The African Humanities Association (AHA), through its Enhancing Humanities Research in Africa (EHURA) Project supported by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, successfully launched its Mentoring Webinar Series on May 14, 2026 with a thought-provoking maiden webinar on “AI Applications in Humanities Research in Africa.”

The webinar brought together scholars, researchers, postgraduate students, librarians, archivists and humanities practitioners from across the continent to examine the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping humanities research, education and knowledge production. The initiative forms part of the EHURA Project’s broader commitment to strengthening research capacity, fostering mentorship, and promoting scholarly collaboration among early- and mid-career humanities researchers in Africa.

The session featured Prof. Dr. Eng. Arthur G. O. Mutambara, Director and Full Professor at the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for the Future of Knowledge, as keynote speaker. Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, President of the African Humanities Association, Co-Principal Investigator of the AHA-EHURA Project and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, while the webinar was moderated by Prof. Irikidzayi Manase, Secretary of the African Himanities Association and Lead of the Mentoring Webinar Series under the AHA–EHURA Project.

In his presentation, Prof. Mutambara challenged African scholars to move beyond being consumers of AI technologies and become active contributors to their development. He underscored AI’s growing influence on knowledge production, innovation and global competitiveness, while encouraging humanities scholars to engage critically with emerging technologies and participate actively in shaping Africa’s digital future.

The presentation also examined important ethical and societal issues surrounding AI, including algorithmic bias, the underrepresentation of African knowledge systems, misinformation, and the governance of emerging technologies. At the same time, participants explored opportunities for AI to transform sectors such as agriculture, education and workforce development, particularly through personalised learning, indigenous language preservation, climate adaptation and innovation. A recurring message throughout the discussion was the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and African-centred approaches to AI research and development.

The webinar generated strong interest from across the continent, attracting 266 registrations, with 142 participants joining the live session from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burkina Faso and Mali. Participants remained highly engaged throughout the event, and an interactive question-and-answer session that stimulated meaningful dialogue between the speaker and attendees.

The webinar concluded with a strong call for greater African leadership in AI research, the development of AI systems that reflect African languages, cultures and knowledge systems, and stronger collaboration between humanities scholars and technology experts. These recommendations align closely with the objectives of the EHURA Project to strengthen humanities research capacity, encourage interdisciplinary scholarship and build vibrant networks of researchers across the continent.

The successful launch of the AHA–EHURA Mentoring Webinar Series marks an important milestone in the Association’s efforts to support the next generation of African humanities scholars. Building on the momentum of this inaugural edition, the series will continue to provide a platform for mentoring, knowledge exchange and critical conversations on issues shaping the future of humanities research in Africa.