Welcome to Barcamp Nairobi '08!
When: Saturday, June 21
Time: 10am - 5pm (of course, this goes later, and I would stick around for any evening fun and conversation...)
Where: 680 Hotel - MAP (website)
Barcamp Nairobi '08 is an unconference made up of of technical professionals, Internet enthusiasts, bloggers, designers and other clever people in the Nairobi area who wish to share and learn in an open environment.
Attendees don't just watch a set list of speakers. They give their own talks. Podcasting. Web standards. Microformats. Gum stick computers. Physical security. Robotics. Evolutionary algorithms. It can be anything. This event is not just for stuffy developer types - one of the best barcamp presentations ever given was about sandwiches. Barcamp is what you make of it.
Still want to know more? Here's what you can expect.
Blog it
Don't forget to proclaim your attendance in typical Web 2.0 fashion on your blog, Upcoming, and Facebook, too!
Please use the tag barcampkenya for content related to this event.
Sponsor it
Why? Show your support for the local geek culture in Kenya for starters. The whole event is free for attendees and put on through the goodwill of the community. We're looking for more sponsors to cover some of the costs of putting this together. If you are that person, or know an organization that should, have them contact Josiah Mugambi, Erik Hersman or Riyaz Bachani.
So far, we have sponsorships by, Ushahidi (t-shirts) and O'Reilly (bags).
Sponsorship by Erica Lee, PR maven of Strategiclee in Silicon Valley, to cover the cost of the hotel. How's that for global reach!? She's good, very good, at what she does.
Ever hacked hardware as well as software? Bug Labs is going to let us borrow one of their brand new BUGbundles. Check out their site, you need to know Java. This one is gonna be a blast!
WordPress has sent in a bunch of stickers and pins for all the bloggers in the crowd.
Images of all the schwag on the Barcamp Nairobi '08 Facebook group.
!! Registration
So, you're planning to attend? GREAT, add your name to the list below by "editing" the page (password is c4mp). The easiest way to do the table below is to just copy and past the line from the guy before you, then edit that for your information.
Add your name, your blog or website, what you'd like to talk about, your interests and t-shirt size. T-shirts sponsored by Ushahidi. We need you registered with appropriate size listed no later than June 16th in order to get one.
| Name | Blog or Website | Topic | Interests | T-shirt (S/M/L/XL) |
| Erik Hersman | White African, AfriGadget, Ushahidi | Crowdsourcing and mapping | blogging, maps, design | Mens XXL |
| Josiah Mugambi | blog, stockskenya,skunkworks | Not Sure Yet, Community Dev | Tech & Community Dev, Blogging, Telecoms | Mens L |
| Laban Mwangi | Blog, PenguinLabs | Not Sure Yet, OpenSource | Hacking.. Hardware hacks | Mens M |
| Nick Othieno | N/A | Linux as a development platform for Electrical Engineers | Real time Systems, Digital Signal Processing (Sound Codecs and Software Defined Radio) | Mens L |
| Philip Njenga | N/A | N/A | VoIP,Programming(VAS),Unified Communication Solutions | Mens L |
| Daudi Were | Mentalacrobatics, KenyaUnlimited, GenerationKenya | I'll do the Podcasts | citizens'/grassroots/social media, connectivity, programming | Mens XXL |
| Kelvin Ngare | N/A | Not sure Yet | Hacking | Mens M |
| Kiprono Felix Kiptum | Helule | Not sure Yet | Mobile and Facebook development, mapping, Photogrammetry | Mens M |
| Brian Muita | 69mb | Probably IMS | Mobile & Web application Dev | Mens L |
| Pernille Baerendtsen | ::louder than swahili | Not sure yet, but I can assure it won't be related to anything technical | Photography, Blogging, Information, Grassroots, Social Media, Politics, Art and Design | Womens L |
| Gituma Nturibi | The Gitts Zone | thinking about one | Blogging, Photography, Telcoms, Aviation | Mens XXL |
| Solomon Mwangi | Frontline Interactive | user generated content, Syndication | Web development, Ms servers, rss, xml | Mens XL |
| Elias Mageto | Jamati Online African Scholar | Open Content Networks, Syndication | Connectivity, Local Content | Mens XXL |
| Simon Munyu | bado sijui African Scholar | KDE development and customization | dancing,exploring fedora, general noisemaking,guitar, art and design | Mens XL |
Rough (very rough) Agenda
9:00 - 9:30am: Breakfast / Networking
9:30 - 10:00: Arrival and Morning kickoff
10:00 - 12:45: Sessions
1:00 - 2:00: Lunch
2:00 - 3:00: 5-Minute Lightning Sessions
3:00 - 5:00: Sessions
5:00 - 11:00: Dinner and evening activities TBD
Items Needed (add your name below if you can help provide any of these):
- Wifi - Josiah Mugambi,
- 3G/Net
- Projector
- Extension cords
- Help setting up
- Help cleaning up
Your organizers
Josiah Mugambi, Riyaz Bachani, Erik Hersman (hash), John Wesonga, Eric Magutu, Michuki Mwangi, Laban Mwangi, Gituma Nturibi. Ping any of us if you have any questions. Most of us hang out on the Kenya techie Skype channel.
Thanks to David Kobia for designing the new Barcamp Nairobi logo too!
