manifesto

teKSafari is redefining innovation by putting local talent at the center of technological progress. For too long, communities—especially across Africa—have relied on external solutions that often miss the mark culturally and practically. We believe that real impact comes from building with the people who understand the problems best. By blending global insights with local knowledge, we create tools and systems that actually work. Our mission is simple: empower communities to build their own future, on their own terms.

Ignas KamugishaMay 24, 2022

teKSafari Manifesto

teKnology for the rest of us.

A More Grounded Approach to Innovation

For decades, many countries—including those across Africa—have looked abroad for inspiration and expertise. And while there’s value in learning from others, it has often come at the cost of overlooking the talent that already exists at home.

Across the continent, critical technical projects are still mostly outsourced to foreign firms. The result? Solutions that may be technically sound, but often feel out of place—disconnected from the people and realities they’re meant to serve.

The Problem with Outsourcing Everything

We’ve seen it too often: well-designed systems that don’t fit the local context. Not because they lack quality, but because they miss the mark culturally or practically. They were never built with us in mind.

When local voices are excluded from the process, we lose the chance to create something that truly fits. And we reinforce the idea that we can’t build for ourselves—which simply isn’t true.

What We Believe

At teKSafari, we believe innovation works best when it’s rooted in local knowledge and built by the people who live with the problems every day.

That doesn’t mean shutting out the world—it means making space for our own voices, stories, and skills to shape the future too. We’re here to support and spotlight local talent, not as a feel-good initiative, but because it leads to better, more lasting solutions.

Let’s Do This Differently

We're calling on everyone—governments, companies, community leaders, and citizens—to think differently about progress:

Build Locally First: Invest in homegrown talent and ideas. Let’s make sure development reflects the real needs and rhythms of our communities.
Learn from the World, Apply at Home: Global ideas are great—but they work best when adapted to fit local realities.
Think Long-Term: Instead of quick fixes, let’s focus on solutions that grow with us and leave behind real skills, jobs, and ownership.

Our Vision

We’re building a future where progress isn’t just about shiny new tech—it’s about impact. It’s about solutions that feel familiar, work well, and make people’s lives better in ways that matter.

This isn’t just a mission. It’s personal.

Let’s build with, not just for.
Let’s code, design, and imagine a future that reflects all of us.