Immerse yourself in our conference, exhibitions, game arcades, free workshops, performances, brave tech artists, installations,

tech demos, pitches, parties and future beats.

WWW.FAKUGESI.CO.ZA

1. INTRODUCTION 4

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

2017 AUDIENCE SUMMARY 4

PRIMARY PARTNER: TSHIMOLOGONG PRECINCT 5

INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS 5

FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT & ORGANISATION 6

3. OVERVIEW OF 2017 PROJECTS & EVENTS 7

2017 SPECIAL FESTIVAL PASS 7

FAK’UGESI DIGITAL AFRICA RESIDENCY 2017 8

FAK’UGESI DIGITAL AFRICA EXHIBITION 8

MAKING WEEKEND 9

FREE WORKSHOPS PROGRAMME 9

BLOCK BY BLOCK, CITY OF JOHANNESBURG, UN HABITAT AND ERICSSON & BUILDING THE PUBLIC CITY 9

MARKET HACK 10

ANI-MARATHON 10

DARING CURATING: INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY 10

FAK’UGESI BEATS LAB 11

COLABNOWNOW 11

A MAZE / JOHANNESBURG 12

FAK’UGESI CONFERENCE 12

FAK’UGESI BEATS BLOC PARTY 14

4. FAK’UGESI SOCIAL MEDIA & PRESS REPORT 15

SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS 15

MEDIA AND PRESS REPORTS 15

5. FEEDBACK & LEARNINGS 18

PARTNER PROJECT LEADERSHIP & FACILITATORS 18

FURTHER LEARNINGS: 19

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK 19

LEARNINGS: 19

FAK’UGESI COMMUNICATIONS: 19

TABLE OF CONTENT

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“THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME WAS DIVERSE AND OFFERED VISITORS OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE AN EXCELLENT EXHIBITION, PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HEAR WELL MODERATED DISCUSSIONS. TSHIMOLOGONG IS A VERY SUITABLE VENUE FOR THE FESTIVAL DUE TO ITS ACCESSIBILITY TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THE VARIETY OF SPACES AVAILABLE IN THE PRECINCT FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.”– Lien Heidenreich-Seleme, Head of Cultural Programmes for Sub Saharan Africa Goethe-Institut South Africa & Francois Venter Cultural Programmes Goethe-Institut South Africa

“ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT FAK’UGESI WAS THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION THAT WAS FOSTERED BY THE FESTIVAL. WATCHING 40 PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ANIMATION IN 26 HOURS WAS A PARTICULAR HIGHLIGHT FOR ME. I’M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR!” – Raymond Whitcher, Lecturer in Animation at the Digital Arts Division of the Wits School of Arts

“I FELT ALIVE AT FAK’UGESI THIS YEAR BECAUSE I HAD HOPE THAT WE AS AFRICANS WOULD NOT ONLY EXCEL IN THAT SWEET SPOT OF TECH AND ART BUT WE WOULD LEAPFROG EVERYONE, GLOBALLY. FAK’UGESI IS IMPORTANT FOR HIGHLIGHTING THESE HARD-TO-FIND PIECES AND MAKING CONNECTIONS SO THAT WE CAN BUILD OUR FUTURE TOGETHER. I’M DEFINITELY GOING TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR!” – Yetunde Dada, Independent Film Maker and VR Producer

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1. INTRODUCTIONFak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival has been supporting and celebrating the crossover of art, culture and technology since 2014, with the objective to support creative and digital innovation cultures of Africa and the region.

Fak’ugesi Festival annually offers a 10 day public program in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. This is curated both within standing events and annually explored with partner projects and experimental formats. Since 2016 Fak’ugesi Festival’s impact and important curatorial role has opened doors for Fak’ugesi partnerships.

Fak’ugesi Festival aims to do the following:

• Bring together diverse creative, digital and technology sectors.• Create access to technology via skills development,

skills sharing and collaborative practice.• Provide a showcasing platform for young African

digital makers, innovators and creatives.• Emphasise the importance of cross-sector engagement: from engineering,

to gaming, to music, to science, to XR and further; with an emphasis on social development and diversity in African public culture.

• Bring technology, creativity and innovation to people from multiple backgrounds and various expertise, in a fun, accessible and collaborative manner.

• Support local and regional development of the creative economy.

“Fak’ugesi” comes from the zulu term meaning “add power” or “put on the electricity”. This represents urban youth culture, the power of innovation and a focus on ‘turning on’ innovation and creativity in technology for Africa by Africans.

The festival was founded in 2014 by Prof. Christo Doherty and Tegan Bristow of Wits Digital Arts, together with Prof. Barry Dwolatzky of Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) and Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein.

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn 2017 the Festival - 6th to the 16th September - led with the overarching theme and slogan Brave Tech Hearts Beat as One, inspired by the courageous individuals who choose to step outside of what is familiar to allow change and innovation to occur.

Expanding on the use of hands and the Fak’ugesi lighting bolt, the 2017 theme grew on the previous themes of “Rise Digital Africa” (2015) and “Afro Tech Roit” (2016).

The 2017 theme and identity was developed by Vincent Truter of Orlando in collaboration with Festival Director Tegan Bristow and illustrated by Sindiso Nyoni.

The 2017 programme offered standing annual events: Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency, Making Weekend, Fak’ugesi Conference, Fak’ugesi Exhibition and A MAZE Johannesburg. These were presented alongside an exciting list

of partner and exploratory projects that focused on: creative laboratories, hack-a-thons, animation marathons, augmented and virtual reality, music, community led urban design, games, playful media, parties and innovative creative collaborations. Please see 3. Overview of 2017 Project and Events for more.

2017 AUDIENCE SUMMARYThe festival reached 3, 930 registered attendees in 2017. With public access events such as the Market Hack and Block by Block further contributing at least a further 1, 000 + unregistered participants. Bringing us to an estimated total of 5, 000 participatory audience members.

Direct social media for the Festival saw approximately 572, 960 impressions via @fak’ugesi instagram, twitter and facebook. Direct profile visits coming to 19, 426; almost double the 2016 count, showing a pointed increase in interest.

Across our project partners and their respective networks (British Council Connect ZA’s ColabNowNow and others), Fak’ugesi Festival enjoyed over 3.3 million impressions, which were further boosted by the activities of linked influencer artists and participant.

The Fak’ugesi Festival website enjoyed 26,283 direct page visits with approximately 8, 000 unique users identified between June and October 2017.

The following indicates the percentage of visits to particular event pages on the website:

FAK'UGESI BEAT LAB5.5%

COLABNOWNOW4.6%

BLOCK BY BLOCK5.0%

MARKET HACK6.5%

FAK'UGESI EXHIBITION10.9%

FREE WORKSHOPS17.9%

FAK'UGESI CONFERENCE22.5%

FAK'UGESI BLOC PARTY27.2%

PAGE BYPER VIEWS

Website analytics further show an increase in access via mobile phones between 2016 and 2017, indicating a growth in our youth demographic and a requirement for quick access to festival information.

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

2017 2016

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In traditional media the 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival enjoyed 12 broadcast media slots on radio and regional & international television, 24 individual articles in print media, 165 articles online. These included CNN, BBC, SABC Broadcast News, Mail & Guardian, Business Day and many more local, African and International press outlets. Please see 4. Fak’ugesi Social Media and Press Report for details.

Demographic information on our audiences is understood via information collected from registered attendees. The following detailed illustrations show a view on the gender, age and race of our audience.

20162015 2017

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11 - 17YRS

18 - 25YRS

25 - 35YRS

35 - 45YRS

45YRS AND OVER

AGEDISTRIBUTION

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WHITE

COLOURED

ASIAN

MIXED RACE

OTHER

RACIALDISTRIBUTION

STUDENT

ARTIST

TECH INDUSTRY

ACADEMIC

CULTURAL ORGANISER

DISTRIBUTION OFPROFESSION

MALE

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“BEING PART OF THIS YEARS FAK’UGESI FESTIVAL WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. BEING ON A PANEL DEFINITELY BROADENED MY MIND TO DOING MORE COLLABORATIONS, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. THE AUDIENCE WAS ALSO VERY RECEPTIVE OF THE WORK THAT WAS PRESENTED. THAT WAS REALLY DOPE FOR ME.” - Rendani Nemakhavhani, South Africa Designer and Artist

“THE FESTIVAL’S EXPLORATIVE AND CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT SUITED OUR FIRST CITY-SCALE MIXED REALITY EXPERIMENTS VERY WELL. IT WAS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO INVOLVE BOTH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND DOMAIN EXPERTS IN THE WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS. THE FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES HELPED US TO ADVANCE OUR THINKING AROUND DIGITAL INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY-DRIVEN URBAN DESIGN.”- Marcus Nyberg, Ericsson Mixed Reality Research Engineer

PRIMARY PARTNER: TSHIMOLOGONG PRECINCTTshimologong Precinct was the primary partner of Fak’ugesi Festival in 2017. Along with supporting the core funding for the 2017 Festival, it further hosted the festival’s primary events and public engagements - for a 3rd year running!

The Tshimologong Precinct opened officially in 2016 and is a technology hub established in a row of 5 buildings in Juta Street, Braamfontein, close to Wits University. Focused as an incubation and skills development hub, various activities and programmes, such as Hackathons and technology challenges are run with the aim of developing skills, encouraging innovation and promoting the development of new enterprises. The name “Tshimologong” is the Setswana word for “new beginnings”.

INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPSPro Helvetia Johannesburg (Swiss Arts Council) through its ANT funding in support of cultural partnerships in the SADC region, has for a 2nd year in a row been the primary partner to the month long annual Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency. Furthermore Pro Helvetia Johannesburg supported visiting beat maker Melodiesinfonie to join the 2017 Fak’ugesi Beats Lab.

British Council Connect ZA continued its strong partnership with the festival for the fourth year. The primary contribution in 2017 was the ColabNowNow project, which brought 15 creative practitioners from East, West, Southern Africa and the UK to work together over the 10 days of the festival. 10 collaborative pieces were produced and showcased at the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party. Furthermore the British Council Connect ZA supported funding for the production of the Fak’ugesi Exhibition, as well as supported visiting artists for the Fak’ugesi Beats Lab and the Painting with Music project, who also contributed to the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party. BCCZA additionally assisted with funding towards a new communications and content production partnership with Bubblegum Club.

French Institute in South Africa supported the Festival by bringing French contributors to the Fak’ugesi Beats Lab, Fak’ugesi Conference, Free Workshop Programme and A MAZE / Johannesburg.

Goethe Institut Johannesburg supported the festival by hosting a Game Developers Brunch in partnership with A MAZE / Johannesburg, in support of local indie gaming.

University of Dundee, Scotland in partnership with NEoN Festival (Dundee) supported the Daring Curating research sessions and panels hosted by the Festival.

Canada 150 supported the festival by bringing a projection mapping artist, from Electrocaine, Port Louis, Mauritius for the Fak’ugesi Bloc Party.

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CORPORATE AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORSHIPSEricsson South Africa where a primary partner in the Block by Block project, organised between the City of Johannesburg’s Development Agency, UN Habitat and Ericsson Research. Ericsson South Africa further helped Fak’ugesi Festival fund the Fak’ugesi Conference and the Free Workshop Programme, specifically the school focused intersection between ImpaCT and the Build a DIY Game Controller Workshop.

Innovation Hub & Maxum Digital supported the Fak’ugesi Conference, A MAZE / Johannesburg, and additionally loaned VR equipment for the Fak’ugesi Exhibition. IBM Research Africa (Tshimologong) where a partner in the 2017 Fak’ugesi Special Festival Pass, a research and support partnership that assisted with the development of the passes with Developer Tom Van Den Bon of Signl.

Mantech Electronics sponsored the components for the Fak’ugesi Special Festival Pass and printing and placing was done via Resolution Circle.

Xiaomi Mobile supported the Fak’ugesi Exhibition with phones for the Augmented Reality works on show.

Red Bull Amaphiko contributed funding towards the Market Hack activities. Red Bull Studios were the primary sponsor of the Fak’ugesi Beats Lab and where partners in the production of the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party. Once in Joburg was the festival’s partner for accommodation: offering lowered rates and supported hosting for Festival guests.

FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT & ORGANISATIONThe 2017 and 2016 Festival’s were directed by Tegan Bristow, acting under the employ of the Digital Arts Division of the Wits School of Arts. In 2017 the festival was logistically supported and financially managed through the Tshimologong Precinct. Name rights to ‘Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival’ are currently registered with the University of the Witwatersrand.

In 2017 Thato Noinyane was employed by the Festival and in part via the Wits School of Arts as the festivals first senior project manager. This was to support fundraising for, developing and managing the 2017 Festival offering. Bristow and Noinyane were further assisted in Festival logistics by Kieran Reid, also a member of Wits Digital Arts.

The festival had on the ground support from 78 first year student volunteers from the Wits Game Design Degree of the Digital Arts Division and the School of Electrical and Information Engineering. The core logistical team further included Emily Bristow as intern project manager and senior students of Wits Electrical and Information Engineering and Arts and Culture Management program of the Wits School of Arts.

Outside of this core management and logistical team, Fak’ugesi Festival 2017 was led by local and international project partners, volunteers and commissioned service providers.

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3. OVERVIEW OF 2017 PROJECTS & EVENTS

“FAK’UGESI IS AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN ART, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY. IT FOREFRONTS THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IN THESE FIELDS AND IS ROOTED IN THE RE-IMAGING OF URBAN LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA” - Nicolette Pingo, Johannesburg Development Agency.

“FAK’UGESI FESTIVAL IS DEVELOPING THE DIGITAL ECONOMY. CONNECTING THE PLAYERS, INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS WITHIN ART, CREATIVITY AND TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL INSPIRE FUTURE COLLABORATIONS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE SECTOR.” - Dominique Soma, Co-Director of Weheartbeat.

“THE FESTIVAL CREATES A SPACE FOR INCLUSION. BRINGS TOGETHER A RANGE OF PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FIELDS FROM INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, TO CORPORATES, TO MORE CREATIVE INDEPENDENT MAKERS.” - Carly Whitaker, Lecturer and Independent Curator

“IT IS A FOCUS ON CREATIVE DIGITAL INNOVATION IN AFRICA IN THE EXPANDED SENSE. CHALLENGING, PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL PERCEPTIONS.” - Alexander Ross, Curator and Researcher at Universities of Dundee & Glasgow

2017 SPECIAL FESTIVAL PASSFor a second consecutive year Fak’ugesi Festival goers were given an exciting special interactive festival pass. Developed by Tom Van Den Bon of Signal and Binary Space (a makerspace in the South of Johannesburg) the 2017 pass was made in collaboration with IBM Research Africa (Tshimologong Precinct). Local IBM developer Toby Kurien collaborated by extending an existing lab project to develop an add on board to be used to track interactions between 300 festival participants.

Working with the overall festival theme Brave Tech Hearts Beat As One the pass base was a heart shaped PCB, which included multiple layers of interaction designed for the various skill sets of our festival goers:

1. Basic Build & Interaction: participants worked with volunteer students from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering to solder a battery and headers to the pass, the pass LED’s could then be programmed to flash in different patterns.

2. Code & Interactive Story Easter Egg: participants could plug a USB into the pass to investigate the code, in which was hidden a secret Easter Egg - an interactive narrative developed by Tom Van den Bon and writer Liz Dom.

3. Toy Hack: participants could join a free workshop with volunteer students from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering to turn the pass into an interactive game and toy.

4. Interaction Tracking: the add on developed with IBM Research Africa, to track interactions across the festival. While this was never fully executed 300 project participants were identified to share their interactions with each other.

Please follow this link to find a video with more information on the pass: http://fakugesi.co.za/event/special-festival-pass-2017

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FAK’UGESI DIGITAL AFRICA RESIDENCY 2017This year marked four years since the introduction of the Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency. This month long residency, leading into the Festival, offers young digital artists an opportunity to explore and expand their practice while producing work to be showcased at the Festival.

Supported for a 2nd year by Pro Helvetia Johannesburg (Swiss Arts Council) through its ANT funding in support of cultural partnerships in the SADC region, three young digital artists were selected after a rigorous selection process. Komborerai Chapfika, a multi-disciplinary visual artist and Dananayi Mawanigwa, a self taught digital artist/painter, where selected from Harare, Zimbabwe. Joined by Julia Hango a photographer and digital artist was selected from Windhoek, Namibia.

While in residence, these outstanding makers were mentored with Alt Reality in VR / AR and the Wits Architecture Maker Space in digital production. The residents were further mentored in the presentation of their work by Carly Whitaker a South African based digital artist and manager for the Fak’ugesi Exhibition.

“WORKING OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE AT THE FAK’UGESI FESTIVAL EXPANDED MY WORLD VIEW AND PERCEPTION OF ART IN GENERAL. I FEEL I CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE ABOUT MY WORK AS A RESULT OF THE MENTORSHIPS, INTERACTIONS, COLLABORATIONS, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOSURE TO ART SHOWS.”- Dananayi Muwanigwa

“I GAINED EXPERIENCE CREATING AUGMENTED REALITY PROJECTS (AR) IN UNITY. IT WAS EYE OPENING TO SEE HOW THE REGIONAL/CONTINENTAL DIGITAL ART SCENE OPERATES. THERE’S NO COMPARABLE FESTIVAL OR RESIDENCY HERE IN ZIMBABWE.”- Kombo Chapfika

FAK’UGESI WAS A MIND EXPANDING EXPERIENCE OF CULTURE AND TECH AND AMAZING ARTISTS COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE AND CREATE. COLLABORATING WITH THE OTHER RESIDENTS, WHETHER ON THE ART OR SHARING OF SPACES, A MONTH IN EACH OTHER’S ATMOSPHERES IS A MAGICAL THING THAT I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE EXPERIENCED.”- Julia Hango

FAK’UGESI DIGITAL AFRICA EXHIBITIONA first at Fak’ugesi Festival in 2017, an inaugural exhibition of African digital art, open to the public for the full 10 days of the festival.

Exhibition production was supported by the British Council Connect ZA, Maxum Digital (Innovation Hub), Goethe Institut and Xiaomi Mobile. Housed in what is about to become the Tshimologong Accelerator building in Braamfontein, the exhibition showed the following artists:

Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residents:• Kombo Chapfika (Zimbabwe), Interactive Video and Augmented Reality • Dananayi Mawanigwa (Zimbabwe), Digital Painting, Video and Print• Julia Hango (Namibia), Digital Video and Print

“New Dimensions” VR Films presented by Electric South and the Goethe-Institut• Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), VR Film “Nairobi Berries”• The Nest Collective (Kenya), VR Film “Let This Be a Warning”• Selly Raby Kane (Senegal), VR Film “Invisible Dakar”

South African & Visiting Digital Artists:• Rick Treweek with Augmented Reality • Brooklyn J. Pakathi with Digital Video• Anthea Pokroy with Interactive Data Art• Nonku Phiri & All Hail the Honey with a Digital Video and Photography• Tabita Rezaire with Digital Collage Light Box• Yaan Seznec (UK) & Cukia Kimani with “Painting with Music”• Christian Pahud (Swiss) with Sound Art

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MAKING WEEKENDThe first weekend of Fak’ugesi Festival in which we focused on free for public engagement, skill exchanges and community led skills development!

FREE WORKSHOPS PROGRAMMEOne of our most important community focused offerings. In meeting the Festival’s aim of giving as many people access to digital and creative skills as possible, we offered a long weekend of free workshops. We had over 400 participants in four days. The following is a list of workshops offered over the Making Weekend.

Make A Talking Robot, with TJ BOT and IBM Research Africa by Toby KurienRaspberry Pi Workshop, by the Pi Guy.Block by Block, in Minecraft and Mixed Reality• With City of Johannesburg, UN Habitat and Ericsson - see following project page.DIY Game Controllers, by Bear Season.• This was a special workshop offered to over 30 learners from Soweto

as part of the ImpaCT JCSE program and supported by Ericsson SA.Sonic Arts, by Benoit Hicke. • A workshop on sound and music with support of the French Institute, South Africa.Make A Beetle Bot, by Made In Workshop.Creative Coding in p5.js, by Niklas Peters supported by the Processing Foundation.Festival Pass Toy Hack, by senior of Wits IEE led by Deshin Subramoney.Room to Play, by Yann Seznac supported by the British Council, ConnectZA.

We are ever grateful for the community of local makers that supports Fak’ugesi Festival. Not only in being repeat eager participants, but further in giving many of these workshops for free!

BLOCK BY BLOCK, CITY OF JOHANNESBURG, UN HABITAT AND ERICSSON & BUILDING THE PUBLIC CITYIn a special collaboration with the UN Habitat’s Block by Block project and Ericsson Research Strategic Design, the Johannesburg Development Agency and Wits Architecture led this outstanding project on community led urban design with technology in Braamfontein.

Since 2012, Mojang, the makers of Minecraft, and UN-Habitat, the United Nations programme for sustainable cities, have been collaborating on an innovative programme in which Minecraft is used as a community participation tool in the design of urban public spaces. At Fak’ugesi Festival, partners focused on community led redesign of “Eland Park” and its immediate surrounds in Braamfontein.

Two days of workshops where held with the local community, including students from Wits and Rosebank Colleges and Braamfontein residents. Participants used Minecraft to redesign the park in line with their own needs and in response to local development requirements.

Ericsson Research Strategic Design team worked with mixed reality applications to present a live view of the community’s design proposals in context, that is, out in the park or on the street. Further design outcomes where interpreted by Wits Architecture as part of a larger “Build the Public City Project” project led by Wits Urban Design, were presented as part of the Fak’ugesi Festival finale event.

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MARKET HACKThis Festival favourite is annually led by the South African Maker Collective and in 2017 was project managed by local maker Mia van Zyl. The 2017 Market Hack was supported by Tshimologong Precinct and Red Bull Amaphiko.

The Market Hack is a day of digital making activities and is positioned at The Grove @ Southpoint alongside the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market. Activities included:

• Come make a wriggling, jiggling DoodleBot, young and old enjoyed this fun project from MakerSpace Durban, as they learnt to build a very excitable 3-legged drawing creature. Artist Zoe Hammen created and on site performance, using the DoodleBots on fabric.

• An open-source plot bot, a project by house4hack (Centurian), MakerSpace Durban and independent JHB makers in getting participants involved in making a series of ‘drawing arm bots’ to write out messages!

• First Person View (FBV) in an underwater Mini Submarine, this FPV submarine experiment was an audio and visual immersive experience, created by a group of house4hack makers. Players used a joystick to navigate the submarine through this onsite underwater world.

• Livestream with other makerspaces in SA, a live Q&A sessions throughout the day with Maker Spaces across the country. A collaborative project between Content Bar and Maker Station Cape Town to see how far and wide the SA Maker Collective ‘family’ reaches.

• Interactive Fak’ugesi Festival Pass, building the secret parts of the Fak’ugesi Festival pass with Wits Information and Electrical Engineering students, led by Deshin Subramoney.

PARTNER PROJECTS & LABS HOSTED BY FAK’UGESI FESTIVALANI-MARATHONThis Fak’ugesi first was a 28 hour animation challenge developed via Fak’ugesi as a collaboration between Animation School South Africa & Wits Digital Arts.

In this exciting project, nine teams of young animators from across Johannesburg took an on-site 28 hour challenge to animate a new track developed by participants of the Fak’ugesi Beats Lab. This track titled “Get There” was produced by songstress Zaki Ibrahim (SA/Canada) in collaboration with beat maker Evil Needle (France).

The final animation was showcased at the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party.Individuals segments were judged and the prize winners were given an internship at Minds Eye Creative and free Fak’ugesi Conference and Bloc Party tickets. and free Fak’ugesi Conference and Bloc Party tickets.

“THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY IS EAGER FOR MORE EVENTS LIKE THESE.”- Ani-marathon Participant

DARING CURATING: INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY Daring Curating was a three-day forum initiated in collaboration with NEoN (Scotland), Fak’ugesi Festival and Trinity Session. The forum was supported by funding from the University of Dundee (Scotland). The forum was aimed at facilitating conversations on the complexities of curating art and technology within an African context.The first day was focused as a detailed discussion with organisations and academic institutions, and included representation from University of Johannesburg, Wits University, Goethe Institut and the British Council.

The following focused two-day forum consisted of presentations and frank discussions on the role of digital practices and their intersections with culture in Africa. Participants hailed from: Scotland, South Africa (JHB, DBN, CT, BLM), Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia.

“A FOCUS ON BRINGING ATTENTION TO SHARED ISSUES AROUND THE PRODUCTION, PRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL (ARTS) PRACTICE ACROSS CULTURES, GEOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-POLITICAL SPACES. FOR NEON IT PROVIDED A SPACE FOR OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT CHALLENGES OF PROMOTING AND SUSTAINING A CRITICAL DIGITAL INNOVATIVE PRACTICE INTERNATIONALLY”- Alexander Ross, Daring Curating Facilitator

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FAK’UGESI BEATS LABIn a brand new focus on music and technology in 2017, Fak’ugesi Festival partnered with Weheartbeat. The Weheartbeat partnership included a week long Fak’ugesi Beats Lab, that invited musicians, photographers and filmmakers from across the globe to collaborate on new musical outcomes. Some further presented at the Fak’ugesi Conference and of course the Festival finale the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, who’s musical contribution was 100% curated by Weheartbeat.

In partnership with Redbull Studios, a music studio was set up at Tshimologong Precinct out of which the 7 Fak’ugesi Beats Lab artists collaborated towards new outcomes. Further supported by British Council Connect ZA, Pro Helvetia Johannesburg (Swiss Arts Council) and French Institute of South Africa participating artists included:

• Evil Needle (France)• Melodiesinfonie (Switzerland)• MNDSGN (USA)• Hannah Faith (UK)• Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid (UK)• Rams (South Africa)• Zaki Ibrahim (Canadian South African)

Outcomes included 12 produced tracks, a photo series by Hannah Faith and a 5 minute documentary produced and directed by Mahaneela. Outcomes will be presented at a special event produced by Weheartbeat later in 2017.

COLABNOWNOWIn a 4th annual partnership with Fak’ugesi Festival the British Council Connect ZA brought this groundbreaking cross disciplinary project, curated by Kenyan digital artists and curator Jepchumba and led by 15 creative practitioners from East, West, Southern Africa and UK.

Through an open call which received 174 applications, finalists were selected to join a team of outstanding digital artists and storytellers to come together to connect, collaborate, learn, network at Tshimologong Precinct for the full 10 days of the festival. They included:

• East Africa: John Magati (KE), Darlyne Komukama (UG), Kampire Bahana (UG). • West Africa: Prince Kojo-Hilton (GH), Mamadou

“Papi” Wane (SN), Mukhtara Yussuf (NG). • United Kingdom: Christopher Lutterodt-Quarcoo (UK),

Olivia Mathurin (UK), Nikky Norton Shafau (UK). • Southern Africa: Janus Fouché (ZA), Nyasha Madamombe (ZW), Hugo Mendes

(MZ), Candida Merwe (ZA), Eliot Moleba (ZA), Lindokuhle Nkosi (ZA)

Under the guidance of Jepchumba and with technical support from visual artist Avneesh of Electrocaine in Mauritius, as well as Project Coordination of the British Council Connect ZA team, 10 collaborative pieces were produced to be showcased at the Fak’ugesi Bloc Party.

CollabNowNow participants further presented a challenging and thought provoking panel at the Fak’ugesi Conference. At which Jepchumba was also asked to present as a keynote speaker. See recording of these as live streams on the British Council Connect ZA page: https://connectza.tumblr.com/ColabNowNow

“I THINK COLABNOWNOW WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING US, AFRICAN ARTISTS, TO MEET EACH OTHER, SHARE STORIES AND HEAR ABOUT HOW WE ARE MAKING WORK IN OUR OWN REGIONS. THIS WILL PROVE TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO HELP US BUILD NEW, STRONG BRIDGES WITHIN THE CONTINENT TO CONNECT US BETTER AND ENCOURAGE MORE COLLABORATIONS.”- ColabNowNow participant

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A MAZE / JOHANNESBURGIn its 6th year in Johannesburg and in its 4th year with support by Fak’ugesi Festival. A MAZE / Johannesburg again brought an exciting focus to Indie gaming in South Africa.

In 2017 A MAZE Director, Germany based Thorsten Wiedelman was assisted by local curators and program managers Ben Meyers and Sithe Ncube, to bring a program that actively focused on local and regional game makers. This program included an arcade / exhibition of local and international indie games, an exciting program of workshops and skills exchanges and a talks program. Fak’ugesi were excited to see a large contingent of South African and Johannesburg based game developers and cultural practitioners in the 2017 talks line up!

A MAZE / Johannesburg partnered with Fak’ugesi Festival for the Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, offering an amazing selection of indie games to be played with, out of their arcade and featuring a selection of chip-tunes and local bands and DJs.

“Fak’ugesi Festival is an event that celebrates digital culture and displays the versatile up-rising of tech - art - innovation in Africa. A place that connects Africa artists and makers with international people with different backgrounds from the arts, research, cultural practice and pop culture.” - Thorsten Weidelman, Director of A MAZE

FAK’UGESI CONFERENCEAnother important first for 2017. The Fak’ugesi Conference interrogated the role of collaboration in technology, art and culture in Africa today under the theme: ‘The Future of Creative Innovation and Technology’. Supported by Tshimologong Precinct, Ericsson and Maxum Digital, this full day conference engaged questions of inter and multidisciplinary practices in contributing to a rich and robust culture of technology. In meeting the needs of our diverse audience, our exciting 2017 line-up focused on panel discussions with contributors from the region and important contributions from other parts of the Festival.

Keynote Speakers • William Kentridge, “Enough and more than Enough”• Jepchumba: “The African Digital Renaissance, New Frontiers and Territories”

PanelsTechne Art and Invisibility: Johannesburg engaging art, technology and the digital• William Kentridge (SA), Nhlanhla Mahlangu (SA), Jamal Nxedlana

(SA), Tegan Bristow (SA), chaired by Bronwyn Lace (SA).

Future Media: Addressing changes and development of VR industries in South Africa• Rick Treweek(SA), Gareth Steele (SA), James Gaydon (SA), Yetunde

Dada (SA), Ingrid Kopp (DE), chaired by Christo Doherty (SA).

Sonic Visions: Understanding new collaborations in film, design and music• Hannah Faith (UK), Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid (UK), Nonku Phiri (SA), Rendani

Nemakhavhani (SA), Benoit Hicke (FR), chaired by Nobunye Levin (SA).

Learnings from Daring Curating: International Forum for Art and Technology in Africa. • A short presentation of learnings from the forum which was

presented by Alexander Ross (UK) and Sarah Cook (UK).

Futures of Community Design: Conversations on community driven urban design through the use of new technologies.• Dr Mpho Matsipa (SA), Pontus Westerberg (NL), Marcus Nyberg (NL),

Margo Welmers (SA), chaired by Dr Costanza La Mantia (SA).

Future Beats: How the digital age has inspired cross genre development• Masego (USA), Joe Kay (USA), Evil Needle (FR), chaired by Richard Rumney (SA).

Culture and Innovation, a Pan-African Conversion• ColabNowNow artists Mamadou Wane (UG), Kampire Bahana

(UG), Mukhtara Yussuf (NG), Lindokuhle Nkosi (SA), Christopher Lutterodt-Quarcoo (UK), chaired by Jepchumba (KE).

The conference was attended by 320 audience members. The festival charged a very small cover charge of R150, with a special discount for students upon presenting a student card, this was in keeping with the aims of Fak’ugesi we wanted to make the conference as accessible as possible and used the funds to cover the costs of refreshments during tea breaks.

“THE CONFERENCE WAS AN IMMENSE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE WORK OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS OF THE FESTIVAL, IT BROUGHT TOGETHER DIFFERENT WAYS OF THINKING AND WILL SHAPE WORK GOING FORWARD”- Nicolette Pingo, Johannesburg Development Agency

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FAK’UGESI BEATS BLOC PARTYThis Festival finale event, acted as a feature culmination of 10 days of making and collaborating, bringing together numerous project partners on one exciting night that took over lower Juta Street. Supported by Tshimologong Precinct, Red Bull Studios, Canada 150, British Council ConnectZA, Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, French Institute South Africa and Wehearbeat.

This finale event presented a dynamic music focus via new partners Weheartbeat, who curated two stages of inspiring local and international new music and beats powerhouses. With approximately 2000 attendees and participants this finale included the following awe inspiring and fun activities: Two Stages of Genre Bending Music and DJ’s• Masego (USA), Joe Kay (USA), Evil Needle (FR), Melodiesinfonie (SW),

MNDSGN (USA), Hannah Faith (UK), Brownpepperann, Mahaneela (UK), Nonku Phiri (SA), Zaki Ibrahim (CA/SA), Beat Sampras (SA), DJ Doowap (SA), Micro Pluto (SA), Symatics (SA), Illa N (SA), Mr Moeh 24(SA).

Exhibitions & Arcades:• Access to the Fak’ugesi Exhibition • Game Arcade and Indie Super Games by A MAZE JohannesburgInstallations, Projections and Interventions• 10 collaborative installation and projection mapped outcomes

by ColabNowNow, by British Council Connect ZA• Painting W/Music in performance Yann Seznec and Cukia

Kimani, brought by British Council Connect ZA.• Projection mapped high rise by Electrocaine, Port

Louis, Mauritius brought by Canada 150• Video and street installations by The Conversationists:

Riley Grant and Claire and Abigail Meekel• Interventions by Wits Architecture students on the outcome of

the Block by Block community urban design workshops.

“MUSIC WAS USED AS A TOOL TO INTRODUCE THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL INNOVATION TO A WIDER AUDIENCE.”- Dominique Soma, Co-Director Weheartbeat

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4. FAK’UGESI SOCIAL MEDIA & PRESS REPORTThis year, more funding was allocated towards the Festivals communication and paid media. With this we re-focused the website, so that the large amount of content could be consumed in smaller pieces. Hired a new short-term social media Head, Melissa Griesel who worked with Wits Arts and Culture Managements interns. Added to our standard public relations contractors Ginja Ninja, with Maria McCloy and Heather Mennell for the Fak’ugesi Beats focus. We also started a creative content creation contract with Bubblegum Club.

SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTSTwitter: @fakugesi twitter account gained a total of 522, with the following gender ratio:

MALE

FEMALE

GENDERRATIO

48.2% are between the ages 25 - 32 years. A total of 476 tweets and messages were sent during the festival period, which had 305,054 audience impressions with an engagement rate of 12,191. The was an increase of 1,623.2 in the number of messages received in 2016. #fakugesi trended in South Africa on the 14th September at the Fak’ugesi Conference.

Facebook: @Fakugesi facebook account gained 599 new followers during the festival period. There was a total of 92 posts which included 21 photos, 16 videos and 55 posts. These had 267,906 total impressions and an engagement rate of 4,697.

MALE

FEMALE

GENDERDISTRIBUTION

44.9% of them being between the ages 25 - 34 years and 16.4% of them being between 18 - 24 years.

Top 5 countries and cities areas of audiences that generated the most impressions are:

• South Africa – 1546• UK – 76• US – 53• France – 48• Germany – 47• Johannesburg – 834• Pretoria – 171• Randburg – 65• London (UK) – 4

Instagram: @fakugesi instagram account gained 596 new followers during the festival. A total of 83 photos, 49 videos and 30 other media were published, which received 2,439 likes and 99 comments. This instagram account has increased from 165 followers in 2015 to 1,143 in 2017.

MEDIA AND PRESS REPORTSA total of 4 press releases were sent out to media outlets, via Ginja Ninja, Maria McCloy, Heather Mennell and project partners. The following include links to all media and press coverage of the festival. These are grouped per project and broken down as:• PRINT• BROADCAST• ONLINE

Fak’ugesi Festival General

• 23 Aug, Get into game at tech fest, The Times, Pg 14 (JHB, KZN, WC, EC editions)• 30 Aug, Hi-tech creativity in Africa, The Citizen, Pg

19 (JHB, KZN, Pretoria, Country editions)• 1 Sept, Fak’ugesi digifest’s for everyone, Mail & Guardian - Friday, Pg 8• 1 Sept, MENTION: Centre for the less good idea, Art Africa, Pg 104• 1 Sept, MENTION: Game on Africa, African Design Magazine, Pg 46• 6 Sept, A festival where digital meets the creative, The Star - Tonight, Pg 2• 6 Sept, A festival where digital meets the creative, Pretoria News - Tonight, Pg 2• 8 Sept, Digital Innovation promises to be fun and accessible, The Star, Pg 3• 8 Sept, MENTION: What’s On, Wits Vuvuzela, Pg 6• 9 Sept, Go Digital at Fak’ugesi, Saturday Star - Saturday Live, Pg 8• 22 Sept, MENTION: Tech brings Origins entre to life, Wits Vuvuzela, Pg 6• 11 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017 returns

to Johannesburg, Change the Game, Channel Africa, Time: 10:37, Podcast link: https://iono.fm/e/461806?autoplay=1

• 29 Aug, Fak’ugesi Festival happening in September, Afternoon Talk - SAFM, Time: 14:52

• 4 Sept, Connecting Africa Digital Week, Science Tech Africa, Channel Africa, Podcast Link: https://iono.fm/e/470592 , Interview begins @ 10:30mins

• 9 Sept, MENTION: Inspiring Fifty, SAFM Lifestyle, 09:29• 11 Sept, Fak’ugesi Inspiring Innovation, SABC Digital News, https://

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=1LhU4y-NyBk• 15 Sept, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Expresso - SABC 3, 08:45• 15 Sept, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival

2017, Africa Midday - Channel Africa, 13:20• 15 Sept, Johannesburg hosts Africa’s biggest digital

innovation event, Africa Live - CGTN News, 20:54• 17 Sept, Focus on Fak’ugesi Digital Innovation Festival, Network - SABC

3, 21:39 (Repeated 17 Sept 19:39, 21 Sept 14:39 and 22 Sept 05:39)• 1 Aug, MENTION: Goethe Institut Hub: German Institute opens centre for

creative professionals, Gauteng Guardian, http://gautengguardian.co.za/index.php/2017/08/01/german-institute-opens-centre-for-creative-professionals/

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi digital innovation festival is back, Artslink,http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=42436

• 2 Aug, 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival themed ‘Brace tech hearts beat as one’, Bizcommunity, http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/708/165570.html

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017 Digital Innovation Festival returns this September, TechSmart, http://www.techsmart.co.za/news/Fakugesi-2017-Digital-Innovation-Festival-returns-this-September.html

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi Digital Innovation Festival returns to Joburg next month, Htxt.Africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/08/02/fakugesi-digital-innovation-festival-returns-to-joburg-next-month/

• 2 Aug, Joburg has a new space for gamers, creative professionals and book lovers, Books Live - Sunday Times, http://bookslive.co.za/blog/2017/08/02/joburg-has-a-new-space-for-gamers-creative-professionals-and-book-lovers/

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017: Africa’s biggest digital innovation festival returns this September, Digital Street SA, http://www.digitalstreetsa.com/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-returns-september/

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017, Africa’s biggest digital innovation festival returns this September, E South Africa Blogs, http://south.vitukotv.com/2017/08/02/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-returns-this-september/

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017: Africa’s biggest digital innovation festival returns this September, South Africa News Today, http://www.southafricanewstoday.co.za/south-africa/2017/08/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-returns-this-september/

• 3 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017 brings digital innovation to Jozi, IT-Online, https://it-online.co.za/2017/08/03/fakugesi-2017-brings-digital-innovation-to-jozi/

• 3 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017: Africa’s Biggest Digital Innovation Festival returns this September, Siya Blogs on Tech, https://siyablogsontech.wordpress.com/2017/08/03/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-returns-this-september/

• 4 Aug, Digital festival is back in JHB, Gadget, http://www.gadget.co.za/digital-festival-is-back-in-jhb/

• 4 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, What’s on in Joburg, http://whatsoninjoburg.com/post/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-tshimologong-precinct-christo-doherty-tegan-bristow/

• 4 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, In your Pocket, https://www.inyourpocket.com/johannesburg/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival_8823e

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• 4 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, All Events , https://allevents.in/johannesburg/fak%E2%80%99ugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017/107234653301275#

• 14 Aug, Fak’ugesi 2017: African’s biggest digital innovation festival returns this September, African Brains, https://africanbrains.net/2017/08/14/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-returns-september/

• 21 Aug, Fak’ugesi Festival to ignite Jozi, Gadget Gal, https://gadget-gal.com/2017/08/21/fakugesi-festival-ignite-jozi/

• 22 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival – Setting Jozi Ablaze Through Digital Creativity, Blaque, http://blaque.co.za/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-setting-jozi-ablaze-digital-creativity/

• 23 Aug, Digital creativity as Fak’ugesi returns to Jozi, IT-Online, http://it-online.co.za/2017/08/23/digital-creativity-as-fakugesi-returns-to-jozi/

• 23 Aug, Get into game at tech enthusiasts’ wonderland Fak’ugesi festival, Times Live, https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2017-08-23-get-into-game-at-tech-enthusiast-wonderland-fakugesi-festival/

• 23 Aug, Highlights for 2017 Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Bizcommunity, http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/484/166441.html

• 23 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017, Hey Event, http://heyevent.co.za/event/func37in3h7q2a/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017

• 23 Aug, 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival returns to Johannesburg, Media Update, https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/142355/2017-fakugesi-festival-returns-to-johannesburg

• 24 Aug, MENTION: New space for creative professionals, book lovers, gamers in Joburg, Bizcommunity, http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/362/166523.html

• 28 Aug, A Guide For Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017, Bubblegum Club, http://www.bubblegumclub.co.za/guide-fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017/

• 31 Aug, Fak’ugesi digifest’s for everyone, Mail & Guardian, https://mg.co.za/article/2017-08-31-00-fakugesi-digifests-for-everyone

• 31 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Art Africa, http://artafricamagazine.org/fakugesi/

• 31 Aug, Fak’ugesi digifest’s for everyone, TshWi-Fi (syndicated), http://www.tshwifi.com/news/fakugesi-digifests-for-everyone/

• 3 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.siguez.com/johannesburg/fak-ugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017?atfu3oolc1

• 6 Sept, Festival where digital meets the creative, IOL - Entertainment, https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/festival-where-digital-meets-the-creative-11100482

• 6 Sept, 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival aims to awaken creativity and imagination, Media update, https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/142463/2017-fakugesi-festival-aims-to-awaken-creativity-and-imagination

• 6 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Gauteng.net, http://www.gauteng.net/events/fakugesi-conference-2017

• 7 Sept, Where ‘brave tech hearts beat as one’, IT-Online, http://it-online.co.za/2017/09/07/where-brave-tech-hearts-beat-as-one/

• 7 Sept, Fak’ugesi 2017: Africa’s biggest digital innovation festival gets underway, Destiny Connect, http://www.destinyconnect.com/2017/09/07/fakugesi-2017-africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-gets-underway/

• 7 Sept, Digital innovation festival Fak’ugesi returns to Joburg, Destiny Man, http://www.destinyman.com/2017/09/07/africas-biggest-digital-innovation-festival-fakugesi-2017-returns-joburg/

• 8 Sept, Digital innovation promises to be fun and accessible, IOL – The Star, https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/digital-innovation-promises-to-be-fun-and-accessible-11136614

• 8 Sept, MENTION: What’s on in Gauteng: 8 to 14 September 2017, Gauteng.net, http://www.gauteng.net/blog/whats-on-in-gauteng-8-to-14-september-2017

• 10 Sept, MENTION: SA Insider: A spring guide in Jozi, Traveller 24, http://www.traveller24.com/Explore/WeekendEscapes/sa-insider-a-spring-guide-in-jozi-20170910

• 11 Sept, Braamfontein gets ‘switched on’ with Fak’ugesi festival, Times Live, https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2017-09-11-braamfontein-gets-switched-on-with-fakugesi-festival/

• 11 Sept, Fak’ugesi Africa Digital Arts Festival: A Transmission of Hope, MWeb Gamezone, http://www.mweb.co.za/games/view/tabid/4210/Article/30218/Fakugesi-Africa-Digital-Arts-Festival-A-Transmission-of-Hope.aspx

• 15 Sept, Youth can lead Africa’s exploration of digital opportunities, ITWeb Africa, http://www.itwebafrica.com/business-intelligence/507-africa/240236-youth-can-lead-africas-exploration-of-digital-opportunities

• 15 Sept, The Fak’ugesi festival pass is hiding a choose your own adventure game, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/15/the-fakugesi-festival-pass-is-hiding-a-choose-your-own-adventure-game/

• 19 Sept, New tech, trends, collaborations at Fak’ugesi, Brand South Africa, https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/investments-immigration/new-tech-trends-collaborations-at-fakugesi

• 20 Sept, MENTION: JoziHub announces events for next week, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/20/jozihub-announces-events-for-next-week/

Fak’ugesi Beats (Beats Lab & Bloc Party)

• 7 Sept, Artist Profile: Zaki steps into Digital World, Daily Sun - Sun Buzz, Pg 15 (JHB, Cape, Free State/Northern Cape, KZN, Limpopo/Mpumalanga/North-West, Eastern Cape editions)

• 14 Sept, Artist Profile: Hannah is just keeping the Faith, Daily News - Tonight, Pg 2• 14 Sept, Artist Profile: Hannah is just keeping the Faith, The Star - Tonight, Pg 3• 14 Sept, Artist Profile: DJ Hannah, just keeping the

Faith, Pretoria News - Tonight, Pg 3• 15 Sept, New beats on the bloc, The Times, Pg 12 (Eastern Cape, JHB)• 15 Sept, MENTION: Gig Guide, The Star - Tonight, Pg 2• 15 Sept, MENTION: Don’t Miss, Mail & Guardian - Friday, Pg 2• 15 Sept, MENTION: Gig Guide, The New Age, Pg 24• 15 Sept, MENTION: Gig Guide, The New Age, Pg 24 (Northern

Cape, Bokone Bophirima & Kwazulu Natal editions)• 16 Sept, Party to the end, Saturday Star - Saturday Live, Pg 8• 17 Sept, Artist Profile: Her own woman, Sunday Times - Lifestyle Magazine, Pg 47• 12 Sept, Artist Profile: Interview with Zaki Ibrahim,

Fresh Breakfast - Metro FM, 07:40• 15 Sept, MENTION: Events to look out for this weekend, Expresso - SABC 3, 06:39• 15 Sept, Fak’ugesi Festival to take place, The Best Drive - YFM, 17:03• 2 Aug, Masego, Mndsgn and Joe Kay head to Braam for Fak’ugesi Block

Party, Pulse Radio, https://pulseradio.net/articles/2017/08/masego-mndsgn-and-joe-kay-head-to-braam-for-fak-ugesi-block-party

• 2 Aug, Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party | 16 September 2017, We are Le’Afrinique, http://leafrinique.co.za/2017/08/02/fakugesi-beats-bloc-party-16-september-2017/

• 7 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival announce Bloc Party, Texx and the City, http://texxandthecity.com/2017/08/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-announce-bloc-party/

• 7 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017 Presents Fak’ugesi Beats, IDM, http://idmmag.com/news/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017/

• 7 Aug, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017 Presents Fak’ugesi Beats, Starved Mag, http://www.starvedmag.com/music/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017-presents-fakugesi-beats/

• 22 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Beats, In your pocket, https://www.inyourpocket.com/johannesburg/fakugesi-beats_8746e

• 23 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Joburg Tourism, http://www.joburgtourism.com/things-to-do/events/daytime/johannesburg/fakugesi-beats-bloc-party-JSEVT11690

• 24 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, Bezengine Post, http://bizenginepost.co.za/digital-africa-exhibition-and-beats-bloc-party-among-exceptional-highlights-of-2017/

• 24 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party, Joburg.co.za, http://www.joburg.co.za/digital-africa-exhibition-and-beats-bloc-party/

• 30 Aug, Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Blaque, http://blaque.co.za/fakugesi-beats-bloc-party/

• 5 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Zkhiphani, http://www.zkhiphani.co.za/event/fakugesi-beats-bloc-party/

• 7 Sept, Zaki steps into digital world, Daily Sun, http://www.dailysun.co.za/News/Entertainment/zaki-steps-into-digital-world-20170906

• 11 Sept, MENTION: #LAWatches | Baby by Evil Needle & Sivey, We are Le’Afrinique, http://leafrinique.co.za/2017/09/11/lawatches-baby-by-evil-needle-sivey/

• 14 Sept, ARTIST PROFILE: DJ Hannah’s keeping the ‘Faith’, IOL, https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/dj-hannahs-keeping-the-faith-11208919

• 14 Sept, ARTIST PROFILE: Hannah Faith comes to Joburg! Talks DJing and photographing Fak’ugesi African digital festival, Between 10&5, http://10and5.com/2017/09/14/hannah-faith-comes-to-joburg-talks-djing-and-photographing-fakugesi-african-digital-festival/

• 14 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Book of Swag, http://bookofswag.co.za/2017/09/14/fakugesi-beats-bloc-party/

• 14 Sept, Fak’ugesi Bloc Party Merges Music, Tech & Art, We are Le’Afrinique, http://leafrinique.co.za/2017/09/14/fakugesi-bloc-party-merges-music-tech-art/

• 14 Sept, MENTION: SA Insider: Your weekend pass across Mzansi, Traveller 24, http://www.traveller24.com/Explore/WeekendEscapes/sa-insider-your-weekend-pass-across-mzansi-20170914

• 15 Sept, Catch the latest beats on the bloc at Jozi’s digital innovation fest, Fak’ugesi, Times Live, https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2017-09-15-catch-the-latest-beats-on-the-bloc-at-jozis-digital-innovation-fest-fakugesi/

• 15 Sept, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017 presents FAK’UGESI BEATS, My OO, http://www.myoo.co.za/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017-presents-fakugesi-beats/

• 15 Sept, MENTION: Check out your first weekend edit, W24, http://www.w24.co.za/Entertainment/check-out-your-first-weekend-edit-20170915

• 15 Sept, ARTIST PROFILE: DooWap talks DJing and Deals, Live Mag, http://livemag.co.za/featured/doowap-talks-djing-and-deals/

• 15 Sept, ARTIST PROFILE: DooWap talks DJing and Deals, Tsh WiFi, http://www.tshwifi.com/entertainment-main/livemag/doowap-talks-djing-and-deals/

• 15 Sept, ARTIST PROFILE: Video: Off Topic with MNDSGN, Masego & Hannah Faith ahead of Joburg’s Faku’gesi Bloc Party, Between 10 & 5, http://10and5.com/2017/09/15/video-off-topic-with-mndsgn-masego-hannah-faith-ahead-of-joburgs-fakugesi-bloc-party/

• 15 Sept, MENTION / EVENT LISTING: Glamour Guides, Glamour, http://glamour.co.za/2017/09/glamour-guides-15-09-17/

• 18 Sept, MENTION: Spring social calendar kicks off with a festive beat, IOL, https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/spring-social-calendar-kicks-off-with-a-festive-beat-11259907

• 20 Sept, MENTION: The late great singer Ray Phiri’s daughter Nonku Phiri speaks out, Kasi Daily, http://kasidaily.co.za/the-late-grea/

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Weheartbeat

• 3 Aug, Weheartbeat partners with Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival to bring one of a kind showcase to Johannesburg, NU Soul Hub Radio, http://www.nusoulhubradio.com/weheartbeat-partners-with-fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-to-bring-a-one-of-a-kind-showcase-to-johannesburg/

• 11 Aug, Weheartbeat Presents Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Nu blaq, http://www.nublaq.co.za/events/weheartbeat-presents-fakugesi-beats-bloc-party/

• 4 Sept, MENTION: 7 South African festivals to catch in spring 2017 (Weheartbeat Presents Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party), Between 10 & 5, http://10and5.com/2017/09/04/the-ultimate-spring-parties-of-2017-selected-by-10and5/

• 16 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Weheartbeat Presents Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/tshimologong-precinct/weheartbeat-presents-fakugesi-beats-bloc-party?ikenr3sxyf

• 16 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Weheartbeat Presents Fak’ugesi Beats Bloc Party, Things to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.siguez.com/johannesburg/tshimologong-precinct/weheartbeat-presents-fakugesi-beats-bloc-party?ikenr3sxyf

• 17 Sept, EVENT LISTING / MENTION: WeHeartBeat Present Melodiesinfonie - Durban, Hey Event, http://heyevent.co.za/event/divejspsbl2xsa/weheartbeat-present-melodiesinfonie-durban

• 17 Sept, EVENT LISTING / MENTION: A Couch Session with Melodiesinfonie, Hey Event, http://heyevent.co.za/event/f5qnoshdhjq5ga/a-couch-session-with-melodiesinfonie

Fak’ugesi Conference

• 4 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Where Events, https://allevents.in/johannesburg/fak%E2%80%99ugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017/107234653301275#

• 23 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Hey Event, http://heyevent.co.za/event/ghc3mxruiwh7ka/fakugesi-conference-2017

• 23 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Joburg Tourism, http://www.joburgtourism.com/things-to-do/events/daytime/johannesburg/fakugesi-conference-2017-JSEVT11691

• 28 Aug, The future of creative innovation & technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Bizengine Post, http://bizenginepost.co.za/the-future-of-creative-innovation-technology/

• 29 Aug, The future of creative innovation and technology takes centre stage, Amplifier, http://amplifier.org.za/2017/08/29/the-future-of-creative-innovation-and-technology-takes-centre-stage/

• 29 Aug, Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital culture under spotlight at Fak’ugesi, ITWeb Africa, http://www.itwebafrica.com/ict-and-governance/267-south-africa/239831-sub-saharan-africas-digital-culture-under-spotlight-at-fakugesi

• 29 Aug, The Future of Creative Innovation & Technology Takes Centre Stage At 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, SME Tech Guru, http://www.smetechguru.co.za/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference

• 29 Aug, 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference line-up announced, Media Update, https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/142401/2017-fakugesi-conference-line-up-announced

• 29 Aug, The Future of Creative Innovation & Technology Takes Centre Stage At 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, The Event, http://www.theevent.co.za/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 29 Aug, Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Blaque, http://blaque.co.za/fakugesi-conference-2017/

• 29 Aug, Fak’ugesi Festival adds a conference, IT-Online, http://it-online.co.za/2017/08/29/fakugesi-festival-adds-a-conference/

• 29 Aug, The Future of Creative Innovation & Technology Takes Centre Stage At 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Innovation Village, http://innovation-village.com/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 29 Aug, The future of creative innovation and technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, CIO East Africa, https://www.cio.co.ke/news/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 29 Aug, The future of creative innovation & technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Firstpress (syndicated), https://www.firstpress.com.ng/2017/08/29/the-future-of-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-at-2017-fakugesi-conference

• 30 Aug, The Future of Creative Innovation & Technology – 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, SA Creatives, http://sacreativenetwork.co.za/2017/08/the-future-of-creative-innovation-technology-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 30 Aug, 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, My Jozi, https://www.myjozi.co.za/2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 30 Aug, The future of creative innovation & technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, My Newsroom, http://www.mynewsroom.co.za/the-future-of-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-at-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 31 Aug, The future of creative innovation & technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Africa Telecom & IT, http://www.africatelecomit.com/the-future-of-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-at-2017-fakugesi-conference

• 31 Aug, The future of creative innovation & technology takes centre stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Metros Mag, http://metrosmag.co.za/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-centre-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference/

• 2 Sept, The Future of Creative Innovation and Technology Takes Center Stage at 2017 Fak’ugesi Conference, Industry Tap, http://

www.industrytap.com/future-creative-innovation-technology-takes-center-stage-2017-fakugesi-conference/43669

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, What to do in Joburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/fak-ugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival/fakugesi-conference-2017?mhkkby4qvj

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Things to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.siguez.com/johannesburg/fak-ugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival/fakugesi-conference-2017?mhkkby4qvj

• 11 Sept, MENTION: This Week in Art, Art 21 Magazine, http://magazine.art21.org/2017/09/11/this-week-in-art-9-11-9-17-cindy-sherman-and-maya-lin-celebrated-as-time-firsts/#.Wbf4XrLhq00

• 13 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Fak’ugesi Conference 2017, Vibescout, https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB1568987249789492/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival/fakugesi-conference-2017

Fak’ugesi Residents

• 14 Aug, Digital painters to represent Zim in SA, The Zimbabwe Daily, https://www.thezimbabwedaily.com/arts-culture/152831-digital-painters-to-represent-zim-in-sa.html

• 14 Aug, Digital painters to represent Zim in SA, News Day, https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/08/14/digital-painters-represent-zim-sa/

• 24 Aug, MENTION: JuliART goes international, Informante, http://www.informante.web.na/juliart-goes-international.19820

• 4 Sept, MENTION: On black beauty: Explore illustrator Dananayi Muwanigwa’s electrifying Afrofuturist universe, Between 10 & 5, http://10and5.com/2017/09/04/on-black-beauty-explore-illustrator-dananayi-muwanigwa-electrifying-new-afrofuturist-universe/

• 4 Sept, Zimbabweans show the way at African Digital Innovation Festival, Zimbabwe Digital News, http://zimbabwedigitalnews.com/2017/09/04/zimbabweans-show-the-way-at-african-digital-innovation-festival/

• 4 Sept, MENTION: Top startup events in South Africa, Africa you should know about this week (Fak’ugesi: African Digital Innovation Festival), Ventureburn, http://ventureburn.com/2017/09/top-startup-events-south-africa-africa-know-week-04092017/

• 24 Aug, Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency: Meet the Artists, Bubblegum Club http://www.bubblegumclub.co.za/fakugesi-digital-african-residency-meet-artists/

• 4 Sept, On Black Beauty: Explore illustrator Dananayi Muwanigwa’s electrifying Afrofuturist universe, Between10and5, http://10and5.com/2017/09/04/on-black-beauty-explore-illustrator-dananayi-muwanigwa-electrifying-new-afrofuturist-universe/

• 10 Sept, Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency: In conversation with the Artists, Bubblegum Club, http://www.bubblegumclub.co.za/fakugesi-digital-africa-residency-a-conversation-with-the-artists/

Fak’ugesi & Festival Director

• 14 Aug, MENTION: Finding the future! The new South African films defining sci-fi for themselves, Between 10&5, http://10and5.com/2017/08/14/finding-future-new-south-african-films-defining-sci-fi-2/

• 28 Aug, MENTION: Making Genius, What’s on in Joburg, http://whatsoninjoburg.com/post/making-genius-market-theatre-tegan-bristow/

• 6 Oct, Collaborative Culture: Art Becomes Accessible at Digital Culture, Business Day. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/arts-and-entertainment/2017-10-06-collaborative-culture-art-becomes-accessible-at-digital-innovation-festival/

• 13 Oct, Morning Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAB2xqbikj0&sns=fb

Fak’ugesi & Tshimologong Precinct

• 18 Aug, MENTION: Creative centres: A peek at the 6 new cultural hubs of South African, Between 10&5, http://10and5.com/2017/08/18/the-6-creative-cultural-hubs-in-south-africa-you-should-visit/

• 1 Sept, MENTION: Tegan Bristow: Making Genius: Art, Technology & Collaboration, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/the-market-theatre/tegan-bristow-making-genius-art-technology-collaboration?yljuj08sgo

Fak’ugesi + Exhibition

• 22 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, My Newsroom, http://www.mynewsroom.co.za/%C2%ADdigital-africa-exhibition-and-beats-bloc-party-among-exceptional-highlights-of-2017-fakugesi-festival/

• 22 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, , http://amplifier.org.za/2017/08/22/digital-africa-exhibition-and-beats-bloc-party-among-exceptional-highlights-of-2017-fakugesi-festival/

• 22 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, Original Steps, http://www.originalsteps.com/news/829-2017-fakugesi-digital-africa-exhibition-beats-bloc-party

• 22 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, Digital Street SA, https://www.digitalstreetsa.com/digital-africa-exhibition-beats-bloc-party-among-exceptional-highlights-2017-fakugesi-festival/

• 23 Aug, EVENT LISTING: Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party, The

18

Event, http://www.theevent.co.za/digital-africa-exhibition-beats-bloc-party/• 30 Aug, Digital Africa Exhibition and Beats Bloc Party among

exceptional highlights of 2017 Fak’ugesi Festival, Creative Feel, http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/digital-africa-exhibition-and-beats-bloc-party-among-exceptional-highlights-of-2017-fakugesi-festival/

• 7 Sept, Fak’ugesi launches Digital Africa Exhibition, JHB Live, http://www.jhblive.com/News-in-Johannesburg/news-and-alerts/fak%E2%80%99ugesi-launches-digital-africa-exhibition/109329

• 8 Sept, Virtual Reality Africa at Fak’ugesi Festival, Film Contact, http://www.filmcontact.com/news/south-africa/virtual-reality-africa-fakugesi-festival

• 12 Sept, MENTION: Origins Centre to Launch New Virtual Reality Experience on What Makes Us Human, South African Cultural Observatory, https://www.southafricanculturalobservatory.co.za/article/origins-centre-to-launch-new-virtual-reality-experience-on-what-makes-us-human

• 12 Sept, MENTION: Join WCI Honorary Research Fellow Steven Sack as the Origin’s centre launches its new virtual reality experience, The Heritage Portal, http://www.theheritageportal.co.za/notice/join-wci-honorary-research-fellow-steven-sack-origins-centre-launches-its-new-virtual

• 18 Sept, MENTION: Wits Origins Centre opens VR experience, ITWeb, http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164913

• 23 Sept, MENTION: Tech brings Origins Centre to life, Wits Vuvuzela, http://witsvuvuzela.com/2017/09/23/tech-brings-origins-centre-to-life/

Fak’ugesi + ColabNowNow

• 23 Aug, MENTION: Ghanaian Production Designer, Prince Kojo-Hilton, To Represent West Africa in ‘Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival’ 2017 – Initiative Of British Council’s, Press Peep, http://www.presspeep.com/hurray-ghanaian-production-designer-prince-kojo-hilton-represent-west-africa-fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival-2017-initiative-british-counc/

• 5 Sept, COLABNOWNOW / MENTION: ColabNowNow re-imagines African storytelling, IT-Online, http://it-online.co.za/2017/09/05/colabnownow-re-imagines-african-storytelling/

• 14 Sept, MENTION / COLABNOWNOW: ColabNowNow re-imagines future forms of African storytelling, Social TV, http://social-tv.co.za/?p=1649

Fak’ugesi + A MAZE

• 28 Aug, A MAZE / MENTION: Like games? A MAZE is just around the corner, SA Gamer, https://sagamer.co.za/2017/08/28/amaze-just-around-corner

• 28 Aug, A MAZE / MENTION: A MAZE set for Joburg once again as part of Fak’ugesi 2017 festival, Tech Smart, http://www.techsmart.co.za/news/A-MAZE-set-for-Joburg-once-again-as-part-of-Fakugesi-2017-festival.html

• 28 Aug, A MAZE / MENTION: A MAZE gaming festival hits Johannesburg next month, Gear Burn, https://gearburn.com/2017/08/a-maze-gaming-fest-johannesburg/

• 30 Aug, MENTION: SA game Semblance is coming to the Nintendo Switch, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/08/30/sa-game-semblance-is-coming-to-the-nintendo-switch/

• 30 Aug, A MAZE / MENTION: Everything you need to know about the A MAZE Festival in Johannesburg this September, MWeb Gamezone, http://www.mweb.co.za/games/view/tabid/4210/Article/30093/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-A-MAZE-Festival-in-Johannesburg-this-Sept.aspx

• 1 Sept, MENTION: Joburg has a new space for gamers, IT-Online, http://it-online.co.za2017/09/01/joburg-has-a-new-space-for-gamers

• 1 Sept, A MAZE / MENTION: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017 returns this month, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/01/a-maze-johannesburg-2017-returns-this-month/

• 8 Sept, MENTION: Games Creator Brunch, Hey Event, http://heyevent.co.za/event/ddfz44n4eoicia/games-creator-brunch

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017, Things to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.siguez.com/johannesburg/johannesburg-gauteng/a-maze-johannesburg-2017?a98lfl7son

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017 - Day 4 | Johannesburg, Lekker Events, http://www.lekkerevents.co.za/johannesburg/a-maze-johannesburg-2017-day-4/

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017 - Day 3 | Johannesburg, Lekker Events, http://www.lekkerevents.co.za/johannesburg/a-maze-johannesburg-2017-day-3/

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017 - Day 2 | Johannesburg, Lekker Events, http://www.lekkerevents.co.za/johannesburg/a-maze-johannesburg-2017-day-2/

• 10 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE. / Johannesburg 2017 - Day 1 | Johannesburg, Lekker Events, http://www.lekkerevents.co.za/johannesburg/a-maze-johannesburg-2017-opening-and-day-1/

• 12 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Games Creator Brunch at the Goethe-Institut / 16 September, Make Games SA, http://makegamessa.com/discussion/5040/games-creator-brunch-at-the-goethe-institut-16-september

• 12 Sept, EVENT LISTING: A MAZE, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/johannesburg-gauteng/a-maze-johannesburg-2017?a98lfl7son

• 13 Sept, MENTION / A MAZE: Prepare to be A MAZE.d at indie, alt game expo in JHB, Gearburn, https://gearburn.com/2017/09/a-maze-festival/

• 15 Sept, MENTION / A MAZE: Fak’ugesi 2017: Ten games you need to play at A MAZE, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/15/fakugesi-2017-ten-games-you-need-to-play-at-a-maze/

• 15 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Games Creator Brunch | Johannesburg, Lekker Events, http://www.lekkerevents.co.za/johannesburg/games-creator-brunch/

• 16 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Games Creator Brunch, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/goethe-institut-johannesburg/games-creator-brunch?wlqxwie3mh

• 16 Sept, MENTION / A MAZE: A MAZE Festival Night Program feat Markus Wormstorm & many more, Vibescout, https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB1819647051676731/braamfontein-precinct/a-maze-festival-night-program-feat-markus-wormstorm-many-more

• 20 Sept, MENTION: htxt.africast – Raspberry Jam SA, A MAZE. /, NBA 2K18 and Hearthstone, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/20/htxt-africast-raspberry-jam-sa-a-maze-nba-2k18-and-hearthstone/

Fak’ugesi + Making Weekend

• 6 Sept, Fak’ugesi Festival to awaken bold creativity and imagination in the 2017 Making Weekend, Amplifier, http://amplifier.org.za/2017/09/06/fakugesi-festival-to-awaken-bold-creativity-and-imagination-in-the-2017-making-weekend/

• 6 Sept, Fak’ugesi Festival to awaken bold creativity and imagination in the 2017 Making Weekend, Bizengine Post, http://bizenginepost.co.za/playbook-comes-play-campus-near/

• 6 Sept, Fak’ugesi Festival plans inspiring Making Weekend, Artslink, http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=42644

• 8 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Cape Town Simulcast and Hack (With Fakugesi Market Hack Joburg), What to do in Cape Town, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/cape-town/maker-station-maker-space/cape-town-simulcast-and-hack-with-fakugesi-market-hack-joburg?kaueg6vnv2

• 11 Sept, Fak’ugesi 2017 – What you missed at Market Hack, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/11/what-you-missed-at-market-hack-2017/

• 13 Sept, Arduino gives you wings with these Red Bull maker hats, Htxt.africa, http://www.htxt.co.za/2017/09/13/arduino-gives-you-wings-with-these-red-bull-maker-hats/

Fak’ugesi + Animarathon

• 7 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Ani-Marathon, What to do in Johannesburg, http://south-africa.stnevents.com/johannesburg/fak-ugesi-african-digital-innovation-

• 11 Sept, EVENT LISTING: Ani-Marathon, Vibescout, https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB1923331451240165/fakugesi-african-digital-innovation-festival/ani-marathon5.

5. FEEDBACK & LEARNINGS As the festival continues to grow year on year, we are always interested in understanding its impact, successes and shortfalls. In an effort to assess both audience and partner experiences, we invited project partners to complete feedback reports and those in our databases to complete online surveys.

PARTNER PROJECT LEADERSHIP & FACILITATORSOutside of focused project reports, a large number of facilitators and content providers completed online surveys, giving us valuable input to inform the design and planning of future festivals. 61% of those who gave us online survey feedback where first time contributors, all with alot of positive feedback. Showing that alongside our dedicated regulars, our new contributors are excited about growing the network and being part of the Fak’ugesi project.

We additionally asked “What does Fak’ugesi mean to you?”:

• Showcasing and making digital art accessible in Africa.• An opportunity to develop long term plans / goals / partners.• Fear. Hope. Surprise.• Unusual, surprising, and inspiring combination of art and technology.• Amazing network of talented artists.• The heartbeat or pulse that inspires digital innovation!• Important, necessary, inclusive, innovative, critical and fun.• A South African take of what SXSW in America.• A full tech conference that is relevant to the digital economy.• Accessible innovation.• Creativity in innovation.• Collaboration across disciplines.• Pushing the envelope of what “African digital innovation” entails.• Bringing together a varied mix of African talent and influence.• Connection, Learning Experience, Positive Challenge.• Fak’ugesi brings people together well.

19

FURTHER LEARNINGS:In total we had over 190 project facilitators and content contributors directly involved in the 2017 festival. Based on partner project reports and the online surveys, we understand the following:

MALE57%

FEMALE43%

GENDER

BLACK41%

WHITE43%

COLOURED7%

ASIAN2%

RACIALDISTRIBUTION

In the future, we would like our facilitator demographic to look more like our audience ratio, with at least 20% more racially black and at least 10% more female.

We also learnt the following from reoccuring themes in the feedback:

Fak’ugesi & Networking: 1. The festival is an important platform to bring makers, artists and

technologists together to connect, create, share and learn together.2. More opportunities are needed in the festival for participants

to network and connect in the overall programme. 3. More production meetings are required between all project leaders, not only to

enable an understanding of the full programme, but for possible collaborations, cross-pollination and potential for new support.

Fak’ugesi Events:1. A focus should be placed on presenting and communicating project outcomes. 2. The festival should re-introduce programmes outside of the city to

accommodate audiences who do not have access to Braamfontein.3. The Beats Bloc party was a great way to end and celebrate

the festival. More festival projects, instances of digital making and collaborations should be included in this finale.

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK73% of audience respondents were first time attendees of the festival in 2017. 17% were a return audience with the majority at 78% having attended in 2016. This indicates a substantial increase new audiences and interest from these to engage and give us feedback.

We asked “What does Fak’ugesi Festival mean to you?”, to gauge what audiences understood the festival objective to be. In this we asked for a few keywords. None were negative.

• Unique• Magical Music• Digital Art• Innovation with a purpose

• Digital Africa innovation conversations• Powerful, forward thinking• Creative & engaging• Opportunity to see what Joburg has to offer in creative and innovation spaces• African innovation• Comfortable environment to witness the marriage of art, culture and music• Tech fun• Insight into future tech and how it realities to local design and platform deliveries• African engagement with potential of digital technology

for social change, self-expression, and critique• Creative, Different and Beautiful.

We asked “What did you attend at Fak’ugesi this year?”. Results showed that top 6 attended events by this sample were the following in order of highest to lowest:

• Fak’ugesi Bloc Party • Fak’ugesi Exhibition • Fak’ugesi Conference• A MAZE / Johannesburg• Opening• Workshops

When asked “How did you hear about Fak’ugesi Festival?” the highest response at 60% where via social media, followed closely by recommendations through friends or word of mouth. Reiterating the power of social media and justifies the increase in our online activity.

The following were clear when we asked “Which were the most successful events in 2017 and why?”:

• When responding to this survey, many individuals thought it was purely a music event, and had not attended other parts of the festival outside of the Fak’ugesi Bloc Party. All feedback on this however was very positive and encouraging.

• Most people only attended one event throughout the 10 days, and felt they could only respond to more based on what they experienced and saw on social media.

• Individuals who attended the conference found it thought provoking, relevant and they left feeling inspired.

We asked two questions with the same options, “What are the 3 things the Festival did right?” and “What are the three things the Festival could improve on?”, this is the comparative data we got:

10

20

30

40

WHAT THE FESTIVALDID RIGHT

WHAT THE FESTIVALSHOULD IMPROVE ON

Exhibitions &

Digital A

rt

Making wknd act

ivity

Music cu

ratio

n

integra

tion

Collabora

tions

between fi

elds

Focus of A

frica

Comm

unicatio

ns

Others

FURTHER LEARNINGS:Fak’ugesi Communications:1. Although there was more emphasis and funding on communication

this year, a more focused strategy with better lead up time is required to roll out the different projects and communication around them.

2. A new festival website was designed specifically to help improve usability and understanding of the different projects. Some individuals still felt that it was confusing, so we will endeavour to secure the services of a UX designer moving forward.

Fak’ugesi Curation and Planning:1. Although we have an impressive line up of local and international artists

participating in the festival, many thought a stronger focus needed to be placed on working with artists and curators from the African continent.

2. There was also a great need from our audience and partners to see more of what was developed over the 10 days of the Festival, at the finale Fak’ugesi Bloc Party.

3. Adding a music element to the festival was a great success and contributed to an increase in new audiences. More emphasis however needs to be put on curation and communication to ensure that it is not seen as separate from the general festival.