Deep Learning Indaba

Applications for #DLI2026 are officially OPEN! We are excited to open applications for the annual meeting of the African machine learning and AI community: The Deep Learning Indaba 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria! ⏳ Deadline: 29 March 2026 Apply here: baobab.deeplearningindaba.com 👉 Details: deeplearningindaba.com/2026/applicati… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

The countdown to #DLI2026 begins! 🇳🇬 🔥 We are so excited to officially announce the venue and dates for Deep Learning Indaba 2026. This year, we are proud to partner with @pau_nigeria to host the Indaba at their beautiful campus in Lagos, Nigeria. Join us in Lagos for a week of world-class learning, collaboration, and research exchange as we convene the African AI community once again alongside friends and peers from around the world. 📍 Venue: Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, Nigeria 🗓️ Dates: 2–7 August 2026 Important Update: All open calls have been extended by 10 days! Check them out here 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/ 🤝 Partner with us: We are inviting sponsors and partners to help make #DLI2026 accessible and impactful. If your organisation is interested, we’d love to hear from you. 💬 A message from our hosts: "We are super excited that Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) is hosting Deep Learning Indaba 2026, bringing together the global Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence community to our campus, to continue the process of owning and shaping this space. We look forward to welcoming you all." #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Call for Reviewers: African Startups/Datasets Tracks for #DLI2026 Help us spotlight groundbreaking African AI startups and high-quality, Africa-centric datasets that drive real impact and sovereignty in AI. Ideal if you bring: ● Expertise in AI/ML, entrepreneurship, data science, or social impact ● Experience in evaluating innovation, impact, or technical quality Apply 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… Key Dates: ● Apply by: 20 March 2026 (AOE) ● Review window: 23 March – 13 April (~2–3 hours total, remote) #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Big news🎉: The Deep Learning Indaba 2025 Research Track proceedings are officially LIVE! We are excited to announce that the research presented at #DLI2025, is now published in the Proceedings of Machine Learning Research (PMLR), Volume 302. A huge congratulations to all the authors, reviewers, and organisers whose work made this possible. This is an important milestone in showcasing and advancing African-led research in machine learning. Read the full proceedings here: proceedings.mlr.press/v302/ #DLI2025 #ResearchTrack

Reminder: our Call for Workshops & Sessions for Indaba 2026 is still open. More info: deeplearningindaba.com/2026/workshops/ #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Our community is what makes Deep Learning Indaba so special. Here are a few words from attendees at last year’s Indaba in Rwanda 🇷🇼 as they reflect on their experience and what this community means to them. Applications opening soon, stay tuned! In the meantime, follow our socials for the latest updates on our open calls. 👉 Check our latest posts for details! deeplearningindaba.com/2026/ #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Don’t miss our open call for Tutorials & Skill Sessions at #DLI2026! 🇳🇬 Full details & application here: 👉 deeplearningindaba.com/2026/tutorials… ⏳ Deadline: 8th March 2026

🪘 Call for African Datasets 🪘 We are delighted to announce the call for the African Datasets as part of the Research in Africa Days at Deep Learning Indaba 2026 in Nigeria. Data is the heartbeat of innovation, and we are expanding the African Dataset Repository to ensure African realities power the global AI revolution. We invite startups, researchers, individuals, and organisations to submit datasets that reflect the diverse challenges and opportunities of the continent. Why Join the Mission? ✨Visibility: Selected datasets will be featured during the Research in Africa Days. ✨Impact: Help make African data the foundation for innovations that transform lives and build a brighter future. ✨Representation: Selected teams will designate a representative to attend the Indaba in Nigeria and represent their work. Deadline: 20 March 2026. Submit Here:👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/1C-2Cj… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Apply Here:👉 forms.gle/gq6pwK4eHwLohv…

Are you building the future of Africa with AI? The Deep Learning Indaba 2026 is officially inviting African startups to join our African Startup Track in Nigeria🇳🇬! As Africa’s premier AI gathering, we want to provide a continental stage for innovators leveraging Machine Learning to solve real-world challenges. Why apply? ✨ Startup Pitch Session: Present to Indaba sponsors and partners for feedback and mentorship. ✨ African Startups Showcase: Participate in lightning talks and panels on scaling AI in Africa. ✨ Exhibition & Mentorship: Get a dedicated booth space to network with researchers and industry leaders. ✨ Elevator Pitch Video: Gain long-term visibility on the Indaba YouTube channel. Who should apply? ✨ Startups based or operating in Africa using AI/ML meaningfully. Solving challenges in health, agriculture, finance, education, and more. Any stage from MVP to scaling. Applications Close: 20 March 2026 Apply Here:👉 ttps://forms.gle/gq6pwK4eHwLohv9r8 #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

📣 Call for Papers: Deep Learning Indaba 2026 Deep Learning Indaba 2026 is expanding its Research Track to include full-length, peer-reviewed, indexed papers, further elevating globally recognised AI research from Africa. Accepted papers will be published in a special IJCAI volume and presented at the Research in Africa Showcase. Submissions are open to original research in Machine Learning, NLP, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, Datasets & Benchmarks, AI for Social Impact, and Privacy-Preserving & Trustworthy AI, especially work grounded in Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities. At least one author must be an African researcher based in Africa. One author per accepted paper will receive a complimentary attendance pass (priority to researchers based in Africa). Double-blind review | IJCAI format | 7 pages (excl. references & appendix) 👉  Submit via Charingtool: chairingtool.com/conferences/dl… 🗓️ Key Deadlines (AoE): Abstract Deadline: April 15, 2026 Paper Deadline: April 20, 2026 #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Call for Workshops & Sessions for Indaba 2026! The Deep Learning Indaba is more than a conference; it’s a space where African wisdom meets frontier technology. For #Indaba2026 in Nigeria, we are expanding that space further than ever before. We aren't just looking for academic workshops. We are inviting storytelling spaces, fireside chats, interactive exhibitions, and policy dialogues. Whether you are a researcher, a practitioner, or someone working at the intersection of AI and society, we want your voice. What’s New? ✨ Diverse Formats: From 1-hour deep dives to 3-hour immersive showcases. ✨ Inclusivity: We encourage proposals that explore AI’s impact on culture, ethics, and lived experiences. ✨ Information Session: New to this? Join our info session on 26th February to help shape your proposal! 📅 Key Dates: 26th Feb: Information Session for prospective workshop organisers 10th March: Proposal Deadline 🔗 Submit via OpenReview: #tab-recent-activity" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">openreview.net/group?id=deepl… #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Which city should Deep Learning Indaba 2026 land in?

🇳🇬 Nigeria is confirmed. Now comes the big question… Which city will host Deep Learning Indaba 2026? We’ve narrowed it down to a few iconic options, each with its own energy, culture, and tech ecosystem. 💬 Drop your guess in the comments: Abuja? Lagos? Port Harcourt? Calabar? 👀 Hint: the energy here never sleeps! 📣 Applications opening soon, stay tuned. #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Call for Tutorials & Skill Sessions: Deep Learning Indaba 2026 ✨ Under this year’s theme, "Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Path in a Frontier AI World," we are officially opening our first-ever open call for Tutorials and Skill Sessions. We are looking for experts and educators to empower the African community with the tools to build, control, and deploy AI. What are we looking for? 🔹Tutorials (2hrs): Foundational, lecture-style sessions (e.g., GNNs, Climate Modelling, Agentic AI). 🔹Skill Sessions (1hr): Hands-on "how-to" demos (e.g., shipping production code, research writing). Whether you are teaching core fundamentals or exploring technological sovereignty through open-source stacks, we want to hear from you. 🗓️ Deadline: 8th March 2026 (AOE) 📍 Where: In-person in Nigeria (with post-Indaba online opportunities!) Apply here: forms.gle/vLaMfooupUowyy… Let’s build a foundation for African AI agency together! #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Meet the Captains steering the ship to Nigeria! 🇳🇬 The Deep Learning Indaba is community-led, and every year, a dedicated team steps up to make the magic happen. We are thrilled to introduce the General Chairs for #Indaba2026! Bringing together a powerhouse of experience across research, industry, and the local ecosystem: - @AishaAlaagib – Applied Researcher at Thakaa - @ankahira – AI Engineer at AstraZeneca - Chinazo Anebelundu – Director, AI Solutions Delivery at @dsn_ai_network They are already hard at work curating a world-class programme and ensuring that our time in Nigeria is unforgettable. Let’s give them a warm Indaba welcome! #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

We are officially heading to NIGERIA! 🌟 But why Nigeria? Our 2026 General Chairs described Nigeria as a place representing "scale, imagination, and a fearless belief in what is possible." For years, Nigerian builders and researchers have helped shape the Indaba from its earliest days. Now, we are bringing the energy home to channel a new focus: Sovereign Intelligence, the ability for Africa to build, steward, and understand its own systems. As Wole Soyinka famously said, "A tiger does not proclaim its tigritude; it pounces."This year, we pounce. The journey to 2026 has begun! Stay tuned for updates on dates, venue details, and application openings coming soon! #DLI2026 #Indaba2026

Are you ready for 2026? 🌍🔥 Let’s take one last look back before we launch forward! The energy from Kigali isn't just a memory; it’s the fuel for everything coming this year. It was more than just a conference; it was a powerful reunion of African talent and innovation. YOU made it unforgettable! 🇷🇼✨ 2025 Highlights: Impact: 1,000 in-person attendees from 43 African countries + 200 virtual participants. 👩‍💻 Diversity: We hit 40% Women in Machine Learning! 📚 Research Milestones: 96 papers submitted with our first-ever full DLI proceedings (19 accepted) + 277 posters showcased. 🤝 Community: 47 IndabaX events across the continent & 130 communities in the Hackathon. 🎓 Learning: 12 Workshops, 4 Keynotes, and massive mentorship support (25 sessions + specific tracks for MSc/PhD & Faculty). ✈️ Access: 390 travel grants awarded to bring talent to the table. 💖 Special Thanks: To our 38 Sponsors and Partners: Your support fuels this ecosystem and makes these stories possible. Thank you for believing in African AI! To our 120+ Organisers, Chairs, and Volunteers: This event was built on your hard work, late nights, and dedication. Thank you! 🫶 💡What’s Next? The energy doesn't stop here. We are already deep in planning for Indaba 2026, and we are taking it to a whole new level. Stay tuned for more details coming up soon! Subscribe to our newsletter: …eplearningindaba.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=10… 👇Tell us: What was your core memory from Rwanda? Drop a comment below! #DLI2026 #Indaba2026