Insights from Henry Kofi Danso on the African Currents Podcast by Sputnik Africa
As Africa’s urban population is projected to double by 2050, with more than 800 million people expected to reside in cities, a growing question looms over the continent’s future:
Can artificial intelligence (AI) help us build cities that are not only smarter but also more livable and just?
This was the central theme of a compelling episode of the African Currents Podcast by Sputnik Africa, where Henry Kofi Danso, a researcher and urban innovation advocate, joined host Chimauchem and esteemed guest Prof. Samah El-Khateeb of Ain Shams University to delve deep into the potential of AI in shaping Africa’s rapidly urbanizing future.
🎙️ The full conversation is available here:
👉 Listen to the episode
AI as a Tool of Urban Agency and Inclusion
During the discussion, Henry Kofi Danso emphasized that AI’s role in Africa must move beyond automation and efficiency. Instead, he positioned AI as a tool of agency, capable of empowering African cities to reclaim their narratives, shape inclusive development, and design solutions rooted in local realities.
He outlined several key contributions of AI to urban transformation:
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Reclaiming African urban narratives by generating locally relevant data and stories rather than adopting external city models.
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Filling critical data gaps, especially in informal settlements and under-documented urban areas.
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Simulating smarter systems, from traffic and transport optimization to land use and disaster risk scenarios.
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Supporting participatory planning, allowing communities to visualize, critique, and co-create their cityscapes.
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Enhancing decision-making, equipping governments and planners with predictive tools and real-time intelligence.
Henry stressed that the urban future of Africa hinges not on replicating high-tech blueprints from the Global North, but on embracing context-driven, ethical, and inclusive AI that speaks to Africa’s specific challenges and aspirations.
Grounded in Context, Designed for Impact
In his remarks, Henry also highlighted that the success of AI in African cities depends on frugality, accessibility, and ethics. He cautioned against viewing technology as a silver bullet and urged for a thoughtful, grassroots-centered approach.
Key points from his segment included:
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The need for affordable and adaptable AI tools that work in low-resource settings.
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The importance of ethical data governance to ensure that local communities maintain agency over how their data is collected and used.
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Designing AI systems that are inclusive by default, especially for the urban poor, women, people with disabilities, and youth.
He cited examples from Ghana, where local developers and planners are using open-source mapping tools, AI-driven urban models, and frugal digital twin platforms to engage communities and improve service delivery.
Prof. El-Khateeb on AI for Urban Resilience
Joining the conversation from Egypt, Prof. Samah El-Khateeb offered a complementary perspective on the power of Urban AI in supporting disaster preparedness, health monitoring, and environmental management.
She noted that in contexts prone to extreme weather, rapid disease spread, or unplanned expansion, AI is already helping cities respond faster, allocate resources smarter, and protect vulnerable populations.
From air quality tracking to flood forecasting, her input underscored the broader value of AI in climate resilience and public health, particularly in fragile urban ecosystems.
A Call to Urban Professionals Across Africa
The episode concluded with a strong message: if you’re an architect, urban planner, data scientist, policymaker, or simply passionate about the future of African cities, now is the time to engage with the transformative potential of AI.
Henry believes that by combining African ingenuity with emerging technology, cities across the continent can become models of inclusive, just, and resilient urbanism, ones that serve not just economic growth, but human dignity.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of African Currents featuring Henry Kofi Danso and Prof. Samah El-Khateeb here:
👉 https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250728/can-ai-make-africas-rapidly-growing-cities-more-livable-and-just-1076174014.html
📲 You can also tune in via Telegram: Sputnik Africa Channel
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This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a glimpse into the future of African cities, one shaped by intelligent systems, inclusive design, and local leadership.
Let’s make sure Africa leads in defining what truly livable, just, and intelligent cities can be.