Africa is entering a new phase of digital investment. Significant capital is flowing into AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, subsea cables, fibre networks and data centres across the continent, governments are shaping AI policy, and enterprises are moving from strategy to implementation. Africa Tech Festival, the continent’s longest running and most influential technology event, is where these conversations come together. Today, the event unveiled an expanded speaker line-up for its 29th edition, bringing together the leaders shaping Africa’s digital future and the decisions driving investment across the continent.
Hon. Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, whose department is a strategic partner of the event, will offer insight into building an inclusive, globally competitive digital economy. Global technology companies are represented by Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Africa, at Google, who will speak to the scale of investment flowing into the continent’s cloud and AI infrastructure; Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI, focusing on AI adoption and readiness across African markets; and Robert Koen, Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, at Amazon.
They are joined by leaders from Africa’s telecommunications sector, including Enzo Scarcella, Chief Consumer Officer at MTN Group; Norbert Prihoda, Chief Executive Officer of Tunisie Telecom; and Daddy Yogo Ngbabendo, Group Vice President, Solutions & Architecture at Airtel Africa.
Also joining the programme are Marcel Louw, Managing Director, Africa, at Digital Realty, bringing a data centre perspective, alongside enterprise leaders Thato Sopeng, Vice President, Information Technology, at Sasol, and Linda Oniwe, Senior Vice President, TMT, Corporate and Investment Banking, at Standard Bank Group.
This speaker line-up reflects the biggest areas of investment and change happening across Africa today: connectivity, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, startups and enterprise transformation, and the breadth of sectors, regions and perspectives shaping this year’s programme.
David Monaghan, Vice President of Africa Tech Festival, said: “What stands out this year is the pace of collaboration across industries. Investment is flowing, partnerships are forming, and the leaders joining us in Cape Town are turning conversation into action on some of Africa’s biggest digital challenges. That’s the role Africa Tech Festival plays: bringing people together to get things done.”
Many more senior leaders will be announced in the coming months, including ministers, enterprise CIOs, telecom operators, investors and global technology companies.
Africa Tech Festival 2026 marks the event’s 29th edition, returning to the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 16 to 19 November, with content and expo sessions running from 17 to 19 November.
Registration for Africa Tech Festival 2026 is now open and can be completed through the official portal (https://apo-opa.co/4pTVq6T).
Africa Fact: West Africa had bling culture in 1067 AD. One source mentions that when the Emperor of Ghana gives audience to his people: “he sits in a pavilion around which stand his horses caparisoned in cloth of gold: behind him stand ten pages holding shields and gold-mounted swords: and on his right hand are the sons of the princes of his empire, splendidly clad and with gold plaited into their hair . . . The gate of the chamber is guarded by dogs of an excellent breed . . . they wear collars of gold and silver.”
Gunhawk
I was pretty surprised to learn Elon Musk was born in South Africa
I thought he was born in Mad-at-gas-car
Bad Beh8vior
India: You have two cows. You create a new country to banish all your people who might eat them.