The fifth edition of the Kusi Ideas Festival, was held in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, on December 7th-8th, 2023. It continued its legacy as a beacon of intellectual discourse in Africa. The theme for the festival was “Africa’s Agenda 2063: Making the Dream Come True”, based on the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
African Union’s Agenda 2063 has been defined as the continent’s master plan for transforming it into the global powerhouse of the future. Back in 2014, the then AU Commission Chair Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma presented a visionary “Email from the future”. In it, she painted a picture of an interconnected, prosperous, peaceful, technologically driven Africa that had undergone a remarkable agricultural revolution by the year 2063. The festival, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Agenda 2063, acknowledged both the achievements and challenges encountered on this ambitious journey. It was an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of African nations in their pursuit of the goals outlined in Agenda 2063.
The 5th edition of the Kusi Ideas Festival was co-hosted by H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi president of the Republic Of Botswana and attracted the attendance of H.E. Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda and Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Republic of Tanzania.
Other key dignitaries in attendance Admassu Tadesse Group President Emeritus & MD, Trade and Development Bank Group, Amb. Frederic Gateretse-Ngoga, Senior Advisor for International Partnerships, AU Commission (virtually) and Alice Nderitu Under-Secretary-General, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nations (virtually).
