Where African Minds Convene to Solve Global Challenges
The Palaver Institute is an act of epistemic independence. We center indigenous African knowledge systems as sophisticated scientific frameworks for understanding human intelligence and building ethical AI for Africa.
About Palaver Institute
Building the intellectual infrastructure for African independence through indigenous-centered research and pan-African collaboration.
Our Mission
The Palaver Institute exists to decolonize the study of human intelligence by centering indigenous African epistemologies as sophisticated scientific frameworks. We conduct foundational research that bridges traditional wisdom with modern inquiry, creating knowledge that serves Africa first and the world second.
Our Philosophy
Indigenous Knowledge is Foundational Science: African epistemologies are not cultural artifacts—they are rigorous, field-tested frameworks for understanding complex systems.
Sovereignty Precedes Prosperity: Intellectual sovereignty must come before economic sovereignty. We build institutions that are financially, technologically, and intellectually independent.
Proven Success
Our 2025 Cameroon pilot validated the model: 10 fellows across 8 fields produced 250+ pages of world-class research for under $1,000 USD, proving that African researchers can produce exceptional interdisciplinary scholarship when given intellectual freedom.
Our Impact
Our Research Schools
Three Schools of research, each containing specialized Labs, addressing humanity's greatest challenges through indigenous African frameworks.
School of Human Systems
Indigenous Intelligence Lab (Flagship)
Our flagship lab decolonizes the study of human cognition by building the world's most comprehensive research on non-Western models of intelligence. This ethical foundation guides all our future AI work—we cannot build just AI without first understanding African cognition.
School of Sovereign Systems
Sovereign Hardware Lab
Achieving technological independence by designing and fabricating African-built computational infrastructure. Our goal: custom servers, specialized AI chips, and data center hardware owned by Africa, for Africa.
School of Social Dynamics
Gamification Lab
Transform wicked problems into complex interactive models. We gamify difficult disciplines—from astrophysics to understanding colonialism—to uncover novel solutions and create revolutionary educational tools.
Interested in joining our research community?
Get InvolvedFellowship & Network
Building a continental network of exceptional African researchers and scholars.
Founding Fellows
Our 2025 Cameroon cohort: 10 exceptional researchers across Philosophy, Linguistics, Economics, Education, Anthropology, Sociology, and Medicine who validated our model with world-class scholarship.
Fellowship Network
Highly selective 6-month fellowship program for Master's and PhD-level African researchers. Two cohorts annually across five continental hubs create a prestigious pan-African research network.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborations with leading African universities: University of Buea (Cameroon), University of Ghana, University of Rwanda, University of Cape Town, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic (Morocco).
Join Our Network
We're building the intellectual infrastructure for African independence. Our fellowship program is highly selective, bringing together the continent's brightest minds to tackle humanity's greatest challenges through indigenous African frameworks.
Get In Touch
Interested in collaborating or learning more about our research? We'd love to hear from you.
Contact Information
info@palaverinstitute.org
Website
palaverinstitute.org
Headquarters
Kigali, Rwanda
Continental Hubs: Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco
Connect With Us
Follow our journey as we build intellectual sovereignty for Africa. Join the conversation about decolonizing research and centering indigenous African knowledge systems.