Situating AI: Conversations on African Ecosystems
Written To Not Remain, Tewa Barnosa | S+T+ARTS Prize Africa 2025 – Award of Distinction. © Photo: Koosje Koolbergen
A series of online talks and conversations bring together artists, researchers, and technologists to sit with questions on AI in various African contexts, as part of S+T+ARTS Afropean Intelligence program. Listen to and watch a selection of these thinkers unpack topics from AI sovereignty, mapping and architectures to time travel and the term ‘Afrofuturism’.
The S+T+ARTS Afropean Intelligence program sought to critically explore the role of AI by supporting dialogue, artistic and research practices that challenge dominant technological narratives. As part of the project, CHRONIQUES curated a series of 8 online talks bringing together researchers, technologists, and cultural practitioners from Africa and Europe. Rooted in live exchange and collective reflection, these conversations are designed to question how artificial intelligence is affecting our societies.
In addition ‘S+T+ARTS Afropean Intelligence Voices’ was curated as a podcast series and a space for meta reflection. Every episode invites artists and researchers to expand the meanings of ‘artificial intelligence’ and how it already intersects with African cultures, memory, identity, and creative practices. These conversations unfold as an open format, going beyond technical or solution-driven discussions. Echoing the artistic residencies supported by the programme, this series nurtures ethical and situated understandings of technological futures. The podcasts include: (1) Rewriting the Code: Decolonizing Narratives with artist Tewa Barnosa and narrative expert, professor and researcher Lusike Mukhongo, (2) Time Travellers: Memory, Futures, and the loop of AI with antidisciplinary artist and researcher Ethel Tawe and digital artist and creative (afro)technologist Uzoma Orji, (3) Should we still talk about Afrofuturism? With lawyer and policy researcher Adwoa Ankoma and cultural operator Patrick Mudekereza, as well as 6 other podcasts available here.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST SELECTIONS ON C& SOUND.
WATCH THE TALKS BELOW:
AI IN CONTEXT: DEVELOPMENT, SOVEREIGNTY, AND THE AFRICAN DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM
With Tatenda Tavingeyi, Project Coordinator of an AI Of Our Own, Koketso Masuluke, Founder of Duende Meraki Cartel and Paulin Melatagia, Associate Professor at the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
LOCATED RESEARCH: THE CITY AS A SITE OF MEMORY AND JUSTICE
With Dr Huda Tayob, Architectural historian Senior Tutor at the Royal College of Art, Johanna Sadiki, Research Associate and PhD Candidate and Omar Nagati, co-founder of CLUSTER
RECLAIMING THE FUTURE: FROM LOW-TECH MATERIALS TO AFROFUTURIST IMAGINATION
With Cyrus Kabiru multi-disciplinary artist and Tracian Meikle Interim Director, 32º East.
The Artist Residency Centre (ARC) in Botswana
Seed Archives: Thabo Weaves a Cocoon for Listening
Naafia Naahemaa: What Appears Solid Is Already In Motion
We're Still Here: Thero Makepe’s Visual Jazz
C& Highlights of 2025
