Please note that this event will be taking place online.

This online panel event explores the implications of generative AI on (and for) the African continent. Considering the central theme of Africa Week 2025 - Disrupting Distances - panelists and participants will interrogate how rapid global advances in generative AI (including in African indigenous languages) are affecting African agency in the challenging or reinforcement of global power imbalances. The panel will feature AI and cultural heritage researchers and practitioners based in Africa on the social, political and economic aspects of technological transformations on the continent.

Pannelists include Dr Andiswa Mfengu (University of Cape Town’s Department of Knowledge and Information Stweardship), and Andiswa Bukula, from the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR). From King's Department of Digital Humanities, Nanjala Nyabola will share her insights on the topic and lead the discussion. This event is hosted by the Department of Digital Humanities and the Global Digital Cultures Research Group. It is supported by the Centre for Digital Culture and the Digital Futures Institute

About the panelists

Dr Andiswa Mfengu

Dr Andiswa Mfengu is a senior lecturer in library and information science at the University of Cape Town’s Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship, with expertise in research impact assessment. Her research work focuses on holistic framework development for research impact assessment relevant to transformative and decolonizing contexts.

Andiswa Bukula

Andiswa Bukula is a language researcher at the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR). Her work focuses on how Digital Humanities approaches can be utilised to make a positive contribution to the development of the isiXhosa language.

Nanjala Nyabola

Nanjala Nyabola is a Kenyan writer, political analyst and activist who has written extensively about African society and politics, technology, international law, and feminism for academic and non-academic publications. She is currently working on her doctoral thesis in KCL’s Department of Digital Humanities.

About King's Africa Week

Hosted by the African Leadership Centre and Africa research group, Africa Week is an annual celebration of research, education and outreach activities on Africa.

King's Africa Week brings together academics, researchers and students from across King's – and offers the opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers. It also showcases King's collaboration with African universities and partners.

Find out more about Africa Week