In a vibrant display of scientific collaboration, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) marked its 20th anniversary from 17th to 23rd March 2024, in Muizenberg South Africa. The week-long festival – “Siyakhula”, brought together a dynamic mix of leaders, researchers, and innovators, the festival highlighted the remarkable growth of mathematical sciences across AIMS’ six Centres of Excellence in South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, and Rwanda. Aptly named “Siyakhula,” meaning “We Are Growing” in isiZulu, the event was a powerful convergence of minds, cultures, and forward-thinking initiatives, fostering stronger STEM research collaborations across Africa and building intercontinental partnerships, particularly with Canada, Germany, and other global allies.

The festival attracted a broad and influential audience, including representatives from high schools, universities, research institutions, governments, the private sector, and civil society. The mission was clear: foster new connections, engage in meaningful dialogue, and solidify partnerships that would strengthen mathematical sciences across the continent while building bridges with global partners such as Germany. The event coincided with the 12th anniversary of the German Research Chairs in Africa and the 10th anniversary of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS), underscoring the vital international relationships that have fueled scientific advancement throughout Africa.

Workshops on mathematical optimization, vibrant poster presentations, and special events like the “Research in Africa Showcase Days” and “Women in Mathematics” events created spaces for knowledge exchange and problem-solving. A notable moment was the participation of Prof. Dr. Sabine Döring, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Education & Research, who praised Germany’s ongoing contribution to AIMS’ groundbreaking research across Africa, in discussions with the founder of the AIMS Network, Prof Neil Turok – Higgs Chair of Theoretical Physics at the University of Edinburgh and director emeritus of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. This festival was more than just a retrospective; it was a launchpad for future scientific innovation and deeper global collaboration.

One of the festival’s standout moments was the launch of AIMS’ new slogan, a culmination of 20 years of empowering the next generation of African scientists. Transitioning from its original mantra, “We Believe the Next Einstein Will Be African,” AIMS unveiled its new slogan, “In Africa’s Youth, the Future of Science”. The winning slogan came from a team of eight students from AIMS Cameroon, reflecting the institute’s renewed focus on the role of Africa’s youth in driving global scientific innovation. This exciting new direction underscores the importance of bringing science back to Africa, the cradle of civilization, while propelling the continent to the forefront of global scientific advancement.

All Centres across the network were represented with the Ghana delegation comprising Dr. Prince Koree Osei – AIMS Ghana Centre President, Dr. Angela Tabiri – Research Associate and Academic Manager, Ms. Rhoda Nana Safowa – Public Engagement and External Relations Manager and Ms. Charlene Asiedu – Communications Officer. Representatives from the AIMS Ghana team not only participated in the workshops but also collaborated in leading communications efforts across the AIMS network, amplifying the festival’s impact and connecting the global AIMS community. The celebration highlighted past achievements and was a platform for fostering future research, innovation, and powerful intercontinental collaborations—particularly with the ongoing support of Germany’s Research Chairs program.