South Africa, Sept. 25 -- Every September, South Africans celebrate Heritage Month by looking back. But in 2025, the more urgent question is - can Africa's heritage help us lead forward? Across the Atlantic, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is under siege. In the USA, courts have rolled back affirmative action, several states are banning mandatory DEI training, and companies from Accenture to Zoom have quietly trimmed back initiatives under political pressure. What was once a celebrated differentiator is now treated with suspicion.

At the same time, generative AI is redefining creativity, identity and the value of human work. Writers, designers and marketers are asking: what does originality mean when machines can mimic us in second...