The event brought together researchers, storytellers, educators and innovators whose work reflects the depth and complexity of Africa's natural and cultural landscapes.

 

 

A Week Centred on Connection, Shared Learning and Honest Storytelling

The festival brought three distinct cohorts into one week. A select group took part in a three-day Storytellers Collective programme that helped them refine the way they communicate their work. Their efforts culminated in a spotlight event where they shared short, energetic talks with regional Explorers and visiting students. Alongside them, another group participated in the Community Training programme while members of the Southern African Hub gathered for an in person meet-up that encouraged thoughtful discussion and new relationships., says the National Geographics Society.

Much of the week focused on collaboration. More than twenty Explorers joined a multi-day workshop where they exchanged ideas, debated approaches and looked at ways to strengthen cross border connections. Conversations moved easily between practical challenges and big picture thinking, giving participants the space to reflect on what community building across Africa might look like in the years ahead, adds the NPO.

An Evening that Honoured African Achievement in Exploration

The festival closed with the Evening of Exploration, a sophisticated gathering that highlighted some of the region's most compelling voices. Ethnobiologist and Environmental Anthropologist Kerllen Costa, Terrestrial Ecologist and Conservationist Dominique Gonçalves, Geologist and Speleologist Tebogo Vincent Makhubela, Film Producer Ntokozo Mbuli and Storyteller Noel Martin Anthony Kok each shared personal accounts of their work. Their stories carried a sense of purpose and humanity, offering the audience a candid look at the curiosity and resilience that is driving their research, says the NPO.

As a global nonprofit, the National Geographic Society uses its funding and support to empower a diverse community of individuals who are driving cutting-edge science, creating transformative educational experiences, and sharing powerful stories, adds the NPO.

Its commitment to elevating storytellers, educators, scientists and backing Explorer-led programmes across ocean, land, wildlife, human histories and cultures and planetary health shaped the rhythm of the Festival. The organisation's shared mission, to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world, reminded attendees why this growing community continues to have such influence across Africa and beyond, says the NPO.

By the time the Festival drew to a close, it was clear that Johannesburg had set the scene for something meaningful. The city provided an energetic backdrop for a gathering that celebrated African talent, narratives, imagination and ambition, leaving participants with new connections and a renewed sense of possibility, concludes the NPO.

For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com. You can also follow National Geographic on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor