Harare – Zimbabwe’s leading annual gathering on digital media, civic tech, and the creative economy, the Hub Unconference, returns for its 11th edition this September with the bold theme: “Decolonize the Internet.”
Running in the build up to Shoko Festival, this year’s edition of the Hub will happen from the 24th and 25th of September at the Harare Gardens and is set to host over 30 speakers drawn from seven different countries representing Africa’s creative community, civil society, the tech sector, and the media ecosystem.
This year’s theme “Decolonize the Internet” is a clarion call to action to fellow Africans to rid the internet of its Western biases and build alternative digital spaces – in an era where rapidly advancing Artifical Intelligence seems to be profitable for Big Tech but is causing massive disruption for humanity and for the environment. The two day gathering will tackle urgent questions around data ownership, algorithm bias, digital storytelling, and Africa’s role in shaping global internet governance.
The exciting list of local and international voices includes Goitse Kwada (Botswana), Martial Panucci (Burkina Faso), Antonio Kisemboi (Uganda), Kikaawa Nantume (Uganda), Willson Chivhanga (Malawi), Dean Bhebhe (South Africa), Mufasa Poet (Kenya), Justine Wanda (Kenya) King Kandoro (Zimbabwe), Probeatz (Zimbabwe) and Takura Zhangazha (Zimbabwe). Together, they join a vibrant lineup of academics, activists, techies, journalists, artists and creators shaping Africa’s creative & digital future.
“We’re thrilled to host the 11th Hub Unconference at Harare Gardens as a free event using talks and edutainment to tackle pressing global issues,” said Takudzwa Musakasa, the Hub Unconference Coordinator.
“This year’s theme, Decolonize the Internet, challenges colonial legacies embedded in internet infrastructure, biased AI and foreign misinformation while calling on Africans to reclaim our digital narratives. Our keynote speaker Takura Zhangazha will set the tone with his opening remarks at the Hub UnConference.”
The comprehensive programme features fireside chats, lightning talks, skill-share sessions, debates, live podcast recordings, and interactive showcases, all exploring data sovereignty, AI in journalism, digital storytelling, and civic technology for youth participation. This dynamic format encourages collaboration and knowledge exchange among some of Africa’s most innovative digital minds.
As part of the Hub Unconference, the Open Data Africa Summit brings together bloggers, academics, activists, and developers from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, and Burkina Faso. The summit explores how African nations can reclaim ownership of their data and harness it for transparency, advocacy, and innovation, with panels including “Africa’s Data Goldmine: Who Profits, Who Loses?” and discussions on integrating AI into educational curricula.
“One of our visions has been to use the Hub Unconference to create a space where all Zimbabwean media & tech colleges and universities can connect, collaborate, and give birth to new ideas to drive forward Africa’s alternative digital & media sectors – and we are getting there,” Musakasa added.
The Hub Unconference is a free entry event with only the requirement to RSVP to inform logistics planning by organisers. The Hub UnConference is proud to partner with CHARM Africa, a consortium dedicated to protecting human rights, civic freedoms, and media development in Africa. The Consortium is made up of Wits Journalism, Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), Defend Defenders, Civil Rights Defenders, Civicus; Fojo Media Institute, and Magamba Network.
