British Council Connect ZA in partnership with Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2017 is hosting ColabNowNow, a 10-day digital collaboration platform with 15 digital artists and storytellers from Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK from 6 September.
The programme is curated by Jepchumba, African art and technology cultural ambassador, and will culminate in collaborative work that will be showcased at Fak’ugesi Beats Party on 16 September.
“ColabNowNow unleashes the best skilled, dangerous minds from Africa to re-imagine future forms of African storytelling by creating an interactive and immersive experience,” says Jepchumba. “Ten artists and five storytellers from West, East, Southern Africa and the UK with multi-disciplinary talents will explore the creation of narratives in a post-screen, post digital world where non-linear is replaced by multi-linear, multi-modal, multi-layered and multi-access; content is scalable both fixed and mobile, across surfaces, across environments, across technologies for Africa!”
The selected participants were chosen by a panel consisting of, Jepchumba, and British Council Art Advisors throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK. The selected creatives are:
Southern Africa: Janus Fouché (South Africa) Nyasha Madamombe (Zimbabwe) Hugo Mendes (Mozambique) Candida Merwe (South Africa) Eliot Moleba (South Africa) Lindokuhle Nkosi (South Africa)
East Africa: John Magati (Kenya) Darlyne Komukama (Uganda) Kampire Bahana (Uganda)
West Africa: Prince Kojo-Hilton (Ghana) Mamadou “Papi” Wane (Senegal) Mukhtara Yusuf (Nigeria)
UK: Christopher Lutterodt-Quarcoo (England) Olivia Mathurin (England) Nikky Norton Shafau (England)
The 15 ColabNowNow digital creatives will work within the framework of Fak’ugesi Festival, taking part in workshops, events and the Fak’ugesi Conference on 14 September at the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein. The conference will see keynote speakers Jepchumba and William Kentridge speak alongside digital art creatives from across the world, including a panel discussion with five ColabNowNow creatives.
The Fak’ugesi Beats Party will showcase the ColabNowNow creatives where they will present their collaborative work. The party is open to the public and has a varied line-up including Masego, Joe Kay, MNDSGN, Hannah Faith, Nonku Phiri, and Petite Noir.