Our Story
Africa in the World
A Festival of Hearts and Minds
Africa exists in the world. Africa is not one color. Africa is not even one place.
Dele Olojede
Continuously moving the needle forward in Africa
Africa in the World brings the world’s finest innovators, thinkers and doers together with top leaders, policy-makers and decision-makers. Our purpose is to platform invigorating ideas so that our esteemed guests share, learn and become inspired. Our unique invitation-only format and design of intentionally-curated, often unusual conversations aims to spark connections, engagements and actions that can bring fresh changes and sustainable solutions to African people, whether living across this vast, diverse continent or as part of the African diaspora across the globe.
Syncopation of Ideas, Harmonics of Conversations
The inaugural Africa in the World festival was held in 2019 at the Spier Wine Farm in the historic picturesque Cape Winelands town of Stellenbosch with 150 invited guests and 60 speakers representing 19 countries. Post-pandemic, the festival returns to Stellenbosch in 2023 with refinements, and renewed purpose and vigour.
Africa in the World is interested in all fields of human endeavour from showcasing farmer-led regenerative agriculture projects and coding education for rural children to placing theology, pandemic-readiness and the hazards of global financialization centre-stage. Music, art and literature are infused throughout the 4-day Africa in the World experience as the festival aims for the perfect integration of human hearts and minds.
Meet Africa in the World founder, Dele Olojede
Dele Olojede has deep love of humanity, and for African people. He founded the Africa in the World Festival because he believes the world is full of great ideas and solutions, and because he has faith in the power of bringing people into dialogue so that they can make connections that can move African society forward. Dele is the first African journalist to win the Pulitzer Prize and a social activist with an esteemed track record of speaking truth to power. He has the gravitas and the charisma to bring presidents and emirs, ethicists and scientists, economists and bankers, Nobel-prize winners, artists and tech titans together at the table. He relishes unexpected pairings. Africa In The World is the tangible and visible manifestation of his commitment to bringing the best and brightest together, those who, rather than lament Africa’s problems, invest their hearts and minds in unearthing solutions that can be implemented and sustained over the long term.
Meet the Team
Dr Sizakele Marutlulle
Dr Sizakele (Za) Marutlulle has been at the top of creative and communications networks for more than two decades, as CEO of Grey South Africa, CMO of Barclays Africa, COO of SA Tourism, and a strategy consultant. She also teaches brand and strategy at Gordon Institute of Business Science. Za sits on the board of City Lodge Hotel Group, and has served similarly at Business & Arts South Africa, Advertising Standards Authority, and Association of Communications Agencies. She holds a PhD in critical diversity studies and a masters in sociology from University of Witwatersrand, and bachelors degrees in political science and sociology from University of Durban (Westville). She is a frequent public speaker.