Accra: The Cortex Hub will host the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Hackathon Africa 2025, a continent-wide initiative designed to embed African languages, culture, and priorities into the next generation of Artificial Intelligence. The eight-week programme, spanning over 40 cities from September to November 2025, aims to unite developers, researchers, startups, and students in building practical solutions using MCP, an emerging open standard that enables applications to deliver structured, locally relevant information to large language models.
According to Ghana News Agency, the hackathon is set to culminate in a continental showcase in Cape Town on 11-12 November 2025, where finalists will present their innovations to investors, incubators, and technology leaders from across the globe. "The MCP Hackathon Africa 2025 is a strategic effort to ensure Africa plays a leading role in shaping the infrastructure of Artificial General Intelligence," the statement emphasized.
Participants will contribute African languages, legal systems, and development priorities to MCP servers, thus helping safeguard digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on closed technologies. The program will include local hubs in more than 40 cities across Southern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and North Africa, offering participants access to bootcamps, mentorship, peer collaboration, and technical resources.
Innovation tracks will focus on sectors such as telecommunications, financial technology, agriculture, logistics, and public services, addressing challenges from empowering smallholder farmers with real-time information to strengthening secure payment systems and designing logistics platforms that support cross-border trade.
A total prize pool of US$9,500 will be awarded, with a grand prize of US$5,000 for the best overall solution, US$3,500 for outstanding innovation, and US$1,000 for excellence in execution. Winners will also gain visibility at AfricaCom, one of the continent's largest technology events.
Mr. Andile Ngcaba, Patron of The Cortex Hub, noted, "The Model Context Protocol is Africa's opportunity to move from being consumers of AI to creators of the standards that govern it." Mr. Ahmed Mohamed, Group CEO of Datacentrix, added, "The MCP is the glue that transforms abstract algorithms into situated intelligence."
Dr. Fiona Asonga, CEO of TESPOK, highlighted the hackathon as a significant opportunity for the youth of Kenya and East Africa to test their skills in Artificial Intelligence.
