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The ‘Africa in the world’ festival has the world’s brightest on the African continent engage in all fields of human endeavour.

From September 4-7, the Africa In the World festival returned to Stellenbosch, bringing together global and continental leaders in a collaborative dialogue aimed at addressing Africa’s challenges.

Founded by Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede in 2019, the festival promotes vibrant discussions among a diverse group of thinkers, innovators, and changemakers across various fields. Dele Olojede, welcomed guests to “my ancestral home, Stellenbosch”.

The 2024 lineup features distinguished speakers, including renowned scientists tackling major health issues like HIV, Ebola, and Malaria, as well as leaders from notable businesses and political figures such as South Africa’s Cape Town mayor.

The multi-awarded speakers billed for the 2024 festival include scientists Prof Sir Adrian Hill, Dr Ally Olotu, Prof Tulio de Oliveira and Prof Salim Abdool Karim. Among them they have tackled HIV/Aids, Dengue, SARSCoV-2, Zika, Yellow Fever Virus, Ebola and Malaria.

The festival’s second session, a conversation between Profs Salim Karim and Tulio de Oliveira, spoke to the power of coalition and collaboration, of scientists, activists and principled administrators marching in lockstep. Karim and De Oliveira are globally acclaimed SA epidemiologists. They have been at the forefront of fighting multiple infectious diseases, from HIV to Covid-19. Despite the subject’s seriousness, there was a joy in listening to the interplay between two virtuosos who’ve been at the forefront of influencing some of the world’s most powerful people.

In the third section, leaders in business include Standard Bank group chair Nonkululeko Nyembezi; founder and CEO of Onafriq Daré Okoudjou; and founder and CEO of Africa Climate Ventures James Irungu Mwangi discussed about climate change, economy and governance. There’s also the Nigerian minister of communications, innovation and digital economy Dr Bosun Tijani and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis in this panel discussion.

Africa in the World opening at Stellenbosch Town Hall. The festival included scientists, jornalists, business leaders, politicians, artists and poets united by their desire to improve Africa and the world.

The festival delivered on inspiration and brilliance, fostering a collaborative spirit dedicated to progress on the African continent.

Between the scientists and business builders stood Afrikaans and San poets Antjie Krog and Nunke Kadimo. Among others, they recited The Broken String. First recorded in the 1870s, it laments the destruction wrought by colonialism. It concludes, “they have broken the bow’s string for me and the old places are not sweet any more for what they did”.

Musician and intellectual Neo Muyanga accompanied by soprano Tina Mene, gave a mind blowing performanceof Africa and Opera: A Revelatory Journey (See photo of their performance at the editorial comments, page 2).

Each speaker arrived with their tools of trade — genetic sequencing, stanzas, cashflows and compositions — seemingly disconnected, but united by their desire to improve the world.

More info on the coverage of Africa in the World on Business Day:

- https://www.wantedonline.co.za/voices/2024-09-25-onbettering-african-lives/

- https://www.wantedonline.co.za/voices/2024-09-04-africa-in-the-world-festival-kicks-off/

Click on the image above to read the gem, genomics, epidemics & microbes or scan the qrcode.