Nairobi recently came alive with a vibrant fusion of technology, cybersecurity, and cultural celebration during the inaugural Cyber Carnival, hosted at Kalamata Restaurant. The event marked a bold reimagining of tech engagement in Africa blending cutting edge innovation with the spirit of community and cultural heritage.

Powered by the Africa Cyber Defense Forum (ACDF), Cyber Carnival 2025 brought together a powerful mix of African and global experts, young innovators, cybersecurity professionals, creatives, and the public. The three-day festival featured hackathons, panel discussions, startup showcases, cultural exhibitions, cyber barazas, street food, music and live performances – all seamlessly integrated to offer a multisensory and intellectually stimulating experience.

The event served as a build-up to the annual Africa Cyber Defense Forum 2025, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 29 September to 3 October 2025. This positioning allowed the Carnival to act as a springboard for deeper conversations and collaborative momentum ahead of the flagship cybersecurity forum.

The festival addressed critical themes shaping Africa’s digital future, including the rise of digital transformation, growing cybersecurity risks, and the vital role of youth and mobile technology in shaping a new digital society. With over 650 million Africans accessing the internet via mobile phones, the event spotlighted the continent’s rapid digitalisation and the corresponding need for a more secure and inclusive cyberspace.

AFRALTI participated in key conversations and technical workshops during the event, reinforcing its commitment to advancing cybersecurity awareness and capacity building across the region. From ethical hacking demonstrations to incident response simulations, AFRALTI’s engagement equipped participants with hands-on skills essential for navigating today’s complex cyber landscape.

One of the standout elements of the Carnival was its cultural depth. In a move that honoured Nairobi’s linguistic identity and communal traditions, keynote speeches were delivered in Swahili, and storytelling sessions took place under “innovation trees” spaces set up to encourage reflection, collaboration and the sharing of African tech narratives.

Cyber Carnival 2025 not only positioned Nairobi as a nexus of tech excellence and cultural pride but also set a new benchmark for what inclusive, people-centred cybersecurity engagement can look like in Africa. AFRALTI remains proud to support initiatives that fuse knowledge, creativity, and local identity to build a resilient digital future for the continent.