rpAccra programme preview

rpAccra is more than a conference. The a two-day festival will gather the digital society in Accra, Ghana. Expect mind blowing talks, hands-on workshops, art installations, an innovation marketplace, themed lounges and an evening and party programme. Through our CfP that ended on September 9th 2018 we received over 200 applications, over 81% came from Africa-based speakers. Our team spent the last weeks reading each of them and put together an exciting programme. Get a first preview!

Curators & Tracks

As in Berlin the talks, panels, workshops, installations, exhibitions, performances are categorized by the following "tracks": Politics & Society, Arts & Culture, Business & Innovation, Science & Education and Media & Journalism. Topics range from access and infrastructure, digital rights, to tech for good, from futurism, to open data, building feminist solidarity online, to e-waste and maker movements.

The programme for re:publica Accra is curated with a team of experts based in Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Each curator heads one of our tracks - read more about them here:

Politics and Society - Nanjira Sambuli

Arts and Culture - Ann Modey

Business and Innovation - Kudzai M Mubaiwa

Science and Education - Jorge Appiah

Media and Journalism - Sandister Tei

Stage Programme

We have put together a diverse programme covering topics as diverse as virtual repatriation, African online solidarity, e-waste, open data, green architecture and many more. Among our keynote speakers you can find names such as Tefo Mohapi, Rebecca Enonchong (Internet Shutdowns), Senamé Koffi Agbodjinou (Future Citiies).

Lounges

In addition to the stage programme, we are going to have four themed lounges designed for meetups, networking and exchange. 

eHealth Lounge

This lounge will present health in times of digital technologies and interconnectedness in a fascinatingly wide spectrum. Hosted by Impact Hub Accra, this lounge will provide space for the wellbeing of our participants and exploration of topics at the intersection of health and technology. At the health lounge you can explore wellness-based tech products, health AI, but also a quiet place to rest, enjoy yoga classes, and healthy snacks from local entrepreneurs. The lounge will host meetups and discussions debating various aspects of how digitisation leaves its marks on the realms of (quantified) health and health services, and the opportunities and risks that these developments have for people and their bodies, medical data & ethics and self-care in the digital age.

Creator Studio

Come create, record and learn at the creator studio! The creator studio lounge is a pop-up digital creation studio hosted by abantu+. Its pop-up recording studio gives a home to forward music creation incorporating digital and analogue techniques as well as a mix of traditional and innovative approaches. You are invited to experiment with podcasting equipment, meet experts from different creative industries like publishing and broadcasting and learn about different technologies to support your creative work.

Digital Rights Lounge

Learn about and discuss what rights you have online - including data protection, freedom of speech and access. The digital rights lounge, hosted by CIPESA, brings together digital rights organisations in Africa and across the word to share experiences through meetups, exhibitions of multimedia content showcasing initiatives advancing digital rights in Africa. Find a visual mural representing a spectrum of internet freedom issues in Africa including insights gathered since the inception of the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa reports as well as a digital security hub for event participants!

Makerspace

Discover the world of hardware innovation and digital fabrication at the Makerspace: Meet innovators and tinkerers that can teach you how to solder, 3D print, upcycle and prototype. The Makerspace is brought to you by the Global Innovation Gathering, Kumasi Hive, Impact Hub Accra and Woelab! Explore the e-Waste installations, workshops, meetups and come and work with your hands at the makerspace lounge!

Made-in-Africa Marketplace

The Made-In-Africa Marketplace is a marketplace with stalls where start-ups and organizations can present themselves. Expect to see innovative services, ground-breaking products, including hardware and software innovations. 

Evening Programme

re:publica is all about exchanging and networking, but also about dancing. Ghanaian electronic music for the rave age from Jowaa and bass-heavy electronic sounds from Keyzuz, both pushing musical boundaries in Accra, are among the first confirmed to play.