Cultivating Digital Humanism in Africa: Reflections from the Kigali Summer School
Introduction
Before the Summer School in Kigali, we felt both excited and a bit nervous about digital humanism in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the big digital and economic gaps in the area and our first encounter with the topic. Our concerns became clearer during the five-day event at Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. On the Sunday before the program started, we visited the Nyandungu Urban Wetland Ecotourism Park. This visit to nature helped us think about using technology in a way that focuses on people, getting us ready for the days ahead:
Day 1
Group photo of all the participantsThe welcoming session, led by Tim Brown and Joao William, effectively established the foundational themes of the program. While formal individual introductions of all the participants were deferred, participants were encouraged to self-identify when posing questions or seeking clarification. Immediately following this plenary, Hannes Werthner and George Metakides commenced the “Introduction to Digital Humanism,” which included an engagement with the Vienna Digital Humanism manifesto. Key insights from this session underscore the imperative of developing human-centered technologies, ensuring that technological advancements are responsive to diverse societal realities to promote fairness and equity, and broadly leveraging technology for universal human benefit while proactively mitigating the risk of artificial intelligence widening the digital divide. The session wrapped up on a positive note, but everyone was still pretty much strangers. So, a group photo was the perfect way to kick off some bonding!
Ricardo Baeza-Yates led a session on the “Introduction to Responsible AI”, underscoring the critical necessity of human oversight in all AI-driven tasks. He highlighted a significant linguistic disparity: while over 7,000 languages are spoken globally, even the most advanced AI systems currently support a maximum of approximately 200. This implies that 70% of the world’s population does not communicate in languages that large language models predominantly utilize. This observation served as a central point of reflection for the participants.
The subsequent session, expertly facilitated by Shiko Gitau, focused on the “Africa Declaration on AI” and proved particularly timely. While the content of this session appeared new in its formal presentation, its themes resonated with many attendees. The discourse guided participants through a comprehensive overview of Africa’s current standing and prospective trajectory in artificial intelligence. A pivotal outcome of this session was the emphasis on AI’s profound transformative potential for the African continent, underpinned by principles advocating for sovereignty, inclusivity, and robust safeguards, aiming to position Africa as a global leader in ethical AI. Furthermore, key commitments articulated included the cultivation of talent, the establishment of data frameworks, the development of computing infrastructure, market expansion, substantial investment (including a proposed $60 billion fund by African governments), and the implementation of effective governance structures. The session’s conclusion displayed a notable surge in optimism among participants, particularly concerning the prospective opportunities for synergistic engagement between industry and academia.
The day’s proceedings concluded with the “Introduction to Use Cases & Project Group Formation” session. During this segment, we (Anne and Jack) were assigned to Group K, initially comprising six members, subsequently expanding to seven. The designated task for Group K involved a comprehensive analysis of Large Language Models (LLMs), with particular emphasis on evaluating ChatGPT 4.0 accuracy, cultural sensitivity, empathy, intelligibility, usability, and associated risks regarding select African Languages. Despite the intellectually demanding nature of the day, the atmosphere remained cordial, and discussions seamlessly continued during the commute to our respective accommodations, in anticipation of the subsequent day’s activities. We were starting to see how Digital Humanism connects to ALL!
Day 2
The day commenced with a discernible shift towards greater collegiality among participants, as evidenced by informal networking and photographic engagements. The formal proceedings were initiated by Francis Saa-Dittoh, who delivered an insightful presentation on “Internet/Web Infrastructure in Africa,” emphasizing the critical importance of connectivity for human development. This topic resonated with me, aligning closely with my doctoral research, which explores the implementation, adoption, and efficacy of public WiFi initiatives in mitigating the digital divide and expanding internet access to the estimated 2.6 billion offline individuals. Anne diligently encouraged comprehensive note-taking throughout this session.
The “Trustworthy AI and Ethics” session, facilitated by Abebe Geletu, underscored the imperative of critical engagement with technological advancements rather than uncritical adoption. Geletu stressed the importance of localizing technology to specific contexts, likening it to the understanding one gains from preparing a meal oneself. He elaborated on the foundational role of ethics and trust in AI, advocating for their integration to prevent adverse outcomes, safeguard rights, and foster principles of fairness, inclusivity, and social justice while actively mitigating prejudice. A significant emphasis was placed on developing robust strategies for consistently enforcing ethical guidelines and cultivating trustworthiness in AI systems. Although the session’s delivery may have been less dynamic than preceding ones, its substantive content was undeniably critical and valuable.
Hannes Werthner returned to lead a session titled “Platforms and Power.” His central thesis advocated for reducing undue reliance on established digital platform providers, such as Microsoft and Google, which he characterized as exhibiting a “winner-takes-all” mentality and leveraging their market dominance to shape digital ecosystems to their advantage. Werthner further pointed out that power manifests in various forms within the digital realm, including data as a source of power, infrastructural power, and power exerted over society and democratic processes. A primary recommendation emerging from this session was the promotion of open-source infrastructure as a strategic approach to mitigate over-reliance on major technology corporations.
Tim Brown facilitated a highly engaging session on “Digital Transformation in Government Services,” illustrating the theoretical underpinnings with practical examples from projects undertaken by Carnegie Mellon University Africa in collaboration with the Rwandan government, specifically citing initiatives like the Upanzi Network and CyLab. This session was characterized by a significant degree of participant-driven interaction and concurrent data collection.
The sessions for the day concluded, and we reconvened with our Project K group, where we collectively decided to evaluate the performance of approximately six African languages: Dholuo, Kikuyu, Kamba, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and TWI (Akan dialect) on ChatGPT.
Day 3
The day began with a panel discussion on “Societal Impact of Technology on wellbeing and cohesion,” moderated by George Metakides and Shikoh Gitau, which explored several critical themes: the nexus between AI and the Digital Divide, the pursuit of a human-centric digital future independent of dominant technology corporations, the role of social cohesion (including civil society engagement), the ongoing debate concerning AI regulation, and the implications of AI for education. This highly interactive session yielded diverse perspectives from participants, reflecting the varied stages of digital development across African nations. Notably, some critical viewpoints emphasized that while digital advancement is crucial for most African states, it is imperative to prioritize the most pressing community needs before implementing broad-based projects, as a lack of contextual understanding could hinder adoption. Nevertheless, a consensus emerged that, despite immediate challenges, societies cannot defer all other developmental needs pending the resolution of all societal issues before initiating Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) projects, albeit with prudent caution.
Bukelwa Ngoqo introduced the concept of “Digital Ubuntu: Indigenous Thinking in Digital Humanism,” elucidating Ubuntu as an African philosophical principle signifying “humanity to others,” encapsulated by the saying, “I am what I am because of who we all are.” Ngoqo underscored the imperative for African technologists to embed Ubuntu principles within their design methodologies, aiming to foster technology that cultivates and reflects the Ubuntu spirit. Consequently, Ubuntu emerged as a buzzword throughout the summer school.
Thomas McManus presented on “The Role of Technology in African Education Systems,” prompting participants to consider fundamental questions such as the ultimate purpose of education and the implications of disregarding technology in preparing learners for future employment opportunities. He underscored the importance of maintaining human agency and values at the core of educational processes, irrespective of the technological advancements adopted.
Adele Botha concluded the day’s sessions with a presentation on “Local Communities and Technology.” This presentation featured case studies from South Africa that illustrated how local contexts influenced curriculum improvements, underscoring the critical need for a thorough understanding of the situation before project implementation. It was observed that project implementers, despite being prepared to deploy their models, encountered significant challenges related to connectivity, device scarcity, and stakeholder resistance in the field. These findings resonate with the observations of Paul and Anne in their work “A Decade Later in Ghana,“ emphasizing the prerequisite of comprehending the local landscape before initiating any development interventions.
Subsequently, our Project K group reconvened to continue the evaluation of the six selected African languages. We collectively established a set of criteria for assessment: accuracy, defined by factual correctness; empathy, gauged by the model’s comprehension of emotional or sensitive topics; intelligibility, determined by the clarity, logical coherence, and comprehensibility of responses; cultural sensitivity, assessed by the model’s adherence to and understanding of local norms and customs; usability, measured by the direct applicability of generated answers in real-world digital services; and risks, identified through the detection of potential errors, confusion, or biases in the output.
As dusk settled, and fueled by the newfound spirit of Ubuntu, Anne, Mary (our newest ICT4D.at recruit!), and Jack embarked on a culinary adventure through Kigali’s delicious offerings, all while pondering the profound concept of “Digital Ubuntu.” It was a night of great food, even better company, and thoughts as rich as the local cuisine!
Day 4
Digital Public Goods
Led by Assane Guaye, Day 4 began on a high note with an introduction to Digital Public Goods (DPG), critical for the Global South as they address issues such as affordability, sovereignty, vendor lock-in, and enable innovation. Pushing this is the Upanzi Network based at CMU Africa in Kigali, and it is dedicated to creating, testing, innovating, and assisting in implementing digital public goods across the African continent. There was a rallying call for participants to join the Network. In his talk, Assane emphasized key DPG standards such as using approved open-source licenses, avoiding dependencies on goods under restrictive licenses, and ensuring clear ownership of assets. These principles strongly resonate with the advocacy of ICT4D.at for open standards, making it refreshing to see the NGO’s goals aligned with established global standards.
What stood out was the recognition that no society can build inclusive digital futures on closed or restrictive foundations. By prioritizing open-source, shared digital infrastructure, DPGs offer Africa the chance to leapfrog dependency cycles, foster local innovation, and ensure that digital tools are shaped by and for the communities they serve. In this sense, digital public goods are not just technical standards; they manifest digital humanism, embedding fairness, collaboration, and accessibility at the heart of inclusive technology.
Recommender Systems and LLMs
This session, led by Julia Neidhardt, introduced us to how recommender systems work and the questions that arise in their design, such as reinforcing narrow preferences and biases. Key discussions focused on what these systems should optimize for, including accuracy, diversity, novelty, serendipity and fairness.
We then explored the growing impact of large language models (LLMs) on recommender systems. LLMs open up possibilities for deeper personalization, more natural and engaging conversations, and integrating multimodal inputs, expanding how recommendations can be generated and experienced. This session wrapped up the morning and ushered us into lunch, giving us time to recharge before the afternoon activities.
Visits to Genocide Museum and Art Gallery
In the afternoon, we visited the Genocide Museum and an Art Gallery to deepen our understanding of the history of Rwanda and particularly the 1994 Genocide. Such memorials serve as powerful reminders, preserving the truth against denial and ensuring the immense human suffering of that period is never forgotten. Walking through the exhibits, one could sense how the genocide had momentarily left Rwanda lifeless, and this is captured in one of the quotes, “Rwanda was dead”. Despite such a challenging period, it was still evident that Rwanda had chosen resilience over despair. This period’s happenings remind us always to embrace each other under the spirit of UBUNTU, focusing on how unity can transform pain into growth.
We also visited an art gallery with an inspirational message from the founder, King Ingabo, encouraging everyone to be a dreamer and pursue their aspirations. His words underscored Rwanda’s story: that vision and determination can ignite hope and create a future full of possibilities even from devastation.
While a sad conclusion of the day, the experience reminded us of the importance of humanism: building a world that recognizes every individual with a right to thrive. This also presented technology’s ongoing role in enabling us to achieve our human goals and values. In our present day, this resonates with the principles of digital humanism, which call for technology to be developed and applied in ways that prioritize human values, rights, and well-being. Just as Rwanda has drawn on the spirit of UBUNTU to rebuild and progress, so must our digital future be shaped to respect our shared humanity, ensuring that innovation serves as a tool for inclusion. Such tools and innovations will help in bridging gaps for underrepresented groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and communities whose languages remain marginalized in digital spaces.
Day 5
Day 5 was spread across three segments: Final takeaways of the program, project work, and group presentations.
The final takeaway of the program was led by George Metakides, where we started by reflecting on the cross-cutting themes across the sessions. These reflections highlight the urgency and complexity of shaping technology in ways that serve humanity in a World of diversity. Cross-cutting themes are as described:
- Grounding technology in Human-Centred values: The Ubuntu approach to humanity highlighted the importance of solidarity, empathy, and mutual care in shaping digital futures. Equally, the discussions emphasized that language matters, whether in how technologies are designed or how narratives are framed, language can include or exclude, empower or marginalize.
- Context Matters: A recurring call was the need to contextualize and adapt technology to local realities. What works in one region may not translate seamlessly to another, especially given cost differences and varying regional priorities, particularly present in the Global South.
- Democracy and Voice: Technology governance must adopt democratic approaches that amplify underrepresented voices, especially from the Global South. This is not just about inclusion; it is about ensuring that those most affected help shape future systems.
- Philosophy and Power: Perhaps most powerfully, we were reminded that no technology is neutral. Every system carries underlying philosophical assumptions and values, making it vital to question whose vision of the future it reflects.
- AI as a Cross-Cutting concern: A strong theme throughout the Summer School was the role of AI and its far-reaching implications. While it has several benefits and can augment human capacity, we reflected on how AI affects every aspect of society. For instance, education systems often fail to cultivate the critical thinking to question and navigate their impact. Beyond this, debates on morality in autonomous systems emphasized that the key issue is not only what AI can do, but what it should do in a manner that does not violate ethical principles. At the same time, significant research gaps remain, particularly in how AI is contextualized for diverse regions. This highlighted the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the inclusion of diverse voices.
Finally, we summarized the week’s deliberations into a unifying call to action. The message was clear: there was a call to action: “The words were good, but where is the action?”
Action steps ahead:
- Create a digital humanism African Network: to connect scholars, practitioners, and policymakers committed to embedding human values in technology.
- Participate in the digital humanism Lecture series every 2 months: to continue learning, debating, and sharing across borders.
- Organize and conduct our digital humanism lectures: to localize the conversation and ensure it resonates within African contexts.
The project groups showcased their work, offering unique perspectives on digital humanism. We anticipate publishing a collective volume that will capture these diverse contributions and extend the conversation beyond the Summer School.
Overall, the digital humanism summer school in Kigali, Rwanda, was a refreshing and eye-opening experience. It was a space where we learned, challenged assumptions, and were inspired to bring our voices into the global digital humanism dialogue. The week reminded us that digital humanism is not just a European or Western project, but that it must be amplified from Africa and the Global South, ensuring that technologies are built for humanity, grounded in Ubuntu, and respectful of human values, as opposed to too much focus on automation and efficiency without a human perspective therefore advocating for dignity, rights, and inclusion.
We encourage all who care about the future of technology to join the call to digital humanism and be part of future Summer School sessions. Together, we can build a digital future that serves people, not just systems.
Conrad Tucker concluded the event with a memorable reminder: “As technologists, you must know your end users. I urge you to tour Rwanda and understand what her people need.” Inspired by his words, we embarked on a city tour on Saturday, leading us to the serene Lake Mirayi in Bugesera. We will share some glimpses from that experience with you through the pictures below.
Thank you to ICT4D.at for sponsoring us and making this unforgettable experience possible.
#conference #dighum #digitalHumanism
Lexmilian S. R. B. de Mello
Sinead Quealy
Yasutaka Wada
samvie
Anne Muchiri
ICT4D.at
Sanja Cancar
Paul Fuxjaeger