future of intelligence. Watch their community showcase to see how collaboration, curiosity, and research excellence are shaping the continent's tech ecosystem. Join the conversation from anywhere! While in-person registrations for Lagos are closed, you can still experience the magic, keynotes, and deep learning sessions of the Indaba online. 💻 Virtual Indaba: Registrations are open to join #DLI2026 virtually! Secure your pass here 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Community Showcase: @wimlds_Yaounde 🇨🇲✨ Empowering women and girls in AI across Cameroon! Since 2020, the Yaoundé chapter of the global (WiMLDS) Women in Machine Learning & Data Science @wimlds network has been making data science and AI accessible through technical workshops, hackathons, and dedicated mentorship. WiMLDS Yaoundé est engagée dans la vulgarisation de l'intelligence artificielle au Cameroun. À travers l'organisation de nombreux ateliers techniques, conférences et panels, la communauté relève ce défi au quotidien et continue de bâtir l'avenir en formant les nouvelles volontaires qui constitueront la relève de demain. Join the conversation from anywhere! While in-person registrations for Lagos have now closed, you can still experience the magic, keynotes, and deep learning sessions of the Indaba online. Secure your pass here 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

We're delighted to welcome Dr. Catherine Nakalembe @CLNakalembe as a keynote speaker at this year's Deep Learning Indaba in Lagos, Nigeria! Dr Nakalembe is an Assistant Professor of Geospatial AI at the University of Maryland @UofMaryland, founder of The Xylem Lab and The Xylem Institute, and Africa Lead for NASA Harvest. Her keynote is titled "Translational GeoAI Science is An African Imperative." Africa stands at a unique inflection point, home to the world's fastest-growing population, its youngest workforce, and some of its most acute development challenges, yet increasingly rich in satellite imagery, mobile data, and earth observation infrastructure. Artificial Intelligence applied to geospatial data (GeoAI) holds transformative potential for the African continent. From mapping informal settlements and monitoring crop failure to tracking deforestation and issuing early warnings of extreme events, including cyclones and landslides. Yet a persistent and costly gap persists between cutting-edge GeoAI models, largely developed in the Global North, and their deployment in Africa. This presentation introduces Translational GeoAI Science as a systematic discipline designed to bridge this gap on African terms. Dr Nakalembe holds a PhD in Geographical Science from the University of Maryland, an MS in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a BSc in Environmental Science from Makerere University, Uganda. Her honours include the Al Sumait Prize, Uganda's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Africa Food Prize, and a GEO Individual Excellence Award. She is a TED Fellow, a National Geographic Explorer, and a MacArthur Foundation/Op-Ed Public Voices Fellow. Welcome on board, Dr Nakalembe! Virtual Indaba: Registrations still open 👉deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Virtual Indaba 2026 ✨ A reminder that registrations for the Virtual Indaba 2026 are open, and we'd love for you to be part of it. The Virtual Indaba is our way of making sure that anyone, anywhere on the continent (and beyond), can join the conversation. Whether you're unable to travel to Lagos, prefer to participate from home, or are simply curious about what the Indaba is all about, this is your way in. The Virtual Indaba has always been one of our favourite parts of the gathering. It is where the Indaba truly becomes a continental conversation rather than a single room in one city. Register for the Virtual Indaba: 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… Still hoping to join us in Lagos? In-person registration is also open through the Ticket Lottery (paid): 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/applicati… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

🪘 The 2025 Impact Report is here! 🪘 Our last Indaba’s theme: Urunana (Kinyarwanda for "Hand in Hand") — beautifully reflected our mission: shaping the future of AI on the continent through solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility. In this report, we mark a deliberate shift to an impact-first lens, highlighting 6 key impact areas where we are enabling long-term, systemic change across Africa’s AI ecosystem. As the community matures, our priority moves from growth to optimisation at scale, deepening our impact to ensure no one is left behind in the digital transformation of Africa. We are deeply grateful to all our funders, partners, and volunteers whose continued support makes this work possible, and we thank you for your ongoing commitment to this shared journey. Dive into the full report to see how we are moving forward, hand in hand:👉 deeplearningindaba.com/blog/2026/05/d… #DLI2025 #Urunana

Community Showcase: @AiEswatini 🇸🇿✨ From community learnathons to international innovation stages, AI Eswatini is building a vibrant, forward-thinking AI ecosystem in the Kingdom of Eswatini and beyond. In just one year, this community has reached over 600 beneficiaries through workshops, hackathons, and collaborative projects tackling local challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Their members are proving that the future of African AI is being built everywhere, earning recognition like the SATNAC Grand Innovation Prize and contributing to global policy through the Y20 and Chatham House. They are a powerful example of what happens when students, researchers, and professionals come together to ensure their country isn't just consuming AI, but actively creating it. Watch their community showcase to see how they are driving innovation from the heart of Southern Africa. You can still secure your spot to connect with groups like AI Eswatini at the Indaba this August: In-Person Ticket Lottery (paid, closes 30 May): 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/Applicati… Virtual Indaba registration: 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Connecting Emerging AI Ecosystems Across Africa ✨ For #DLI2026, we want to ensure that our gathering in Lagos is a true representation of the entire continent. Because of this, we are making an intentional effort to connect with, listen to, and amplify AI communities from countries often underrepresented in the global AI conversation. We want to hear about your journey, the local solutions you're building, and the barriers you face in sustaining a community. If you are part of an AI community in any of the countries listed below, or know individuals doing grassroots tech work there, please complete the form, or share it with someone who should: 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 🇹🇩 Chad | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 🇱🇾 Libya | 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 🇸🇸 South Sudan | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde Selected participants may have the opportunity to attend #DLI2026 in person and share their experiences with the wider Indaba community. Every response, whether or not it leads to selection, helps shape how the Indaba reaches communities across the continent. Please complete the form by 29 May 2026 (AoE): 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

📢 Call for Reviewers 📢 We are calling on Professors, senior academics, active researchers, and PhD or MSc holders to join the Indaba 2026 reviewer pool! Reviewing is a vital opportunity to shape the quality of work presented, give back to the community, and gain behind-the-scenes insights into the academic publication process. By joining our reviewer pool, you play a direct role in elevating and strengthening the African AI research ecosystem. Who we are looking for: ◆ Professors & Senior Academics willing to share their invaluable expertise. ◆ Active Researchers looking to stay ahead of the latest trends. ◆ PhD students and MSc Holders eager to contribute and sharpen their peer-review skills. Reviewer panels are being allocated now. Register today to help us showcase the best of African AI research! 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/1ezBxv… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Community Showcase: @tonative_org ✨ What happens when native speakers, researchers, engineers, and linguists come together to shape the future of African AI? You get Tonative. From contributing African languages to global benchmarks like Global PIQA and XNLI, to building tools like VOLANG (a real-time speech-to-speech translation tool), they are ensuring African languages are represented accurately, authentically, and inclusively in modern AI systems. Their community-driven approach puts native speakers at the centre of dataset validation and evaluation, creating AI that truly sounds like us. Beyond research, their contributions at NeurIPS, CHI, and the Deep Learning Indaba are advancing language technology across the continent. Watch their community showcase to see how they are building sovereign AI for African languages and cultures. Join #DLI2026 In-Person Registration: Still open through the Ticket Lottery (paid) until 30 May 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/Applicati… Virtual Indaba: Registrations are open to join #DLI2026 online! 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

🌍 A Win for Our Collective Village The news has been slowly sinking in, and to be completely honest, I have battled with feeling worthy. The Presidency of South Africa has announced that I am a recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver—the nation's highest recognition. 🧵

Spotlighting the @LyngualLabs Community 🌍🗣️ From groundbreaking research to building inclusive AI for African languages, LyngualLabs is shaping the future of NLP across the continent. With award-winning work presented at the Deep Learning Indaba, NeurIPS, Interspeech, and NAACL, this community is pushing the boundaries of speech and language technologies for African voices. Beyond the research, they are democratizing AI education through mentorship and hands-on training for hundreds of learners globally. At the heart of their work is a simple but powerful belief: language should never be a barrier to technology. Watch their showcase to see how they are building inclusive AI, one voice at a time. In-Person Registration: Still open through the Ticket Lottery (paid) until 30 May: deeplearningindaba.com/2026/Applicati… Virtual Indaba: Registrations are open to join #DLI2026 online! 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

The Indaba Success Story: Victor Olufemi @OlufemivictorT 💡 Sometimes the best part of the Indaba is seeing where the journey leads after the sessions end. We caught up with Olufemi Victor, who shared some of his personal highlights and what he’s been able to achieve within the community. It’s stories like these that remind us of the quiet impact of connecting with one another. Reminder: In-Person Registration: Still open through the Ticket Lottery (paid) until 30 May 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/Applicati… Virtual Indaba: You can register to join the DLI2026 online! 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Spotlighting the @GritinAI Community 🇳🇬✨ Founded in 2023 in Edo State, Nigeria, GritinAI is building a vibrant, people-driven ecosystem where AI learning moves from theory into real-world action. From their flagship AI Connect conference to supporting startups in building prototypes in just 24 hours, they are creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of African AI talent. Their work in convening policymakers and researchers highlights the power of collaboration in solving local challenges. A big thank you to the @GritinAI team for their dedication to accessibility and inclusion! Reminder: In-Person Registration to attend #DLI2026 is still open through the Ticket Lottery (paid) until 30 May 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/Applicati… Virtual Indaba: Registrations are open to join the DLI2026 online! 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

⏳ The clock is ticking! There are only 5 days left to submit your nominations for the 2026 Deep Learning Indaba Awards. We are looking for the innovators, researchers, and leaders who are shaping the future of AI and excellence across Africa. Don't miss the chance to recognise excellence in these categories: ● The Kambule Doctoral Award ● The Alele-Williams Masters Award ● The Maathai Impact Award ● The Anta Diop Award Help us celebrate brilliant minds! Deadline: May 10th, 2026 at 11:59 pm CAT Nominate or Apply Here: deeplearningindaba.com/awards/ #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

🌍✨ We’re thrilled to welcome Dr David Adelani @davlanade, Assistant Professor at the @mcgillu McGill University School of Computer Science and Canada CIFAR AI Chair @CIFAR_News, as our invited speaker at this year’s Deep Learning Indaba in Lagos, Nigeria! Dr Adelani will be delivering a talk on Monday, August 3rd, at 12:00 pm GMT+1 titled: Lessons from the Trenches: Building African-Centric LLMs for African Languages. An award-winning researcher with over 50 publications, Dr Adelani has led the development of groundbreaking models like AfroXLMR and AfriqueLLM. His work is at the forefront of ensuring that low-resource African languages are prioritised in the global advancement of AI technologies. Reflecting on the vision for his talk and the spirit of the Indaba community, Dr Adelani shares: "Ultimately, this talk aims to inspire more African researchers to develop African-centric models tailored to their languages and real-world use cases." Join us for this essential conversation on the future of African AI! Registrations for the Virtual Indaba are still open! deeplearningindaba.com/2026/virtual-i… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026