This year, I am attending the 3rd annual Digital Citizen Indaba, not as a speaker but as a workshop facilitator on Tuesday, 9 September. I will be leaving Grahamstown directly for two weeks in Johannesburg from 10-25 September.

Anyway, here’s the event information directly from the horse’s mouth…

The annual DCI is held at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, on Saturday, 6 and Sunday, 7 September. The opening party on the evening of the 6th is at the local pub Rat ‘n Parrot, where Toby Shapshak (editor of Stuff magazine) will deliver a mind-blowing presentation as we mingle.

– DCI programme –
In the last weeks, we have put together a PROGRAMME that includes some great speakers with interesting opinions and valuable knowledge. There are five exciting 30-minute morning sessions by Jayne Morgan (‘Creating a podcast that people want to listen to’), Marlon Parker (‘Using MXit in community blogging’), Henk Kleynhans (‘How to get access to cheap Internet…and more’), Nic Haralambous (‘Mobile internet technologies’) and Andriankoto Ratozamanana (Blogging for a small audience in Madagascar).

In the afternoon, there is an interactive panel with three digital citizens from Voices of Africa, and a debate with some big names in the field of journalism and new media: Matthew Buckland (GM Social Media, News 24) and Dan Gillmor (Author ‘We Media’). And Adam Clayton Powell (University of Southern California) will give the closing statement.

Take a look at the profiles of our speakers HERE.

As you can see, these hands-on topics are in sync with our theme ‘Technology for the Digital Citizen’ and will equip all participants with new-media skills and knowledge that will empower them to create a long-lasting, far-reaching digital voice. Just as the DCI aspires.

– Workshops –
In addition to the DCI, we offer FREE WORKSHOPS on Monday, 8 and Tuesday, 9 September for those digital citizens who want to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills to the test. Space is limited, and you will need to motivate in order to attend.

Monday 8 September
14:30 – 16:00 Jayne Morgan – How to create a Podcast and attract an audience
16:30 – 17:30 Marlon Parker – How to set up and maintain a micro-blog using MXit

Tuesday 9 September
14:30 – 16:00 Ramon Thomas – How to take your blog to the next level
16:30 – 18:00 Ramon Thomas – How to take your blog to the next level

Please e-mail your details, name and time of the workshop and a motivation letter to Elvira van Noort before 1 September. We will then get back to you as soon as possible.

– Registrations –
This year, the New Media Lab is partnering with the Highway Africa 2008 conference to make sure that as many people as possible are able to take up the opportunity to join this exciting event. Therefore, registrations are now integrated. You can visit the New Media Lab and you will need to indicate which conference you are attending. Attendance at DCI is free, but there is an attendance fee for Highway Africa. Registrations for DCI close on 29 August.