What happens when Africa’s most dynamic innovators meet laws that are still catching up to AI’s speed?

We sit down with Richard Odongo, Senior Associate (IP & Technology) at Bowmans (Law Firm), to map the real terrain: who owns AI-generated work, how data should move across borders, and what “responsible AI” looks like when livelihoods and culture are on the line.

We start with the major shifts: regulators across the continent are shifting from reactive penalties to smarter engagement, and countries like Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa are creating conditions where innovators can succeed. Richard explains why dialogue-first oversight is better than quick fines, and how policy teams, ESG experts, and lawyers can work together to lower risk without losing momentum. His advice is practical: educate regulators about the technology, classify data by sensitivity, and use targeted obligations to protect what truly matters.

The ownership debate becomes real when AI creates music or drafts inventions. Richard describes how ownership depends on meaningful human input and tight contracts: attribution rules, licensing scopes, revenue sharing, and clear responsibilities among model providers, creators, and platforms. We also explore data sovereignty, from local copies for elections and health data to secure cross-border flows that enable analytics, BPO work, and safe travel systems. Infrastructure is also crucial—energy-efficient data centers, resilient networks, and ESG considerations that help AI stay sustainable long-term.

Ethics shifts from a buzzword to a blueprint: fairness, bias reduction, source credit, and transparency that consumers can see. And because context is key, we discuss localizing frameworks for African languages, cultures, and public services. Richard’s final advice for future legal tech leaders is simple but powerful: choose a niche, learn persistently, stay humble, and build with integrity.

Ready to think beyond hype to the real rules of the road? Hit play, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with the one change you want to see in Africa’s AI future.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 9: A Woman Shaping Africa’s Digital Financial Future

Guest: Diana Gathoni, Digital Commercialisation Senior Manager

In this inspiring episode of Tech Talk Africa, host Stella sits down with Diana Gathoni, a powerhouse in Africa’s digital transformation space. From her early days as a banking intern to leading digital commercialization at ABSA, Diana’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.

She opens up about navigating fintech, consulting, and banking—building digital ecosystems that empower SMEs, drive financial inclusion, and reshape customer experience across the continent. Diana also reflects on her personal growth as a mother and leader in tech, sharing the highs and hurdles of balancing ambition, agility, and authenticity.

Listeners will learn how she’s helping shape Africa’s digital finance future, what it takes to innovate sustainably in regulated industries, and why collaboration between startups, banks, and regulators is key to lasting impact.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 8: Africa’s Higher Education Sector and Technology

Guest: Dr. Nico Elema, Director of the Centre for Collaboration in Africa at Stellenbosch University

In this episode, host Stella Gichuhi speaks with Dr. Nico Elema, Director of the Center for Collaboration in Africa at Stellenbosch University.

Together, they explore how African universities can foster innovation, technology transfer, and equitable partnerships across the continent. Dr. Elema shares insights on contextualizing education, empowering youth, and blending cultural authenticity with digital transformation to shape Africa’s global academic future.

Tune in for a fresh perspective on how education is transforming the digital age of today.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 7: Connecting Africa; Nigeria’s Infrastructure Paradox

Guest: Ahmed Atere, CEO of MEED Networks

In this episode of Tech Talk Africa, host Stella Gichuhi explores how ambition meets adversity in Nigeria’s digital evolution.

Joining her is Ahmed Atere, CEO of MEED Networks, an infrastructure pioneer building the country’s connectivity backbone. From constructing Nigeria’s largest campus fiber network to contributing to a 90,000-kilometer national fiber rollout, Atere reveals how MEED is threading resilience into the nation’s tech fabric. His story shows how innovation thrives even when the foundations are fragile.

Beyond infrastructure, Atere champions human capital — having trained and certified over 8,000 engineers across Africa. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: build networks, but also build people. Together, they drive digital transformation in education, government, and beyond.

For tech manufacturers and innovators, this episode provides a masterclass in localized design and infrastructure resilience. Tune in to learn how Africa is wiring its own digital future.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 6: Rwanda’s Digital Leap: How Policy, People and Partnerships Are Powering Transformation

Guest: Alex Ntale - Rwanda's ICT Chamber CEO.

In this episode of Tech Talk Africa, host Stella Gichuhi sits down with Alex Ntale, CEO of the Rwanda ICT Chamber, to explore how Rwanda is redefining what’s possible in digital transformation on the African continent.

Once known for its ambitious Vision 2020, Rwanda has emerged as a continental leader in technology policy, innovation, and human capital development — now setting its sights on Vision 2050. Alex unpacks how clear leadership, rapid policy execution, and public-private collaboration have fueled Rwanda’s rise as one of Africa’s most connected nations.

From laying nationwide fiber networks to empowering one million coders, Rwanda’s story is a masterclass in strategic planning and agile implementation. The conversation explores data sovereignty, AI preparedness, and smart city innovation, while emphasizing partnerships with global companies like Microsoft, Mastercard, and Zipline.

Alex also shares insights on bridging Africa’s digital skills gap and the country’s borderless approach to attracting talent and investment.

Whether you’re a policymaker, tech entrepreneur, or digital optimist, this episode offers an inspiring look at how vision, execution, and accountability can transform a nation — and light the path for Africa’s digital future.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 5: Africa's Internet Part 2: What comes next?

Guest: Ben Roberts - Non-Regional AFRINIC Board Member.

Ben Roberts, AfriNIC’s new non-regional independent board member, reflects on Africa’s internet governance and infrastructure. AfriNIC, which allocates IP addresses and system numbers, recently overcame legal disputes and board gaps through fresh elections.

Roberts emphasizes multi-stakeholder governance, competition, and investment, citing M-Pesa as proof of local innovation. He warns of digital dependency resulting from uneven access and reliance on global platforms, urging the development of sovereign infrastructure and the adoption of inclusive policies.

AfriNIC’s anti-shutdown proposal failed due to state resistance, yet Roberts calls for enterprise involvement, strong leadership, restored efficiency, and deeper engagement to strengthen Africa’s digital sovereignty and governance.

Tune in to Tech Talk Africa E05 and join the conversation about Africa’s evolving internet landscape.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 4: The Great Firewall of Africa (Cybersecurity and The Skills Gap)

Guest: Mr. Joseph Mathenge, the Chief Operations Officer at Serianu Limited, an award-winning Pan-African cybersecurity and business consulting firm.

In Episode 4 of Tech Talk Africa, host Stella Gichuhu and guest Joseph Mathenge, COO at Serianu, discuss cybersecurity's link to the human element amid rising cybercrimes in Africa.

Mathenge notes reported incidents are partly due to better reporting and law enforcement. They explore how the digital age creates new "attack vectors" with extensive digital footprints, highlighting the need for greater "situational awareness".

Mathenge concludes by advocating collaboration over competition among businesses and within organizations to fight cyber threats. The episode is a call for a mindset shift toward building capacity in technology, conflict management, and valuing people.

Tune in to Tech Talk Africa E04 and join the conversation that’s dissecting the security of businesses' data across the continent.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan

Tech Talk Africa – Episode 3: Technology and the African Customer Experience

Guest: Mr. Nyasha Mutsekwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s leading Customer Experience (CX) platform - Ajua

In this episode of Tech Talk Africa, we explore the customer experience transformation across the continent. African consumers no longer accept "That's just how it is." The discussion highlights higher stakes for local businesses due to the relational nature of African consumers and why many "survival entrepreneurs" fail to deliver experience despite good products.

This discussion highlights Africa’s customer-centric future, addressing challenges like customer service, data dissemination, and bureaucracy. It examines the role of technology, including AI, in improving customer understanding and whether it genuinely serves customers or is just for show. Nyasha shares his vision for Ajua as an African solution to global problems, emphasizing that "African Intelligence" is what truly matters.

Whether you’re a business leader, CIO, or an everyday consumer, this episode shines a light on the high-stakes challenges—and opportunities—shaping Africa’s digital future.

Tune in to Tech Talk Africa E03 and join the conversation that’s defining the future of business across the continent.

Credits
Host:

• Stella Gichuhi

Producer:

• James Njoroge

Executive Producers:

• Harry Hare
• Agutu Dan