Indigenous Language Imbizo
24 November 2026
University of Johannesburg's Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre
Under Our Tree: Language, Memory and Power in the Age of Digital Transformation
South Africa’s Constitution chose an indigenous idea as its central image: justice under a tree. But what gets lost when ideas rooted in indigenous languages and knowledge systems are translated into English? As South Africa marks 30 years of its Constitution, our Imbizo asks: Where is your tree, and what stories live beneath it?
The programme will bring together voices from AI and technology, academia, law, digital rights and policy, the creative industries, design, publishing, literature, broadcasting, theatre and cultural heritage to unpack:
Mother Tongues and the Machine
Who owns, controls and benefits when indigenous languages become part of AI and the digital economy?
Shaping New Worlds in Our Own Words
How can indigenous languages, knowledge and ways of seeing influence contemporary art, design, architecture, storytelling and technology?
What Will Be Remembered?
Who enters the archive, what is changed through translation, and how can communities preserve and create cultural memory on their own terms?
The Imbizo creates a space to look beyond preservation and consider how our languages, knowledge and stories can shape the future we are building.
Join us under our tree.
What we've achieved together
Since its inception, the Imbizo has become a recognised platform for meaningful conversations that connect language with culture, technology and social development.
Over the years, the Imbizo has:
- Brought together experts and communities from across multiple disciplines to address challenges facing indigenous languages.
- Sparked conversations around multilingual education, media representation and language rights.
- Explored how emerging technologies can both preserve and transform indigenous languages.
- Created opportunities for collaboration between government, academia, civil society and the creative industries.
- Celebrated indigenous storytelling, performance and cultural expression.
- Encouraged practical solutions that promote multilingualism across South African society.
Each edition builds on the last, creating a growing network of people and organisations committed to ensuring no language is left behind.
Highlights from previous Imbizos
Get in touch
Let’s work together to disrupt the status quo. We’re here to answer any queries or discuss how we can grow the use of indigenous languages in SA.