Africa Moves to Secure AI Sovereignty with MCP Hackathon Launch

 

Africa is positioning itself at the forefront of the global artificial intelligence race with the launch of the MCP Hackathon Africa 2025, a continent-wide initiative designed to embed African languages, cultures, and priorities into the next generation of AI systems.

Announced by The Cortex Hub, the programme will run from September to November 2025 in more than 40 cities across the continent, uniting developers, startups, researchers, and students in an eight-week innovation sprint. The effort culminates in a showcase in Cape Town on November 11–12, where finalists will pitch their solutions to global investors, incubators, and technology leaders.

At its core is the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that enables applications to deliver structured, locally relevant information to large language models. By contributing African languages, legal systems, and development priorities to MCP servers, participants aim to safeguard digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign-controlled, closed technologies.

The hackathon is being billed as a strategic milestone for Africa’s digital economy, with innovation tracks focusing on telecommunications, agriculture, financial technology, logistics, and public services. Organisers say the solutions could range from providing real-time data to smallholder farmers, to building more secure payment systems, and creating logistics platforms that streamline cross-border trade.

With a total prize pool of US$9,500, including a US$5,000 grand prize, the competition also offers winners access to AfricaCom, one of the continent’s largest technology gatherings, giving participants visibility to international investors and potential partners.

Industry leaders have rallied behind the initiative. Andile Ngcaba, Patron of The Cortex Hub, described it as Africa’s opportunity to shift “from being consumers of AI to creators of the standards that govern it.” Ahmed Mohamed, Group CEO of Datacentrix, said the Model Context Protocol is “the glue that transforms abstract algorithms into situated intelligence,” adding that Africa’s role must evolve from consumer to creator.

The hackathon has attracted support from top regional technology players including TESPOK, Seacom, Mauritius Telecom, CSquared, Solcon Capital, and Datacentrix. Dr Fiona Asonga, CEO of TESPOK, said the programme will give East Africa’s youth a unique chance to test their skills in building AI agents and systems. Alpheus Mangale, CEO of Seacom, called the initiative “the forging of cognitive infrastructure that will bind real-time intelligence to the lived experience of our cities.”

Mauritius Telecom’s CEO, Veemal Gungadin, described it as a defining moment for Africa to lead rather than follow in AI development, while Solcon Capital’s CEO, Pramod Venkatesh, highlighted its role in building “sovereign AI capabilities” critical for Africa’s technological independence and security.

Analysts note that the timing is crucial. As AI adoption reshapes industries globally, Africa’s participation in setting standards and localising AI infrastructure could determine whether the continent captures economic opportunities or is left dependent on external systems.

The MCP Hackathon Africa 2025 is therefore more than a competition. It is being positioned as a sovereignty project, one that embeds African contexts and values into the foundations of global AI, while nurturing homegrown innovation ecosystems that can attract investment, create jobs, and export African-built solutions to the world.