Summer School for Political Speechwriters 2025 - Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire

Just wrapped up another incredible edition of our Summer School for Political Speechwriters!

From 29 to 31 July 2025, KAS Media Africa hosted a focused, three-day workshop in Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire, bringing together seven established and emerging political communicators from Liberia, South Africa, Kenya, Angola, and Namibia.

This edition of the Summer School explored political speechwriting in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a strong emphasis on countering disinformation, preserving trust, and using technology ethically and effectively.

Facilitators Dr. Heather Thuynsma (USA), Michael Dobis (Germany), Yanga Malotana (South Africa), and Dr. Christopher Nehring (Germany) guided participants through a series of intensive sessions. Topics ranged from the fundamentals of persuasive political messaging to practical AI tools for research, drafting, and real-time response. Participants also tackled one of the most urgent challenges in today’s communication landscape: detecting and responding to AI-generated content, including deepfakes and other synthetic media used to distort political narratives.

The programme was highly interactive. Participants engaged in simulations based on real-world political scenarios, giving them the chance to apply their learning in fast-moving, high-pressure contexts - skills essential for communicators working in opposition politics or volatile media environments.

As a regional media programme, KAS Media Africa recognises that the rise of AI brings both opportunities and risks. While new tools can accelerate and enhance political communication, they also require careful scrutiny and ethical use. Just as journalists must stay informed about emerging technologies, so too must the people responsible for connecting citizens to political leaders.

The Summer School helped reinforce a shared understanding: in an age of digital manipulation and political complexity, speechwriters must inspire - but also defend, using their words to build trust, counter falsehoods, and strengthen democratic dialogue across Africa.