The Cortex Hub has announced that the MCP Hackathon Africa 2025 will run from September to November 2025. This initiative is designed to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by embedding African languages, legal systems and development priorities into the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
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The program will run in more than 40 cities across Africa. The initiative will unite developers, researchers, startups and students to create locally relevant MCP servers and applications that provide structured information to large language models.
The hackathon will conclude with a continental showcase in Cape Town on 11–12 November 2025. Finalists will present to investors, incubators and global technology leaders.
Why MCP
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an emerging open standard that enables applications to deliver structured and contextual data to AI systems. By developing MCP servers for African cities, participants will help embed local priorities into the infrastructure of future Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Andile Ngcaba, Patron of The Cortex Hub, described the program as a strategic opportunity: “The Model Context Protocol is Africa’s opportunity to move from being consumers of AI to creators of the standards that govern it.”
By contributing MCP resources that reflect African cultures, languages, and economies, the hackathon also seeks to advance digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on proprietary, closed AI systems.
Participants will gain access to bootcamps, mentorship, starter code repositories, MCP documentation, and technical support. Collaboration will focus on innovation tracks in telecommunications, fintech, agriculture, logistics and public services.
Example applications include tools to empower smallholder farmers with real-time information, secure digital payment systems and logistics platforms that support cross-border trade.
The hackathon features a $9,500 prize pool, distributed as follows:
- $5,000 – Best overall solution
- $3,500 – Outstanding innovation
- $1,000 – Excellence in execution
Winners will also present their work at AfricaCom.
TESPOK, Seacom, Mauritius Telecom, CSquared, Solcon Capital and Datacentrix back the MCP Hackathon Africa 2025.
Developers, startups, researchers, and students can register for the MCP Hackathon Africa 2025 via Jotform.
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