Aga Khan University (AKU) Tanzania marked a significant milestone this November as the AKU Library celebrated five years of commemorating Authors Day an annual event dedicated to recognizing AKU writers, promoting scholarly publishing, and inspiring a strong culture of writing across the university.
Launched in November 2021, the event has steadily expanded in scope, creativity, and participation. Over the past five years, AKU's research output has grown impressively, with more than 5,000 publications and over 147,000 citations worldwide. This body of work continues to contribute meaningfully to global conversations and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing AKU's role as a knowledge-generating institution.
“As we discuss Artificial Intelligence and authorship, we hope more authors, researchers, and members of the AKU community will be inspired to generate knowledge, access it openly, share it freely, and reach communities beyond our walls who rely on information for informed decision-making," said Dr Jackline Kiwelu, Senior Librarian, AKU Tanzania. “With emerging technologies like AI, we believe the authorship journey will become even more vibrant, ultimately making our world a better place."
Held under the slogan “Authors Need Chai," reminding us that writers flourish in calm, nurturing environments, the event featured a lively series of activities. These included keynote addresses by internal and external authors sharing their experiences in academic and creative writing, a book fair, a book swap, and a dynamic panel discussion.
The Associate Vice Provost of Aga Khan University, Tanzania Professor Eunice Pallangyo, encouraged young writers to embrace their natural intelligence and creativity when producing artistic and scholarly work rather than relying solely on artificial intelligence.
“Everyone has an idea; everyone has something worth writing about. When your work is read by others, it sparks many more ideas. We want the love of reading to be part of who we are," she emphasized.
This year's theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Authorship," ignited thoughtful conversations during the panel session. Panelists explored how AI is reshaping the writing landscape and addressed key questions around creativity, ethics, and academic integrity. The dialogue concluded with a shared understanding that AI is here to stay emphasizing the need for responsible integration in both education and writing practices.
“Listening to the panelists was eye-opening; their insights changed how I understand and practice ethical use of AI," said Mary Karungi, a Master of Education student at IED, EA. “My biggest takeaway is the importance of publishing my work. I've been writing for a long time but have never published anything. Today, I feel motivated to learn the process and finally share my ideas with the world."
The 2025 Authors Day celebration was a vibrant, collaborative, and empowering event one that continues to strengthen AKU's commitment to nurturing creativity, scholarship, and a vibrant reading culture across its communities.
