Here is the calendar of the Centre for Knowledge Governance
Mozfest Barcelona Panel: Igwebuike: A Radical Space to Reimagine Creativity and AI in the Global South
Igwebuike – Unity is Strength Across the Global South, from Artificial Intelligence to the Creative Industries, many essential resources, talents, and contributions remain underrepresented or misrepresented. For young entrepreneurs, start-ups, and resources (like languages) in these regions, their experiences are often defined by structural inequality, cultural erasure, or exclusion from global recognition. As an old Igbo proverb says, “Agwo loo ibe ya, ya buo” (when the big snake swallows the smaller ones, it becomes bigger). This metaphor reflects how some established creative industries or dominant AI narratives absorb, or silence, smaller, emerging voices and under-represented resources. In many cases, the efforts of these marginalized innovators are hidden beneath the overwhelming weight of invisibility and institutional neglect. In response to these challenges, we propose Igwebuike, a space for radical re-imagination of these issues. The Igbo-African word Igwebuike, which translates to “Unity is Strength,” embodies a communal philosophy of togetherness, collaboration, and collective empowerment. Anchored in this spirit, the session brings together six speakers from different parts of the Global South – Africa and Latin America – who are each actively working to dismantle dominant narratives and offer new, inclusive frameworks for innovation. These speakers will share their lived experiences and the alternative strategies they have adopted to address these complexities within AI or the creative industries. Thus, from the transformative “data farming” approach to data curation in African AI, through cultural AI such as LatamGPT, to empowering African creators in the creative industry with Graphics Web Tracker, and game-changing platforms such as Re-Create, Access to Knowledge (A2K) and Data Uruguay, these practitioners will share how their various engagements challenge mainstream profit models and status-quo, by proffering local, community-driven solutions which transform systemic challenges into sustainable practices. The Global South is central to this discussion not only because of its history of marginalization and exploitation, but also because it is a wellspring of creativity, resilience, and innovation. This forum seeks to amplify voices from these regions and encourage the equitable redistribution of wealth—be it financial, intellectual, or cultural. Ultimately, the Igwebuike Forum is a call to action because it challenges participants and audiences alike to unlearn colonial logics, rethink inherited systems, and imagine bold, alternative futures. Through unity, collaboration, and storytelling, we believe a new ecosystem of inclusion, visibility, and empowerment can emerge—one that truly reflects the diverse realities of the Global South.
