Decolonising Africa’s Artificial Intelligence Initiatives from the Onset: How African Values Must Shape the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) across African societies presents both transformative possibilities and profound ethical risks. While AI holds potential to enhance development outcomes, its design, governance, and ethical framing remain overwhelmingly shaped by Western epistemologies and commercial priorities. This paper argues that without deliberate decolonisation from inception, AI initiatives in Africa risk entrenching digital colonialism, epistemic injustice, and moral misalignment. Drawing on African ethical philosophies, including Ubuntu and Omoluabi, as well as contemporary scholarship on decolonial AI and data colonialism, the article advances a normative framework for African‑centred AI ethics. It contends that African values must not merely supplement existing global AI ethics frameworks but actively shape the ontological, moral, and governance foundations of AI. By situating ethics within African communal worldviews, faith traditions, and socio‑technical realities, the paper demonstrates how Africa can contribute meaningfully to global AI ethics while safeguarding dignity, sovereignty, and collective flourishing. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Decolonisation, Ubuntu, Omoluabi, AI Ethics, Digital Colonialism, Epistemic Justice, Africa Journal Reference Format: Ademola, O.E. & Longe, O.B. (2026): Decolonising Africa’s Artificial Intelligence Initiatives from the Onset:How African Values Must Shape the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Social Informatics, Business, Politics, Law, Environmental Sciences & Technology Journal. Vol. 12, No. 1. Pp 45-52. www.isteams/socialinformaticsjournal. dx.doi.org