ovoo2017 Fak ugesi African Dig Innovation Festival - Art Arica
ARTAFRICA ~:=
Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival
Stet August 2017 /
The future of creative innovation &
technology takes centre stage at 2017
Fak'ugesi Conference
With its bold and daring theme of ‘brave tech hearts beat
as one’ the 2017 Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation
Festival will once again pioneer uniquely African
technology and creativity in an electrifying ten-day
programme, from 6 to 16 September, to showcase the
power of innovative collaboration.
This year’s festival once again promises a unique, fresh
and exciting line up of events, including, for the first time,
the Fak'ugesi Conference
http:/Hakugesi.co.za/event/fakugesi-conference-14-sept/)
taking place on 14 September. This one-day event titled
“The Future of Creative Innovation” sets its focus on
highlighting important conversations on the role of
collaboration and interdisciplinary practice for creativity,
technology and innovation in Africa.
The 2017 Fakugesi Conference
http://fakugesi.co.za/event/fakugesi-conference-14-sept/]
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Fak ugesi African Dig Innovation Festival - Art Arica
will take a closer look at the present and future of
collaborative practices and digital culture in Southern
Africa and the Sub-Saharan region. Panellists and
keynote speakers will also engage questions around inter
and multidisciplinary digital practices in support of the
growth of creative and community-led innovative
technology in Johannesburg, South Africa and beyond
The day's events will be introduced by one of South
Africa's most well-established fine artists, William
Kentridge, in a keynote address titled “Enough and More
Than Enough’. Kentridge’s immense _ intellectual
generosity and interest in young Johannesburg makers
and artists through the Centre for the Less Good Idea
https://lessqoodidea.com/]_, will lead to the first panel
discussion with Kentridge and the Centre's Season 2
Curators: Jamal Nxedlana, Nthlanthla Muthlangu and
Tegan Bristow, chaired by Bronwyn Lace.
Following this, two fascinating panels will address the
state of Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality, their current
uses, and industry focus’ in Southern Africa. The first,
supported by Maxum Digital (Innovation Hub) engages
new South African practices in VR. The second,
supported by Ericsson, takes a bold look at new Mixed
Reality technologies and community led urban design.
These will run parallel to panels exploring the
intersections of music, film and new technologies, in a
double panel series curated by Weheartbeat in extension
of the Fak’ugesi Beats Lab at the Festival. Each Fak’ugesi
Beat panel features the cutting edge beat makers and
videographers that have come to contribute to the 2017
Fak'ugesi Beats Lab and Festival Finale.
As one of the most distinguished ambassadors of digital
culture and engagement in Africa, Jepchumba will deliver
the second keynote address titled “The African Digital
Renaissance, New Frontiers and New Territories”
Jepchumba will then lead discussions into an extensive
Pan-African conversation on questions facing digital
culture on the continent. These discussions will also
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215ovoo2017 Fak ugesi African Dig Innovation Festival - Art Arica
include contributions by participants in the ColabNowNow
http: Hak zalevent/colabnownow-
project; a ten-day program of digital storytelling and
making that will take place during this year’s Fak’ugesi
Festival
2017 Festival Director, Tegan Bristow says, “The
Fak'ugesi Conference and Festival not only allows for vital
skills development and exchange but also acts as a
platform where digital practices can be interrogated,
questioned and collaboratively produced. I's thanks to the
Fak'ugesi Conference partners Tshimologong, Ericsson,
Maxum Digital & Innovation Hub, French Institute and
British Council Connect ZA that this is possible.”
After an exciting and thought-provoking programme, the
2017 Fak'ugesi Conference will close with a celebratory
performance and beats demo by Fak'ugesi Beats Lab
residents Masego from the UK and EvilNeedle from
France.
ENDS
About Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival
2017 has challenged the bravest of us; this year
FAK'UGESI AFRICAN DIGITAL INNOVATION FESTIVAL
salutes digital Africans that follow their hearts and live
bravely. BRAVE TECH HEARTS BEAT AS ONE!
Join us 6 to the 16 September 2017 in Braamfontein,
Johannesburg for a pulsing ten-day program celebrating
the spirit of INNOVATION, CREATIVITY &
TECHNOLOGY in AFRICA.
Immerse yourself in our conference, exhibitions, game
arcades, market hack, pop ups, free workshops,
performances, brave tech artists, installations, tech
demos, pitches, parties and future beats.
Watch out for our one-day FAK'UGESI CONFERENCE —
where we engage cutting edge conversations on
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