Vukosi Marivate
University of Pretoria

Vukosi Marivate embodies the rise of an African artificial intelligence movement—one conceived in Africa and built for Africa. Holder of the Data Science for Society Chair at the University of Pretoria, the South African researcher specialises in machine learning, applying it to some of the continent’s most pressing social challenges. Concerned by the near invisibility of African languages in mainstream AI, Marivate was among the founders of Deep Learning Indaba—indaba meaning “story” in isiZulu—as well as the African language initiatives Lelapa AI and Masakhane, two pioneering projects dedicated to multilingual AI for the continent. Beyond his research, he has helped lay the foundations for a sustainable African AI ecosystem by training a new generation of scientists capable of combining theoretical excellence with practical solutions tailored to African realities. As Marivate puts it: “The challenges we face demand a collective effort. By working together, we can build solutions that advance sustainable development and equity.”