Changemakers Podcast: Prof Vukosi Marivate on Inclusive AI for Africa
In this episode of the Nature Careers Podcast, Prof Vukosi Marivate reflects on his journey building AI communities and tools for Africa—highlighting the importance of representation, language, and collaboration.
🎧 Podcast Feature
🗓️ 28 July 2025
🔗 Listen on Nature Careers
“If AI is to change how economies work, it has to represent all of us.” — Prof Vukosi Marivate
We are excited to share that Prof Vukosi Marivate, Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria and co-founder of Lelapa AI, is featured in the Nature Careers Changemakers Podcast.
In this fourth episode of the eight-part series, Vukosi shares his journey as a data scientist passionate about ensuring Africa’s inclusion in the global AI revolution. From his early encounters with computers to his current work building natural language processing (NLP) tools for African languages, Vukosi emphasizes the need for locally grounded AI systems and community-driven innovation.
Some highlights from the conversation include:
- 🌍 Why local languages matter: Over 2000 African languages are underrepresented in current AI systems, limiting their usability and reach.
- 🏠 Lelapa AI: Building a “home” for top AI talent in Africa and creating products that serve people in their own languages.
- 🧠 Deep Learning Indaba: A pan-African gathering that fosters technical growth, cross-disciplinary engagement, and mentorship across the continent.
- 🔄 From theory to societal impact: Vukosi’s career embodies the shift from technical curiosity to societal relevance—particularly in healthcare, education, and governance.
- 🙌 Community above all: The importance of growing supportive ecosystems to democratize AI and encourage young African researchers to participate in shaping the future.
“People assume progress is automatic. But representation, research, and inclusion require active effort. It’s not inevitable—it’s intentional.”
This episode is part of Changemakers, a podcast series that profiles scientists working to dismantle systemic exclusion in science and foster inclusive research environments.
We encourage everyone in our network—students, researchers, funders, and policymakers—to give this episode a listen. It’s a powerful reminder that AI development must be collaborative, contextual, and community-led.
🔗 Full Episode & Transcript
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02410-3