Decoloniality as an Essential Trustworthy AI Requirement

Requirements for achieving trustworthiness in AI differ based on socio-cultural and political expectations of a community, country, or region. In this chapter, we present decoloniality as an essential requirement for trustworthy AI in Africa and other regions with visible scars of colonialism and continued coloniality. Through a critical examination of evident colonial tendencies or coloniality in AI ecosystems, this chapter provides clarity on realisation and assessment of decoloniality in the design, development, and deployment of AI systems in and for Africa. We make the argument that decoloniality will help in dismantling the legacies of colonialism that continue to shape global power dynamics and knowledge production and in this case AI. We also explore the challenges decoloising AI face in Africa and conclude by making recommendations for both policy and practice.