Data Tamasha Africa is a continental data festival born from the union of DataFest Africa and Data Tamasha, co-convened by Pollicy and Tanzania Data Lab (dLab). Data Tamasha Africa brings together Africa’s data practitioners and enthusiasts, including citizens, governments, innovators, civil society, creatives, academia, and the private sector, to strengthen collaboration, mobilize investment, and support the adoption of responsible, inclusive, and sustainable data solutions across the African continent.
Under the theme Kujenga na Data/ Building with Data, the festival shifts from deliberation to demonstration, spotlighting African-owned data and AI tools, governance frameworks, and digital solutions that serve communities, advance sustainable development, and interrogate how data systems shape power, access, and justice. Data Tamasha Africa belongs to the people building Africa’s data future and to the communities whose lives depend on getting it right.
The event seeks to:
-Pollicy and dLab, through its curators, will curate sessions and showcases focusing on these core themes;
Track 1: Data, AI Governance, and Innovation for Public Value.
Track 2: Safe and Joyful Digital Futures.
Track 3: Feminist Innovation and the Digital Economy.
Track 4: The Afrofeminist Data Museum
Our theme this year is built around the idea of reclaiming our data futures. Learn what that means to us, and what our plan for this year is.
As we look forward to the 2025 edition of DataFest Africa which will be held in Kampala, Uganda, we are excited to announce the theme of this year’s festival: “Reclaiming our Data Futures” The festival which will be hosted in a hybrid format will center around understanding and putting a spotlight on addressing the need to promote intersectionality of gender and data. This will also have an in-depth conversation on how data affects women and girls from data scientists to women who consume and use data on a daily basis.
Fostering community dialogues on data ownership, control, and power
DataFest Africa 2025 seeks to spark critical, community-centered conversations on who truly owns, controls, and benefits from Africa’s data. Through hands-on sessions, open dialogues, and immersive experiences, we will explore how African communities can reclaim agency over their digital identities, challenge extractive data practices, and co-create fairer systems of data governance. The goal is not just to talk about data but to equip participants with tools and strategies to build just, inclusive, and community-driven digital futures.
Showcasing solutions and innovations for the critical masses and affected communities.
At Datafest we will showcase solutions and innovations that have the potential to bring about significant change for the data community. We aim to highlight groundbreaking ideas, technologies, and strategies that address societal challenges and improve the quality of life. By bringing these innovations to the forefront, we hope to inspire attendees to implement similar solutions in their own communities. Furthermore, we believe in the power of collaboration and hope that this platform will foster partnerships and synergies among different stakeholders, amplifying the impact of these solutions.
See how communities and creatives are using data to improve livelihoods
Explore bold, locally built technologies that challenge extractive systems