Since the first summer school in 2015, held in Nyeri, Kenya, Data Science Africa (DSA) has grown from a small gathering into a pan-African movement for capacity building in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). In a decade, DSA has reached participants in 34 African countries, convened 1,757 attendees across 13 events, and helped launch a community of data scientists building solutions for some of Africa’s biggest challenges — from health care to climate change, agriculture to education.

As Data Science Africa (DSA) marks a decade of impact, its founders reflect on the moments, meanings, and milestones that shaped a movement. In this quick-fire Q&A, DSA’s pioneers share personal insights into what the community represents to them, from nurturing the next generation of African data scientists and building continent-wide networks to witnessing life-changing transformations sparked by a single event. Together, their stories trace DSA’s journey from a bold idea to a self-sustaining, pan-African community driving Africa’s data and technology future.

I never imagined a 20-hour bus ride could change my life. In 2016, as a PhD student in Tanzania, I had no idea how data science could shape my future. My mentor, Morris Agaba, urged me to attend the Data Science Africa (DSA) summer school held at Makerere University in Uganda. “Just go,” he said to me. “Figure out the travel.” So, three of us, determined women, took a bus to Kampala, unsure of what awaited us.

I first heard about Data Science Africa (DSA) through a friend, Dr. Sekou Remy, who thought I’d find the community interesting. At the time, I was searching for spaces that aligned with my interests. Sekou, who was then at IBM, introduced me to DSA and mentioned they were planning an event in Abuja.