The African Data Science Conference (ADSC) 2026 has opened at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, bringing together academics, postgraduate students, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, technology practitioners and innovators to explore the future of data science and artificial intelligence in Africa.
Held from 23–26 June 2026 at the Wits Science Stadium, the conference is convened under the theme “African Data Science, for Africa”, and focuses on strengthening research, postgraduate development, industry collaboration and responsible, context-driven approaches to data science and AI across the continent.
At the centre of discussions on governance, accountability and digital sovereignty, Wits Professor Bhekinkosi Moyo, Associate Professor at Wits Business School and Director of the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), called for stronger homegrown approaches to AI governance that reflect African realities.
Speaking during the panel discussion “Governing African Data Science: Accountability, Sovereignty, and the Architecture of Responsible AI,” Prof Moyo said that the future of data and AI in Africa must be understood as a leadership and sovereignty question, not only a technical or compliance issue.
“This is not just about compliance frameworks. It is about leadership, and about where we are situated as African institutions in shaping the data systems that define us,” said Moyo. “If we adopt external systems without interrogating their assumptions, we risk reproducing existing inequalities.”
He further stressed that data sovereignty must go beyond ownership and storage to include value creation and decision-making power.
“We have to ask what we do with our data, how we turn it into value, and how it contributes to sustainable and inclusive development on the continent,” he said.
The conference programme brings together a wide range of disciplines, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, public health, climate analytics, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, governance and innovation. It features keynote addresses, research presentations, workshops, poster sessions, exhibitions and structured industry engagement.
ADSC 2026 also places strong emphasis on industry participation, connecting universities, technology companies, financial institutions, policymakers and research organisations to strengthen collaboration and accelerate responsible AI adoption. The programme is designed to bridge academic research and real-world application, while supporting African talent development and innovation ecosystems.
Panel discussions at the conference continue to explore key issues including data sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, AI governance frameworks, institutional capacity, and the role of African universities in producing graduates who are both technically skilled and governance-literate.
As discussions continue, Prof Moyo’s intervention has framed one of the central questions of the conference: how African institutions can move from being users of global technologies to active shapers of governance systems that reflect African priorities.
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