Highway Africa 2007

For the first time in many years I've had to miss the biggest gathing of ICT journalists in Africa, the annual Highway Africa conference. Unfortunately I also haven't had much time to follow the goings-on so am not able to comment on the conference this year. I was invited to do some training before the conference, but due to the fact that I was registering for my PhD at the same time it was impossible to take up the opportunity (despite the fact that I really wanted to go).

The conference, which took place between 10 and 12 September in Grahamstown (South Africa) was always an interesting event. Not only was it a meeting place of media enthusiasts (journalists, owners, media scholars, civil society organisations), but also a meeting place of old friends - it always felt like a bit of a reunion because many of the same people would attend year after year. While this could lead to a bit of stagnation in terms of the ideas beings generated and debated, it also meant those attending could always find a familiar face amongst the delegates (not always something easy to do at conferences).

Looking through the list of speakers, I see many familiar faces, faces I would have liked to greet and meet up with again. And, surprisingly, many that haven't been on the programme before, who would have been equally exciting to greet and meet. Hopefully next year I'll be in attendence and can give my own account, but for now have to count on the writings of others.

The conference was, as usual, covered by its news agency (the Highway Africa News Agency, HANA) so you can read all about at their website. Unfortunately you have to register to read the full stories which is a pity and something I never really agreed with when newspapers or news organisations did it on their web content. Although there is no subscription fee, many people are opposed to the bit of time it takes to enter details for registering and are often deterred from doing so which is a pity.