Abebe Tegene is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Data Science for Social Impact (DSFSI) Lab at the University of Pretoria, under the AI4D Africa Program. I am working on innovating word embedding for low-resource African Languages.

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. My research focuses on applying machine learning and data science to real-world problems, including intelligent water quality monitoring and computer vision applications. With over ten years of academic experience, I have lectured and supervised numerous computer science projects. Beyond research, I actively contribute to the AI community as a speaker, mentor, and judge at events such as the Deep Learning IndabaX South Africa and IEEE Entrepreneurship Week. My current interest lies in expanding my research into Natural Language Processing (NLP) for low-resource African languages, with the aim of bridging the gap between linguistic theory and AI-driven methods. 

Amos Lubawa is a data scientist and master’s student at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. His research interests include large language models and artificial intelligence. His work at the AI4D Africa's Anglophone Multidisciplinary Lab as a Research Assistant (ML/AI) resulted in a high-quality question-answering dataset that is publicly accessible for use and enhancements.

Bronwyn Bowles-King has been an academic editor for 13 years. She is the founder of The Journal of African Youth Literature (JAY Lit) and editor of Conflict Trends. She has conducted research on African youth literature using quantitative and computational approaches. Her research interests include African and youth literature, NLP and AI ethics. She is currently working at SADiLaR and embarking on a group research project in IsiXhosa.

Dawit Shibabaw Bogale is an accomplished data scientist and researcher with a strong academic and professional background in information science, Data scientist and Big data analytics. Dawit began his academic journey by obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Information Science from the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, in July 2018. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Data Science and Analytics at the same university, which he completed in February 2022.

Currently, Dawit is a Research fellow in Data Science at Bahir Dar University’s Institute of Technology, where he has been enrolled since December 2022. He is also a Research Fellow and Team Member at the Data Science for Social Impact initiative at the University of Pretoria, south Africa, under the mentorship of Professor Vukosi Marivate. 

Dawit’s expertise extends across various domains within data science, including machine learning, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence. His skill set is further reinforced by numerous certifications from prestigious institutions, including IBM, university of california, Linux Foundation, JPMC AI in Africa, Google cloud, Columbia University, Duke university, Google, and the International Institute of Online Education. These certifications cover a wide range of topics such as machine learning, computer vison, Big data analytics, deep learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, LLM, image caption, and generative AI.

Dawit’s contributions to the field have been recognized through awards such as the Certificate of Recognition from Deep Learning Indaba in September 2023. His innovative approach and dedication to the field have made him a skilled data scientist, data analyst, and machine learning engineer, with a creative and innovative mindset.

Throughout his career, Dawit has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the field of data science, particularly in its application to social impact. His ongoing research and academic endeavors continue to position him as a leading expert in the field.

Research area: Deep learning, Machine learning, computer vision, and Big data analytics

Makumbe Felistus Tafadzwa is a Holder of a Masters in Applied Linguistics (University of Zimbabwe), a Bachelor of Arts Dual Honours in Linguistics and Ndebele (University of Zimbabwe). Experienced lecturer in Communication Skills, English Language for Academic Purposes, Court Interpreting, Court Intermediary, Translation, Forensic Linguistics, Corpus Linguistics and Sociolinguistics. Research interests in Forensic Linguistics, Applied Linguistics and Theoretical linguistics. Current lecturer and Communication Skills Coordinator in the department of Language and Communication at the Women’s University in Africa. Lecturing history; University of Zimbabwe and Women’s University in Africa.

Juliet Rushambwe is currently pursuing a Master of Information Technology in Big Data Science at the University of Pretoria, which she is expected to complete in November 2025. Her research focuses on low-resource neural machine translation for isiZulu–English, exploring active learning to improve translation quality without additional human annotation. She is particularly interested in developing data-driven language technologies for under-represented African languages.

Khanyisa Zinto is a lecturing assistant in the Department of Languages and Literature at Nelson Mandela University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and isiXhosa Language and Literature, as well as an Honours degree in isiXhosa from Nelson Mandela University. He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts degree in isiXhosa. Khanyisa completed his dissertation focusing on "The Impact of Digitalization on the Transmission of Idiomatic and Proverbial Knowledge in isiXhosa Culture." This research explores how digital platforms influence the ways in which isiXhosa idioms and proverbs are shared, preserved, and understood in contemporary society. By employing Digital Humanities techniques—particularly ethnography and content analysis—his study treats the online space as a "field site," acknowledging the internet as a dynamic and lived cultural space where meaning is constructed through digital communication. The research seeks to unpack how idiomatic and proverbial expressions are adapted, maintained, or transformed in digital contexts.

I hold a PhD in African Languages from the University of South Africa. Currently, I am lecturer at Gwanda State University since 2022. Prior to that, I was at Midlands State University Language Institute as a Research fellow. My research interests are Linguistics and Sociolinguistics in African languages. I have also served as a lecturer at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe, where I lectured for a period of nine years. I have been a research fellow at St Mary's University, Twickenham, in London under the Cerian program.  The thrust of my research is largely linked to previously marginalised languages in Zimbabwe and how they have remained stifled in terms of their growth in relation to Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing. 

I have obtained my PhD in Physics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Prior to my Doctoral research, I enrolled as a Masters student in the University of Cape Town (UCT), where I obtained my Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering (MScEng Electrical) Degree.  My Under-graduate studies were undertaken in the National University of Lesotho (NUL), where I obtained my Bachelors of Engineering in Electronics (B. Eng Electronics) Degree. After completing my PhD research from the UKZN, I worked as a Lecturer at Botho University – Maseru campus. I then moved to join Limkokwing University of Creative Technology – Lesotho campus as a Senior Lecturer. Additionally, I joined the NUL as a Lecturer. Furthermore, I am currently working as a Senior Researcher at the University of Johannesburg – Institute for Intelligent Systems. My research interests include data privacy, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and quantum information processing. 

I hold a BA in Language Technologies as well as a Masters in Applied Linguistics from the NWU but have mostly worked as project manager for the African Wordnet resource development team for the past years. My current focus is on leveraging existing resources to improve the quality and accessibility of HLT tools for the South African languages. My areas of Expertise include Linguistics, Natural Language Processing (Language Technologies), Project management for HLT resource development.

Mokgadi Mathole is a Chief Language Practitioner at the Department of Sport Arts and Culture. She is  a UNISA Children Literary Award winner for 2025. She specializes in Language Documentation research for documenting indigenous languages that are undocumented by creating tools to preserve them.

I am a dedicated PhD candidate at Durban University of Technology. I bring resilience, problem-solving, and analytical skills, ensuring precise project management on schedule. I communicate effectively at all organisational levels and excel under pressure. My community work links academic theory to upliftment, particularly in ICT. As a former member of TUT's Institutional Forum, I influenced policy and strategic planning. Named Best Woman Researcher at TUT in 2013, I've chaired research sessions and reviewed articles since 2015. I supervise postgraduate scholars at SMU, focusing on NLP, LLM, and African language revitalisation. I also research biological image processing and AI in climate-related water crises. I serve on SMU's Community Engagement Senate and as CEMC Chair.

Mthuli Buthelezi is a scholar interested in African languages and the digital humanities, with a focus on developing Human Language Technologies for under-resourced languages. He is the author of three books: IsiZulu and Algorithms: A Language-Agnostic Approach to Developing Software for African Languages (2025), Incwadi yezibonelo zezinhlelo zeziqoqelalwazi ezakhelwe ulimi lwabantu (2024), and Izinhlelo Zobuchwepheshe: Ibanga 5 (2026). His published research includes the paper Uhlelo Lwekhompyutha LwePython Kanye Nekhophasi YesiZulu Njengezinsiza Zokuthuthukisa Kanye Nokuphusisa Ulimi LwesiZulu, which appeared in Alternation, 31,2 (2024). Buthelezi’s work combines computational linguistics, corpus development, and pedagogy to advance the digital presence and intellectualisation of African languages. His other work is accessible at: [https://www.youtube.com/@mthulibuthelezi6197]

Nnaemeka Ohamadike is a PhD researcher in Applied Data Science at the University of Johannesburg, specialising in computational methods for detecting social biases in language data. He is also a senior data analyst at Good Governance Africa. His research explores issues like social bias, disinformation, human development, and governance, using data science.

Nompilo Makamu completed her Master of Arts degree at Nelson Mandela University. Her research interests include esearching the integration of digital technologies in language teaching and learning. Her work explores how innovative tools can enhance student engagement, support meaningful learning experiences, and strengthen pedagogical practice in university language classrooms. Nompilo’s broader research interests include multimedia learning, ICT-supported pedagogy, and the evolving role of technology in language education. Driven by curiosity and a passion for understanding how people learn, she continually seeks new insights, methods, and approaches that can enrich language teaching and make learning more accessible, dynamic, and impactful.

A linguist by profession, Ntšoeu Seepheephe holds a PhD in English Language and Linguistics. He currently serves as a faculty member at the National University of Lesotho, where he teaches language and linguistics courses. In addition to teaching, he supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects in related fields. His research focuses on general linguistics, the languages spoken in Lesotho and South Africa, particularly English and Sesotho. His research areas of interests include English as a Second Language, World Englishes, Translation, Metaphor and Critical Discourse Analysis

Ms Rebecca Ntshwaki Malatji is a Lecturer in the Department of Language Practice at North-West University. Her research focuses on orthography development, language preservation, and corpus linguistics, with a strong interest in African multilingualism and language documentation. She is currently pursuing a PhD that investigates the development of a pilot corpus for Khelobedu to support its standardisation and long-term preservation within South Africa’s linguistic landscape.

Malatji’s scholarship is grounded in decolonial and inclusive linguistic approaches, exploring how language documentation and corpus-based research can promote linguistic justice and cultural recognition. Her broader academic engagement extends to LGBTQIA+ studies, where she contributes a book chapter examining digital discourses, queer identity formation, and resistance in online spaces.

In her teaching, she facilitates modules in Language Practice, Translation, Advanced Technological Applications, Quality Assurance and Editing, and Linguistics. Her pedagogy reflects a commitment to critical inquiry, linguistic diversity, and transformative learning, positioning language as both a tool of empowerment and a site of social change.

Phomolo Seithati Tidy Ntumelang is a passionate and driven Data Scientist with a strong academic foundation in Computer Science and Mathematics, and practical experience applying data-driven solutions in mining, telecommunications, and research sectors. She specializes in statistical analysis, machine learning, AI-driven solutions, and advanced dashboarding with Power BI and PowerApps to enable informed decision-making and business transformation.

She has led and contributed to projects such as:

- Developing Power BI dashboards for housing, IT asset management, and contractor compliance.

- Designing predictive models in Python to analyze network incidents and forecast weather using satellite data.

- Currently in MSc research, she is creating machine learning models (CNN, MobileNetV2, and NLP) for South African Sign Language translation.

In 2025, she was selected across Africa to attend the African Big Data School Programme, where she developed a statistical and LSTM-based weather forecasting model using satellite data. In 2024, she was among a select group of students across Africa shortlisted for a prestigious Digital Transformation Certificate programme.

I am a Lecturer at UNISA, currently doing second year PHD in Computer Science & Information System-field of is Low Resource-Automatic speech Recognition at North West University(NWU), along with a Master's and Bachelor's Honours degree from North West University (NWU). My academic qualifications, combined with my current role as UNISA Lecturer, have provided me with valuable insights into the educational aspects of our school of computing (SOC) under college of science, engineering & technology  (CSET).

I am a Digital Humanities lecturer in the Department of History, Heritage and Knowledge Systems at the University of Zimbabwe. I hold a PhD in Languages, Linguistics and Literature from the University of South Africa, an MA in African Languages and Literature, and a BA (Honours) in Shona, both from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as several professional certifications in digital tools. I am also a Digital Humanities Research Fellow in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, an Affiliate Research Associate in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and an e‑lexicographer at the Living Tongue Institute for Endangered Languages, USA. I am the conceptual lead behind the establishment of the MA in Digital Humanities at the University of Zimbabwe, the CEO and founder ofan AI Hub called Novaris Digital, an interdisciplinary published scholar and an award‑winning digital innovator.

Sehaam Goolam is the Executive Assistant  to the Directorr of  for AfriDSAI and the Admininstrattive Coordinator for the DSFSI research group at the University of Pretoria. As the EA to the ABSA Chair of Data Science, Prof. Vukosi Marivate, she specializes in academic logistics, stakeholder relations, and managing large-scale events.

Sree Ganesh Thottempudi is specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, teaching and research experience in international research and development organizations. His expertise lies in the development of natural language processing tools for under-resourced languages, as well as in applying digital humanities to ancient heritage and culture. He has worked on the development of South African sign-to-speech and speech-to-sign translation tools prior to undertaking his academic teaching and research career. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Thottempudi has held positions with notable organizations, including Red Hat Software Services and Microsoft (India) Corporation, as well as DAASI International GmbH, within the IT services sector. He has led four European Union projects and contributed to two South African government initiatives focused on digital infrastructure development, specifically with SADILAR. Furthermore, he has participated in research and development projects with Tesla, TeamViewer, and Bosch.

Sthembiso Mkhwanazi is a purpose-driven researcher in Natural Language Processing (NLP) with a strong background in computer science and data science. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and Data Science and a BSc Honours degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), where his interest in applying technology to real-world challenges began.

He recently completed an MSc in Computer Science at North-West University (NWU), focusing on low-resource African languages, particularly the morphological segmentation of isiZulu. His research contributes to the development of inclusive and multilingual AI systems.

Sthembiso is currently a researcher in the NLP group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where he works on language technologies aimed at bridging linguistic and technological gaps in underrepresented communities, and has published several papers in this area. Alongside his research, he is committed to mentorship and youth development, advocating for greater participation in STEM from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He aspires to pursue a PhD in NLP from 2026, focusing on African languages, multilingual learning, and responsible AI.

Temitope Kekere is a machine learning researcher with interest in natural language for african languages, policy interventions and AI ethics. I am a member of Data Science for Social Impact research group at the University of Pretoria