In the heart of Zambia, the Mulungushi International Conference Centre became more than just a venue, it transformed into a repository of digital imagination and collective aspiration. From April 29 to May 1, 2025, the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF2025), organized by Paradigm Initiative, emerged as a defining moment in Africa’s technological discourse emphasizing Ubuntu.
This was not merely a conference, but a profound dialogue about the continent’s digital destiny. Bringing together a mix of civil society activists, government policymakers, tech innovators, academic researchers, and grassroots organizers, DRIF2025 created a rare space where multiple voices could converge, challenge, and collectively reimagine technological futures.
Ubuntu, is a typical African philosophy emphasizing interconnectedness and collective humanity, which became the intellectual and emotional basis of the forum. Far more than an abstract concept, Digital Ubuntu was presented as a radical framework for technological development one that prioritizes human relationships, communal well-being, and contextual understanding over purely transactional or extractive models of technological engagement.
Participants argued passionately that technology should not be viewed as a neutral tool, but as a dynamic ecosystem with cultural values, historical contexts, and human experiences. This perspective challenges dominant global narratives that often present technology as a standardized, universally applicable solution.
The discussions went beyond theoretical thoughts. Concrete examples were shared of how Ubuntu principles could be integrated into technological design, policy frameworks, and digital governance structures. From community-driven digital literacy programs to collaborative AI development models, the forum highlighted innovative approaches that center African agency and local knowledge.
I was able to attend other sessions which were educational, informative and a great learning moment for me. For instance, the AI sessions represented some of the most intellectually charged moments of DRIF2025. Participants engaged in discussions that moved beyond binary narratives of technological optimism or pessimism. Instead, they critically examined AI’s complex potential for both empowerment and marginalization.
There are three key questions scrutinized from comments on the Whova platform which got my attention, that challenge conventional technological narratives. These include
- How can AI systems be designed to recognize and respect cultural diversity?
- What mechanisms can prevent algorithmic bias that historically disadvantages African communities?
- How do we ensure AI development becomes a collaborative, participatory process rather than a top-down technological imposition?
A significant portion of the AI discussions centered on democratization. Participants argued that current global AI ecosystems are fundamentally exclusionary, with development concentrated in a few technological capitals or cities. The forum called for radical reimagining of AI as a collaborative, globally distributed endeavor. For instance, the initiative can look into regional AI skills development programs, open-source AI training initiatives, policy frameworks that mandate diverse representation in AI research and development and investment in local computational infrastructure.
In other sessions, the intersection of technology and political processes received intense scrutiny. Participants dissected the increasingly complex role of digital platforms in shaping electoral discourse, highlighting both opportunities and significant risks.
Many big tech companies were under examination and were labeled hinderers of progress and democracy. The forum demanded transparent, accountable mechanisms that could protect democratic processes while preserving fundamental civil liberties from tech companies and all responsible parties. Discussions moved beyond simplistic regulatory approaches, exploring frameworks that recognize the sophisticated nature of digital political communication.
Additionally, participants critiqued the current content moderation practices, demanding deep cultural understanding, contextual awareness, and a genuine commitment to protecting marginalized voices. We were able to watch a short film on human rights and freedoms by PIN at the Londa 2024 report launch. This was informative and emotionally questioned our contributions to the online practices we all do.
The gender-focused discussions were perhaps the most emotionally charged and intellectually rigorous. Speakers from across the continent shared lived experiences of digital gender-based violence, moving beyond abstract policy discussions to center personal narratives of resilience and resistance. The forum called for comprehensive, intersectional strategies that recognize the complex ways digital technologies can both perpetuate and challenge existing power structures.
DRIF2025 distinguished itself through its commitment to genuine, substantive collaboration. The forum was not about performative conversations but about building actionable, innovative pathways for technological development. It was a declarative moment of technological self-determination. It represented a powerful assertion that Africa’s technological future will be shaped by African imagination, African values, and African agency. The true legacy of the forum will not be measured in conference proceedings or policy documents, but in the continued conversations, initiatives, and transformative actions it inspires.
We now look forward to DRIF26 with serious ambition to answer the questions raised in DRIF25. My expectations for that are that we push for implementable policy innovations balancing technological advancement with human rights, create user manual of Digital Ubuntu principles and demonstrate real implementation and action, expanded platforms for youth-driven digital collaboration and as well have a context-sensitive digital rights protection mechanism.
Thank you to the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) team, organizers, supporters, speakers and presenters, government agencies, CSOs, participants, and well-wishers. A good time was had!
