Data enthusiasts, AI innovators, and tech explorers — it’s time to unwrap the gift of knowledge! Data & AI Community Day Durban: Season of AI — Merry Christmas People (MCP) is happening on December 13, 2025, and we’re bringing you the perfect blend of cutting-edge tech and holiday cheer. 🎄✨
The Story Behind the Name
Season of AI is a quarterly Microsoft Community Pilot where Microsoft provides free content (slide decks, code, videos, etc.) for anyone to use at community events. This quarter’s official theme is Season of AI - Model Context Protocol, focusing on how MCP is revolutionizing the way AI systems connect, communicate, and context-share.
But here at Azure, AI/ML & Data Community Durban, we like to walk to our own beat! 🎵 Since we’re hosting this event in December — right in the heart of the holiday season — we’re calling it Season of AI — Merry Christmas People (MCP). It’s the perfect time to explore how Model Context Protocol is changing the AI landscape while enjoying the festive spirit that makes December special.
Think of it as our gift to the Durban tech community: world-class content with a local twist and plenty of holiday cheer! 🎁
Following Up on Ready Player 2
We’re riding high on the success of our October event, Data & AI Community Day Durban: Ready Player 2 - Augment Yourself with AI Superpowers! That event was absolutely packed with 200+ attendees, incredible speakers, and enough AI knowledge to power a small neural network. The energy was electric, the hallway track was buzzing, and the panel discussion? Let’s just say some spicy questions were asked! 🔥
Figure 1: Data & AI Community Day Durban: Ready Player 2 - Augment Yourself with AI Superpowers
Now we’re closing out 2025 with another unmissable event. If Ready Player 2 was about augmenting yourself with AI superpowers, then Merry Christmas People (MCP) is about unwrapping the future of AI connectivity and context-sharing — with a festive bow on top! 🎀
Data & AI Community Day Durban: Season of AI - Merry Christmas People (MCP)
Data & AI Community Day Durban: Season of AI - Merry Christmas People (MCP) is a full-day, in-person event where we deep dive into the most exciting innovations in AI, data, and cloud technologies. It’s packed with cutting-edge insights and networking opportunities and promises an exciting, in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence and other hot topics in the realm of Data & AI.
This event will feature a mix of 50-minute deep dives and 20-minute lightning sessions, delivered by a diverse panel of experts, architects, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) who are all at the forefront of their fields.
What to Expect
Reading the title of the event, you can expect topics around Model Context Protocol (MCP) — and we’ve got plenty of that! But hold on, there’s so much more!
If you’re not into MCP (maybe you think it stands for “Most Comfortable Pajamas” or “My Cat’s Purring”), don’t worry. Since the event is organized by Azure, AI/ML & Data Community Durban, we have a mix of other cool topics that celebrate everything Data & AI. So, expect topics along the lines of:
🎯 Featured Theme: Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- MCP Servers & Clients: How MCP servers work, building MCP integrations, and connecting AI systems
- Extending LLM Context: Using external data sources to give your AI superpowers
- Real-World MCP Implementations: Case studies and practical applications
- MCP Architecture: Design patterns, best practices, and integration strategies
🤖 Beyond MCP: The Full Data & AI Experience
- AI Agents & Agentic AI: Multi-agent systems, orchestration, and collaboration
- Generative AI: LLMs, prompt engineering, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and beyond
- Database Development: Performance optimization, architecture, and modern database technologies
- Microsoft Fabric: Data engineering, analytics, and business intelligence at scale
- Streaming Data & Real-Time Analytics: Kafka, Azure Event Hubs, and data in motion
- Power Platform & Power Apps: Making AI accessible to business users
- Real-World AI & Data Use Cases: Because theory is great, but practice is better!
Even though Season of AI is a Microsoft initiative, there will be topics covering non-Microsoft tech as well. The event will feature speakers from a diverse panel of experts, architects, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) who are all at the forefront of their fields.
So, whether you’re passionate about MCP, curious about AI agents, eager to explore Generative AI, interested in database development, fascinated by machine learning, or just want to soak in the latest in Data & AI — there’s something for everyone. Our expert speakers are ready to share their insights and experiences, providing you with the knowledge and inspiration to propel your projects and career forward.
This event is a MUST-ATTEND! 📈🤖🎄
Why Attend
Data & AI Community Day Durban: Season of AI - Merry Christmas People (MCP) is a unique opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with peers, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies in Data & AI. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out in the field, this event offers something for everyone. Don’t miss this chance to connect with like-minded individuals, expand your knowledge, and take your career to the next level.
Here are some quotes from previous events:
“This wasn’t just a local event but a world class AI and Data Conference for KZN, it reminded me as though I was at the Africa AI Expo last November in Sandton, this is how much this event has grown, and many new corners. Well done to all the amazing speakers and sponsors.”
“Another awesome event 👏 Thanks to the organizers and all the sponsors for having such an amazing conference here in Durban for free. An absolute privilege to attend and listen to such talented individuals and companies do wonders using AI and IT.”
“What an incredible time at the Data and AI event in Durban! We had a blast sharing knowledge and connecting with 230 AI enthusiasts who are as passionate about the future of technology as we are! A massive shoutout to the organizers and sponsors for making this event possible. Your hard work and support made it a huge success!”
“Event was well planned and organised. Catering was on par and the speakers were amazing. Organizers were welcoming and very helpful.”
“The speakers were wonderful gave such insightful talks. What I enjoyed the most was the panel discussion. If possible may it be included more.”
Links
Click on respective link for more information:
Call for Speakers
UPDATE: The Call for Speakers has CLOSED!
See below for our amazing line-up of speakers.
Speakers
We are happy to announce that we have a stellar line-up of speakers for the event: thought leaders in their respective fields, Microsoft MVPs, Software Architects, etc. The line-up looks like so:
Even though the CfS has closed, we are still looking for speakers for upcoming events. If you are interested in speaking, please contact us. New speakers and/or local talent is always welcome!
Sessions
The awesome speakers you see above will be presenting on the following topics:
We, the organizing committee, are very excited about the topics and speakers, and we hope you are too!
Registration
The registration is now closed as the event is officially sold out! It may be that we get cancellations before the event, so if you’re interested in attending, please email us, and we’ll put you on the waiting list. If a spot opens up, we’ll notify you!
We are looking forward to seeing you all at the event!
Agenda
Seeing all the awesome speakers and topics, you are probably wondering what the agenda looks like. I am happy to say that we now have an agenda for the event! We believe it is pretty solid (there may be a change or two), and we hope you will like it. The agenda looks like so:
When looking at the agenda, please note the following:
- Registration starting at 08:00, and the event starting at 08:35 sharp
- Welcome sessions: please try to be there on time
- The event ending at approximately 16:30 - 17:00
- A mix of 20-minute lightning talks and 50-minute deep dive sessions
- 10-minute breaks between sessions
- A lunch break (duration TBD)
- Our now-legendary panel discussion — bring your toughest questions! 🔥
- We continue from last event with the extremely popular student session where local students present their projects: Future Heroes Showcase: My Cool Projects (MCP).
Just to be clear, the agenda is subject to change. We will update the agenda as and when changes occur. However, we are extremeley excited about the agenda, and we hope you are too!
Venue
We are excited to announce that the event will, once again, be held at Richfield College, Umhlanga Campus!
Figure 2: Richfield College, Umhlanga Campus
Richfield College offers modern lecture theatres, strong Wi-Fi, excellent A/V equipment, and secure parking — everything we need for a world-class Data & AI event!
Location Details
Address: Centenary Boulevard, Park Square, 5-9 Park Avenue, Umhlanga
How to get there:
- The campus is inside the Park Square complex
- Take the elevator in Block C to the first floor, and you’re there!
- If you come by car, you enter the parking garage from Centenary Boulevard
- Secure parking is available
Sponsors
We are excited to announce the upcoming Data & AI Community Day Durban: Season of AI - Merry Christmas People (MCP). If recent events are any indication, this event promises to be a memorable and impactful experience for our community.
As organizers, we seek sponsors who share our commitment to supporting our community and would like to participate in this exciting event.
Your sponsorship would not only help us make this event a reality but also showcase your company’s dedication to our community. We have various sponsorship packages available to suit different budgets and marketing goals.
By partnering with us, you can:
- Promote your brand to a diverse audience of 200+ Data & AI professionals
- Gain exposure through our marketing efforts
- Align your company with a positive community initiative
- Support the growth of the local tech ecosystem
If you want to learn more about our event and the sponsorship opportunities available, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would be happy to provide you with a detailed sponsorship proposal and discuss how your support can make a meaningful impact.
About Azure, AI/ML & Data Community Durban
The Azure, AI/ML & Data Community Durban group is a user group for the community by the community. It is a learning experience where we share, learn, and encourage the community to leverage Azure, AI/ML, and Data to solve problems.
Our Mission: To empower and create heroes of society through Azure, AI/ML, and Data.
We Do Positive Things through innovation and passion.
Contact Us
Have questions? Want to speak? Interested in sponsorship?