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| Zambian delegates at AfLIA conference |
The 6th AFLIA Conference and 8th African Library Summit took place from May 19 to May 23, 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia, under the overarching theme "Open Knowledge: Present, Future, and African Realities." This significant gathering brought together over 200 delegates representing 17 African countries, including five delegates from Zambia. The event served as a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovative research, and strengthening collaboration among librarians, academic scholars, policymakers, and other stakeholders committed to advancing open knowledge and information access across Africa.
Overview of the Conference
The event featured a diverse program comprising keynote addresses, panel discussions, pre-conference workshops, and paper presentations. A total of 21 papers were presented, with Zambian contributors notably participating actively—two of these presentations were delivered by Zambian researchers.
Over 200 delegates from 17 African nations participated, demonstrating a strong regional interest in open knowledge initiatives. Zambian representation included five delegates, showcasing the country's engagement with African-wide partnerships and innovations in the library and information sector.
The first presentation titled "Open Science and Scholarly Writing: Rethinking Traditional Journals—A Scoping Review" was delivered collaboratively by Dr. Euphrasia Ngandwe, Mrs. Mutinta Mweemba Nabuyanda, and Mr. Chipembele Matuka. This paper analyzed the evolving role of librarians, focusing on their expertise as curators of open access repositories and as intermediaries connecting information sources with researchers. It also examined the impact of institutional and governmental policies on the development of mandates, funding, and infrastructural support necessary for the adoption of open science. Additionally, the study discussed changing paradigms in scholarly publishing within the context of open science, highlighting the importance of re-evaluating traditional journal models to improve accessibility and promote inclusivity.
The second presentation, by Mrs. Sharon Munshya Liato and Mr. Moses Mumba, titled "Assessing the Knowledge and Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence among Students, Lecturers, and Librarians in Colleges of Education in Zambia", explored AI adoption in educational settings, its implications for teaching and learning quality, and the significance of integrating AI literacy into academic environments.
Election of New Office Bearers (2025-2027)
The conference concluded with the election of a new leadership team tasked with steering AFLIA through the coming years with Sarah Negumbo as president and Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah as vice-president. Mrs. Nabuyanda was elected to sit in the Governing Council as Southern Africa Regional Representative.
In addition, Mrs. Sharon Munshya Liato was elected Publicity Secretary (National Libraries Section), while Dr. Euphrasia Ngandwe was elected as Vice Chairperson (Academic Libraries and Library Consortia Section)
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| Part of the newly elected AFLIA Governing Council members |
In conclusion, the conference reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to embracing open knowledge principles, promoting scholarly collaboration, and leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance educational outcomes. Notably, the participation, contributions and election into offices by the Zambian delegates exemplify LIAZ’s growing role in regional and continental knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Participants acknowledged the importance of rethinking traditional scholarly communication frameworks and integrating innovative technologies to bridge information gaps, especially in resource-limited contexts.
The new leadership pledge to foster collaborations, promote open access policies, and advance capacity-building in library and information sciences across Africa.
For a detailed report on Office bearers and more information on AfLIA activities including the just ended conference and summit, visit the AfLIA website https://web.aflia.net/
