Web Forum Watch: issue 1

[Nairobi, Kenya]
I FIND the Internet fascinating as hell. Why? Because you're able to quickly get an idea of what its tech-savvy population is thinking, simply by peeking web discussion forums regarding a multitude of topics. You just can't get that on the idiot box (oops, I mean TV).

Go Mambogani go!
Today, I want to share with you a few web forums that I was peeking. The site I chose was Mambogani. Here's a description of the site if you happen to browse one of their pages: "Mambogani Kenyan Portal - Forums, News, Chat, Kenyan Music Videos, Blogs, Photos, Kenya Business Directory, Free Kenya Classifieds." If you're looking to peek their excellent forums, just go here: http://www.mambogani.com/forums/

The good stuff
Anyhow, the following forum topics really piqued my interest, and I'm grateful to those peeps over there who created said discussion threads. After all, knowledge is power. Right?

• Kenya's mobile phone revolution, video (great news, but mobile rates are still HIGHER than other EA neighbours!)
  
• GSM use and expansion in Kenya (great new GSM technology by 2 Kenyan entrepreneurs mentioned here)
• Google announces partnership with Kenya Education Network (Go Google go!)
  
• Biofuels could destroy the planet? (choose your source materials wisely...um, what about hemp?)
  
• Wangari Maathai - Planting the future
• Help on working and living in Kenya!!, Japanese female wanting to live and work in kenya permanently (a most excellent, excellent discussion)
  
• Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment
• THE ART OF IRRELEVANCE (why you should never believe political polls)
  
• Bush vs Chaves, ..check your sources Kenyan press (yet another reminder of why the Internet is my #1 source for info)
• Where are the hooded men?, A lament against insecurity... (great points!)
  
• The stupid Americans should apologise!! (a very fascinating discussion...seriously!)

Oh...
If you run across any interesting discussion forums, please send me the links. I just might include them in an upcoming Web Forum Watch issue.

BarCamp Nairobi Tech Unconference

[Dar es Salaam, Tanzania]
IF you're an outsider visiting Africa, one thing you'll quickly realize in most countries there - with the notable exception of South Africa - is the general lack of knowledge regarding the very diverse field of Information Technology (IT). To be more specific, organizations and individuals are not "as up to date" on the latest technologies (web, programming, infrastructure, networking, systems analysis, databases, etc.) as their counterparts in North America, Europe and Asia. There's no doubt that the Internet access infrastructure has a lot to do with that. But things are quickly changing though. BarCamp to the rescue
So, what the heck is a BarCamp, you ask? Well, I'll let Kenyan Pundit explain it for ya:

A BarCamp is “an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants.” Think of it as an Open Source (un) conference. For an idea of what goes on, check out the BarCamp Cape Town site. {source}

Here's another perspective of what a BarCamp is courtesy of my good Net buddy, HASH (aka WhiteAfrican):

BarCamps are open conferences that are free to attend and that are open for anyone to talk at. I’ve been to a couple and I can tell you that they blow regular conferences out of the water in the amount of networking and ideas discussed. {source}

Unfortunately, I'm unable to attend the upcoming BarCamp Nairobi (31 March 2007), but I definitely plan to take part in this amazing movement sometime in the future. It seems like a great opportunity to rub elbows with the movers and shakers of Africa's increasingly important IT sector. It's so true: Knowledge is power.

Will you be there? Then sign up here.

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Related info:

• BarCamp Kenya: A Call to Get Involved
• Skunkworks and BarCamp Nairobi: Techies Getting Organized in Kenya
• Skunkworks blog (weekly techie meetings in Nairobi)