The African Data Science Conference (ADSC) 2026 is currently underway from 23–26 June 2026 at the Wits Science Stadium, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The conference brings together academics, postgraduate students, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, technology practitioners and innovators to explore how data science and artificial intelligence can support African priorities, with discussions focusing on ownership, accountability, ethics and responsible AI.
Held under the theme “African Data Science, for Africa,” the conference is creating a platform where research meets practice, bringing together scientific presentations, workshops, technology demonstrations, industry engagement and expert discussions focused on building an inclusive and responsible African data ecosystem.
For Prof Bhekinkosi Moyo, Adjunct Professor at Wits Business School and Director of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), this future requires more than adopting global technology trends. It requires African institutions to ask deeper questions about power, governance and responsibility.
“Data and AI governance is a leadership question, as opposed to just compliance,” Moyo said during the panel discussion “Governing African Data Science: Accountability, Sovereignty, and the Architecture of Responsible AI.”
He argued that Africa cannot simply take existing systems and apply them without examining the history and assumptions behind them.
“If you take that data as it is, you are approaching the existing problem,” he said, highlighting that data can carry existing inequalities and biases if it is not carefully understood and managed.
The panel, chaired by Dr Nomalanga Mashinini from Wits University, brought together voices from academia and industry, including Prof Chux Daniels from the University of Pretoria, Prof Geci Karuri-Sebina from Wits University, and Mr Meshack Shabalala from Massmart, to explore questions around data sovereignty, AI accountability, responsible deployment and the role of institutions in shaping digital futures.
For Daniels, the challenge goes beyond collecting and protecting information.
“Data sovereignty should not just be about having a data set with us. It needs to go beyond that, what do we do with it?” he asked.
His reflection spoke directly to ADSC 2026’s focus on using data science to respond to Africa’s social, economic and development challenges, from inequality and unemployment to climate change, healthcare and innovation.
Moyo also connected the discussion to wider shifts happening across the global development landscape. As traditional funding models change, he noted that partnerships between universities, businesses, governments and philanthropy will become increasingly important in strengthening Africa’s digital capacity.
This focus on collaboration sits at the heart of ADSC 2026’s industry engagement agenda, which connects researchers, technology companies, employers, public institutions and innovation partners to move ideas from research into real-world solutions.
Prof Geci Karuri-Sebina challenged the idea that governance can only happen through policies written after technology has already changed.
“If we are sitting waiting for a policy to tell us how we confront AI, then I think we are really cooked,” she said.
She called for more flexible approaches that allow institutions to learn, adapt and experiment while technology continues to evolve. For her, responsible AI requires recognising that everyone involved, from researchers to developers and decision-makers, plays a role in shaping outcomes.
“Nothing is neutral,” Karuri-Sebina said, reminding the audience that every decision about data, technology and innovation carries values and assumptions.
From the industry perspective, Mr Meshack Shabalala focused on the importance of accountability when AI systems are introduced into everyday environments.
“It is quite difficult to be accountable for a model you cannot understand,” he said, explaining that responsible AI requires transparency, human oversight and systems that allow people to question how decisions are made.
As ADSC 2026 continues, the discussions reflect a wider movement towards ensuring that Africa is not only a consumer of digital technologies but an active contributor to how these technologies are designed and governed.
For Moyo, the question is ultimately about building systems that serve people.
The future of African data science, he suggested, will depend on whether institutions can move from simply managing technology to leading conversations about how it should be used, ensuring that innovation contributes to sustainable development, stronger communities and better opportunities across the continent.
