Tech4Africa joins XooXity to create first SXSW-like tech festival in South Africa

SXSW, the annual music, film and interactive conference and festival has long been the pinnacle of live shows combining the arts. Getting to Austin, Texas though, is not always possible, financially and logistically.

That’s why XooXity (pronounced Zoo City) is joining forces with the already established Tech4Africa conference to bring all the glory of a multi-genre, electronic mashup festival, with a tech twist, to South Africa.

Named after the book Zoo City by Lauren Beukes, XooXity will have multiple music stages, state of the art stage design, visuals, installation art, film and other creative elements to accompany the tech conference, and could easily be dubbed the ‘South African SXSW’.

The event will be held at the Sci Bono Centre and Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg on 2 and 3 May 2014. The thinking behind the festival is that the best tech ecosystems around the world have regular events which bring people in tech together to learn, meet new people, and have some fun while they’re at it.

“XooXity is probably one of the most exciting creative things we have done in the last 5 years” said Carel Hoffmann, President for life of the Hilltoplive group. “Creativity, technology and music/art is fusing in many new formats which are really not highbrow at all any more. It is on the streets with us. Hopefully XooXity can become a platform for us and other artists and technologists to latch onto in the years to come…”

Besides the actual event in Joburg, there will be a pre-party in Cape Town on 1 May 2014. Tickets go on sale for both events on 28 February, and are advertised on the Tech4Africa website as two options:

• Tech R500: Entry to tech sessions, workshops, and evening music only. Doesn’t include lunch or beverages.
• Tech + Music + R50 Drinks Voucher R1000: Entry to the whole of XooXity, includes tech sessions, workshops, evening music, plus entry to XooXity music on 3 May. Doesn’t include lunch or beverages.

The goal of the event is to inspire and educate, by providing a great space for interaction, engagement and discussion. Artists confirmed on the website so far include Bittereinder, DJ Fresh with Messy MC (UK) and Sibot & Toyota (SA).

For more information check out the Tech4Africa or XooCity websites.