The idea all began when Emeka Okafor mused aloud at ned.com, “While the ICT space has developed a head of steam in some parts of Africa… a ‘Maker Philosophy’ is yet to occur. I would be interested in getting a sense of everyone’s thoughts on a Maker type Faire within the continent… an event where Afrigadget type innovations, inventions and initiatives can be brought to life, supported, amplified, propagated etc.”

Following this, Maker Faire Africa took place in Accra, Ghana August 2009. Working with Afrigadget, the International Development Design Summit and Butterfly Works a nod from Maker Faire  and the team named below we ran the Maker Faire Africa 2009 and were happy with the outcomes of the inaugural event.

We are now gearing up for the 2010 Maker Faire Africa to be held in Kenya on August the 27th and 28th. We are happy to hear from anyone wishing to contribute in kind or sponsorship, take part, visit, show their work, spread the word etc, let us know.

Organizing Team 2010

Emeka Okafor
Blog: Timbuktu Chronicles
Principal Makeda Fund
Director TED Africa

Erik Hersman
Blog: WhiteAfrican
Founder AfriGadget,
Co-founder Ushahidi

Mark Grimes
Founder Ned.com
Founder NedSpace
Co-founder Better World Media Network

Emer Beamer
R&D Director Butterfly Works
Co-founder Butterfly Works & NairoBits

Louisa Mekenkamp
Program Manager Butterfly Works

Henry Barnor
Co-founder GhanaThink
Founder Afrobotics

Jennifer Wolfe
Founder: Jennifer Wolfe Design
Blog: Design Scientista

Linnet Kwamboka
Co-Founder AkiraChix

Organizing Team 2009

Emeka Okafor
Blog: Timbuktu Chronicles
Principal Makeda Fund
Director TED Africa

Erik Hersman
Blog: WhiteAfrican
Founder AfriGadget,
Co-founder Ushahidi

Lars Hasselblad Torres
Director MIT IDEAS Competition

Mark Grimes
Founder Ned.com
Founder NedSpace
Co-founder Better World Media Network

Nii Simmonds
Blog: Nubian Cheetah

Emer Beamer
R&D Director Butterfly Works
Co-founder Butterfly Works
Co-founder NairoBits

Henry Barnor
Co-founder GhanaThink