Source: Facebook / Africa Tech Festival
Across Africa, young entrepreneurs are building apps that solve everyday problems, fintech companies are transforming how people send and receive money, and African innovators are helping shape the future of technology. The continent is no longer simply adopting technology. It is creating, scaling, and exporting it worldwide.
Africa is full of ideas that could change how people live, work, and do business. But turning those ideas into opportunities requires more than innovation. It takes investment, reliable infrastructure, supportive policies, and connections that can take African businesses beyond their home markets.
These conversations will take centre stage when Africa Tech Festival returns to Cape Town from November 17 to 19, 2026, bringing together thousands of technology and business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and innovators from across Africa and beyond.
Now in its 29th edition, the festival is said to be one of Africa’s largest technology events, bringing together the people who matter to explore the technologies shaping the continent’s digital future.
The event will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). This year’s festival is built around six key pillars driving Africa’s technology growth: artificial intelligence, digital transformation, startups, cybersecurity, telecoms and connectivity, and data centers. It is also expected to attract more than 13,500 tech leaders, innovators, policymakers and decision-makers.
One of the biggest conversations will be how artificial intelligence can create real-world impact across Africa. As AI tools become increasingly common in business and everyday life, industry leaders will explore how AI can drive productivity, economic growth and new business opportunities.
Emmanuel Lubanzadio, OpenAI’s Africa Lead, will speak on AI adoption and readiness in African markets. At the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali in May, he said, “AI cannot benefit all of humanity if Africa is not included.” At the University of Lagos last year, he said, “Africa will make its own way in the AI Age, and what institutions are doing shows that promise. Africa has the abundance of talents and what we must do for that demographic strength is to empower it with democratized AI literacy. AI Literacy has to be a multi-stakeholder project on the continent.”
Source: LinkedIn / Emmanuel Lubanzadio
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Digital transformation discussions will include fintech. For Black people in the U.S. and across the diaspora, fintech is the part that hits closest to home. Digital payments and mobile banking have already transformed financial services across many African countries. The World Bank says more than $56 billion flowed into sub-Saharan Africa in remittances in 2024. Nigeria alone received an estimated $20 billion, more than the combined total of eight of the region’s other top ten recipients, including Kenya, Ghana, Senegal and DR Congo.
However, challenges remain around cross-border transactions, financial inclusion, fraud and access to affordable services. The festival’s dedicated fintech stage will explore how businesses and financial institutions can build a more connected digital economy.
The festival also offers Africa’s entrepreneurs an opportunity to get their ideas in front of people who can help them grow. Its startup programme will bring founders, investors and potential business partners together, creating opportunities to showcase new products, exchange ideas and explore funding and collaboration. With venture capital increasingly flowing into African markets, diaspora investors and professionals have more opportunities than ever to participate in the continent’s innovation economy.
Bringing together speakers from leading global companies, including OpenAI, Microsoft and Amazon, as well as influential African organizations, the festival highlights Africa’s growing role in the global digital economy.
-Among the speakers are South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi; Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George; Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa of Naspers and Prosus; Hardy Pemhiwa of Cassava Technologies; and Charles Molapisi of MTN Group. This line-up shows the scale of the discussions taking place at the festival.
Special programme activities include the Leaders in Africa Summit, the Ministerial Summit, Women in Tech, and Next Gen Talent sessions. The festival’s social gathering, Afest, is scheduled for November 17 at the Grand Africa Café & Beach.
Source: Facebook / Africa Tech Festival
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For Africans and Black professionals in the diaspora, the event is worth watching too. It is not just a technology conference; it is a window into how Africa is influencing global innovation. Africa’s growing technology sector presents opportunities for investment, partnerships, mentorship, and collaboration. It also offers a chance for diaspora professionals to contribute their experience and networks to businesses developing solutions for African markets.
Passes, programme information, and registration details are available on the official Africa Tech Festival website.
