Until…until…until…#UntilUnlocked
- Wits University
Fak’ugesi Festival unleashes the potential that lies within communities when technology, art, and culture intersect in Africa.
The Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival ‘has evolved into more than just an event, it is a movement’, said Professor Christo Doherty, a co-founder of the Festival and Professor of Digital Arts at Wits University.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th edition of the Festival at Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct on Wednesday, 2 October 2024, Doherty says there is a ‘vibrant tapestry of digital innovation that is flourishing across Africa’ and that Fak’ugesi serves as a dynamic intersection where talent, technology, and culture converge. Fak’ugesi provides a stage for young artists and technologists to showcase their work and connect with their peers and industry leaders.
Photo credits: © 2024 Fak’ugesi Festival, Zivanai Matangi | © Wits University
The festival gives voice to a new generation of African innovators, allowing them to express their identities and explore the limitless potential of digital technologies, from VR/AR to AI to a quantum future.
But Fak’ugesi’s mission extends beyond just a celebration of digital arts and innovation — it is a movement that holds tremendous value for Wits University. Doherty said Wits’ involvement is critical, helping bridge the gap between research and real-world applications while fostering connections across the continent.
This year the new Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) put on a showcase of some of the University’s flagship impact-innovations:
- Rhisotope: Saving rhinos using nuclear science
- Peco Power: Energy freedom for everyone
- Button Optics: Removing the complexity of creating structured light
Wits students currently doing the Postgraduate Diploma in Science in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship also participated in the Festival's Pitch-a-Thon.
Photo credits: © 2024 Fak’ugesi Festival, Zivanai Matangi | © Wits University
Mark Harris, CEO of Tshimologong, said at the core of creative industries is the urgent need to create job opportunities on the continent and innovations that have a real social impact.
Fak’ugesi embodies Pan-African collaboration and celebrates the fusion of creativity and technology, making it an ever-evolving platform for experimentation and cultural expression.
“What we're seeing is a shift from individual creation to collaboration, where diverse skills come together to create something new and impactful,” Harris said.
From Africa for Africa
Fak’ugesi Festival Creative Director Eduardo Cachucho says Fak’ugesi is a true cross-intersectional festival. “We are building the future of digital creativity and innovation that we want to see. It is not outside forces, it is not Silicon Valley, this is from Africa for Africa,” he said.
Visit https://fakugesi.co.za/ and view the full schedule: https://fakugesi2024.super.site/.