Africa is Building

After months of preparation and anticipation, Nairobi finally welcomed the Cardano Africa Tech Summit 2026 (CATS26), a landmark moment for the African Web3 and blockchain ecosystem.

The summit came together through collaboration across the Cardano ecosystem, by partners who have been working to grow the Web3 community across Africa and connect local builders to the global stage. Seeing it finally come to life felt like watching months of effort turn into something real.

From the moment the gates opened, the energy was unmistakable. The venue was full of colour, not only from the vibrant branding across the venue representing different organisations from the tech and Web3 ecosystem, but from the diversity of the people who showed up. Everywhere I looked, there were conversations happening in different accents and languages. With over 600 attendees travelling from across Africa, the US, Asia, and the UK to be here in Nairobi. I couldn’t help but think this is what it looks like when a continent steps into the future it’s building for itself. I might be biased, but moments like this make it hard not to call Nairobi Africa’s tech capital. Everyone was here, at the Tamarind Hotel, eager to be part of what felt like a bold and important step forward for the continent.

In true Kenyan fashion, the day began with music and cultural dance. Before anyone even stepped into the venue, we were welcomed by dancers in vibrant traditional outfits inspired by Kikuyu, Maasai, and Luo culture. They sang welcome songs in their dialects and in Swahili as drums and horns played, creating a joyful atmosphere right from the entrance. Attendees didn’t just walk into the summit — they walked straight through the middle of the musical welcome. Ostrich-feather headdresses swayed as the dancers moved, and the beads around their necks, arms, and ankles jingled in rhythm with every step. People paused to watch, smile, and record videos, and some, even from completely different cultures, couldn’t help but join in. It set the tone perfectly. We were here to talk about the future, yes — but it wasn’t just about technology. It was about culture and community too.

The summit opened with remarks from the organising partners, and one statement in particular stayed with me: “The world now belongs to those without assumptions.” For years, there has been an assumption that Africa was waiting to be helped, while elsewhere the assumption was that the advantage already existed. Hearing that mindset being challenged in a room full of builders felt powerful. It felt like a shift.

As promised, the room was filled with developers, founders, policymakers, regulators, researchers, and community leaders. Government representation was strong. We heard from Mary Kerema, Secretary for ICT and E-Government from the State Department of ICT, and Oscar Otieno, Deputy Data Commissioner from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Their presence signalled a willingness from the government to listen, engage, and partner with innovators working toward a safe and sustainable digital future.

This led to the first panel discussion, Turning Blocks into Real Solutions. The conversation explored how Africans are using technology to tackle grassroots challenges such as financial inclusion, healthcare, food systems, and education. Meaningful innovation cannot happen in isolation. Collaboration between innovators, regulators, and policymakers is important. Speakers emphasised the need for stronger policy dialogue, greater awareness across the ecosystem, and the reminder that blockchain is not only about code, but it is also about community.

Building on the opening panels, networking breakout sessions throughout the day covered enterprise use cases, regulation and partnerships, product discussions, and technical showcases from Cardano hubs across Africa. These sessions were brought to life by the very organisations that power the ecosystem. Sponsors such as Cardano, Cardano Foundation, Wada, Intersect MBO, Mara Expeditions, Rejuve.Bio, and Tembo Plus. Implementation partners like PRISMA, Blockchain Centre NBO, and Lido Nation helped guide discussions and mentorship, while media partners such as XR Agency, Beyond The Code, Tech Arena, and Harlem CLX amplified the conversations.

Community projects featured in the breakout rooms included Anzens, Zengate, Axcel Africa, Able Pool, Timon, Power Learn Project, Clear Contracts, DirectEd Development, TAMED SPO, Africa Blockchain Institute, AdaEx App, VESPR, Cladfy, Cardano Hub NBO, T Experience Africa, and UNDP AltFinLab. Their participation not only showcased their projects but also helped facilitate hands-on conversations, mentoring participants and providing insight into how their work is building Africa’s Web3 ecosystem.

There were also fun interactive moments woven into the day, including games where participants could test their blockchain knowledge and win prizes. I loved seeing people learn, laugh, and connect in a lighthearted way. Every room felt like a different window into the same story: Africa is building.

One of my favourite moments? Looking around the room and seeing so many women in the conversation. Women founders, speakers, sponsors, volunteers. It was inspiring. It reminded me that this movement is not only about technology, it’s about who gets to participate in shaping the future.

Another highlight was the organisers’ commitment to accessibility. The summit wasn’t limited to those who could attend in person, it was livestreamed so the global community could join in and experience the day as it unfolded.

If you missed it, you can still watch the summit on YouTube and experience the conversations and energy for yourself. And stay tuned as more news features are coming soon.

Walking out of the venue that day, one thought stayed with me: Africa isn’t waiting for the future of technology. We are actively building it.