Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be in Grahamstown to give the closing addresses for both the annual Digital Citizen’s Indaba (DCI) and the Highway Africa Conference.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be in Grahamstown to give the closing addresses for both the annual Digital Citizen’s Indaba (DCI) and the Highway Africa Conference.
Tutu will discuss the role of media and new media in South Africa and the World Cup. The DCI, held on July 7 at Rhodes, will draw together citizens, advocates, bloggers and activists to discuss how new media can revolutionise development work and give a voice to the unheard.
The DCI is a project of the Highway Africa Conference, which takes place on July 5 and 6. The DCI also features international media workers and activists like Carel Pedre, a Haitian radio DJ who uses Twitter and blogging to inform local and international communities in the aftermath of Haiti’s recent earthquake.
“Twitter helped us save lives, get much needed medication, tents and survival equipment to families and to those affected most by the earthquake,” said Pedre.
“From Twitter to Skype I could reach out to the world and let them hear from Haiti directly.” Kambale Musavuli, a Congolese activist and spokesperson for Friends of the Congo, will be the DCI’s keynote speaker.
Each speaker will illuminate various ways of taking the media out of exclusive, elite realms, and placing it in the hands of citizens who are passionate about development.
“We’re trying to get professionals and citizens to share information about how to use media tools to improve their causes on the ground,” said Jane Duncan, Chair of Media and Information Society at Rhodes University and co-coordinator of DCI.
The DCI will also offer six free workshops to all participants on how to use blogs, tweets, cellphones and video technology.
Take part in DCI and register at http://www.highwayafrica.com, or follow it online via www.dcindaba.com or on Twitter @ DCIndaba with the hashtag #DCI2010
