AAG2024

Since this year’s eagerly anticipated AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024, we have been deeply reflective of the past year. For many of our staff, as the host hub, it was the most challenging year of their lives. In addition to their daily operations, everyone was required to learn new things and jump in wherever needed to arrange a once in a lifetime Gathering with the entire continent watching.

It is the Gathering’s 10th iteration, which has so far been unlike any other before—not just because of its transformative agenda and innovators in attendance, but because it is a unique tradition touching a new corner of the continent with every iteration. The theme for this year was Uniting Innovation, which was a reflection of where everyone in the AfriLabs network is currently at.

As a network, we are in the process of driving Africa’s digital transformation as a unit. We are working hard to not only enable digital adoption, but also work with the relevant stakeholders to advocate for the easing of travel restrictions and cross-border collaboration on the continent. The Gathering was a great jumpstart in this direction and we consider it a great success based on the relationships formed and the prospects for 2025 and beyond.

Conferences of this scale are generally not possible without the help of a symphony of efforts from various stakeholders. But in this particular case, as this was our very first time organising anything this major, we were even more dependent on every kind of assistance possible.

There came a point at which we had to trust that everything we had worked so hard to organise, was in motion and would be ready on the day. The feeling of walking into the venue and seeing the signage, and the registration desk, and the exhibition area, and the track rooms, beautifully laid out, was a proud moment. Not that we doubted ourselves at all, but we did it!

Since it was such a great success, against all odds, we feel incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us in every way. We honour you for your contribution to the Gathering and your graciousness with us during the process.

Thank you for making #AAG2024 a rare moment in time which we will always fondly remember.