What concept was popularized by South African president Thabo Mbeki? Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa, is widely known for his contribution to the political and economic development of the African continent. During his tenure as president, he introduced several new concepts that had a significant impact on the country and the African continent as a whole. One of the most notable concepts that he popularized was the "African Renaissance." The concept of the African Renaissance was first introduced by Mbeki in 1998 during a speech at the University of Georgetown in the United States. The idea was to promote the renewal and revitalization of Africa's political, economic, and cultural identity. Mbeki believed that Africa had a rich cultural heritage and a history of intellectual and scientific achievement that had been ignored and marginalized by the rest of the world. Mbeki saw the African Renaissance as a way to reverse the negative stereotypes associated