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Gibson Mhaka
PREPARATIONS for the 10th edition of the Hub UnConference, Zimbabwe’s leading annual gathering on digital media, civic tech, and the creative economy, are underway with organisers having announced a roster of local and international speakers, featuring industry leaders from diverse sectors.
The two- day event is set to run from 24 to 25 September at Moto Republik in Harare under the theme, Level Up, a clarion call for young people to keep up with emerging trends such as AI and adopt technology for the positive good.
The Hub Unconference is part of Zimbabwe’s longest-running urban culture celebration, Shoko Festival. Both initiatives are organised by Magamba Network, a pioneering organisation in Africa’s creative and digital media landscape.
In a statement, organisers of the event said the Hub UnConference has grown steadily over the years of its existence. They said the Hub UnConference programming will include a series of fireside chats, lightning talks, captivating showcases, panel discussions, and masterclasses.
“There will be cutting edge talks by Kenyan Comic, Justine Wanda, Senegalese musician, Makhtar Fall widely known as Xuman, Dr Millie Phiri from Conversation Africa (South Africa), Antonio Kisemboi from Media-Challenge Initiative Hub (Uganda), Steve Horn from Politically Aweh (South Africa), Nkosinathi Mcetywa from Civic Tech Innovation Network, and leading Zimbabwean academic Professor Nehemiah Chivandikwa. Over the years the Hub UnConference has attracted students, media practitioners, new media startups and tech enthusiasts. This year’s focus will be on emerging trends in media, climate justice, civic tech, and Artificial Intelligence (AI),” the statement reads in part.
Previous editions of the Hub Unconference have featured distinguished speakers from both local and international backgrounds, such as Alice McCool from The Guardian UK, Robyn Kriel of CNN, Raheela Mohammed from Al Jazeera, and Lindiwe Zulu from the ANC, among others.
Magamba Network operations director Munyaradzi Dodo emphasized the continuity of this year’s event with previous editions, highlighting the conference’s consistent focus on digital innovation, social impact, youth empowerment.
“This year promises some really exciting new elements to the programme, as we investigate how, amid conflict, misinformation, and environmental crises, we can leverage digital media, civic technology, and artistic activism to ‘level up’ by amplifying the voices of youth, women, and marginalised communities, fostering impactful dialogues, and seeking solutions to significant societal and global challenges,” said Dodo.
He said the Hub Unconference will feature the Open Africa Data Summit, bringing together some of the continent’s leading experts to discuss the crucial role of data in fostering good governance, transparency, and active citizen participation.
“This year’s Open Africa Data Summit will highlight speakers from five African nations, showcasing innovative ideas and initiatives in the open data field. The Summit will also convene influential bloggers, scholars, and developers from Africa’s foremost open data initiatives, representing nations such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. Participants will engage in a variety of panel discussions, including topics like journalism in the AI era,” Dodo said.
He said the Open Data Africa Summit is being organised with assistance from the Consortium for the Protection of Human Rights, Civic Freedoms, and Media Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, known as Charm Africa.
“This consortium comprises seven organisations, including Wits Journalism, Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), Defend Defenders, Civil Rights Defenders, Civicus, Fojo Media Institute, and Magamba Network”.
Online Reporter