2020 was a difficult year for major technology events worldwide. In Africa it was no different, due to the constraints caused by the pandemic, several face-to-face events were canceled and many moved to the virtual format. In 2021 it is expected that some events will return to the “normal” format, but everything will depend on the slowdown in Covid-19 cases.
If you want to participate in any of the great technology events in Africa, we leave a list with some outstanding events:
January 2021
January 28: Digital Retail Forum
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa.
The conference focuses on emerging technology trends that help retailers increase productivity, reduce costs, attract more customers, improve the customer experience, increase security and sell more. The event is aimed at both small independent retailers and large retail groups.
February 2021
February 24-25: FinBank Innovation Conference & Expo
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
New technologies, including blockchain, cloud and a wide variety of mobile applications are impacting the financial services industry and could change the competitive landscape in the African financial sector. This conference aims to show how the future of financial services in Africa will be.
March 2021
March 4: Digital Transformation Summit
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
The Lagos 2020 event has been canceled, but the 2021 face-to-face event still focuses on strategies, technologies and applications to help technology leaders achieve their digital transformation goals - essentially a fundamental change in the way a company uses its technology, the your workforce and your business processes to improve your performance and value for customers. The conference will explore technologies such as AI, IoT, cloud computing, machine learning, robotics and data analysis.
March 11 and 12: Blockchain Africa 2021 Conference
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa.
This event promises to be the main conference on blockchain and cryptocurrencies from Africa. The conference will also explore how these technologies are providing opportunities for individuals, governments, companies and institutions.
March 25-26: IoT Forum Africa,
Address: Johannesburg, South Africa.
Canceled in 2020, the 2021 edition will focus on smart cities, IoT for public security, digital transformation, chain lock, computer security, AI, analysis, IoT strategy, and IoT adoption.
April 2021
September 16th to 18th: Innovation Summit
Location: Cape Town, South Africa. This year the event will be online.
The South Africa Innovation Summit (SA Innovation Summit) is one of the biggest startups events in Africa. Last year's edition attracted 600 companies, 1340 entrepreneurs and 150 investors. The summit program includes pitching contests, visits to the ecosystem and exhibitions.
June 2021
7th to 11th of June: Women in Tech Africa
Location: Century City Conference Center, Cape Town, South Africa. This year the organization plans to hold the event online.
With more than 1200 leaders and professionals from different branches of technology in Africa, Women in Tech Africa aims to become the most progressive conference for women on the African continent, with inspiring speakers and cutting edge technology forums.
June 29: Digital Transformation Congress
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
This year, the focus is on Artificial Intelligence, IoT, blockchain, machine learning, cloud and edge computing ... topics not to be missed. Heavyweight industry presentations, interactive technical workshops or practical career development advice are expected, organizers say the event will leave participants better prepared to take their place as leading participants in Africa's Fourth Industrial Revolution.
September 2021
September 28-30: MWC Africa 2021
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
The GSMA announced in 2020 that it would hold MWC Africa, in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2021, bringing the main series of world events to the continent for the first time. The GSMA's Managing Director, Mats Granryd, announced the news during his opening speech on Thrive Africa, the GSMA's virtual event platform.
MWC21 Africa will bring together the leading names in the business and technology world to become the most connected and influential event on the continent. This main event is part of the GSMA's flagship series of MWC events, which includes editions in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles.
October 2021
October 19th and 20th: Edutech Africa 2021
Location: Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, SA
Edutech Africa was designed to inspire and encourage the exchange of knowledge and to show the disruptors that are having a transformative impact on all aspects of education.
November 2021
November 10-12: AfricaTech Festival [AfricaCom and AfricaTech ]
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Africacom has been the most prominent event in Sub-Saharan Africa. For several years, AfricaCom was the international technology event to take into account. Now, with the AfricaCom and AfricaTech events grouped together to take place simultaneously at the AfricaTech Festival, the event's status is reinforced. The event was expected to be in person, but so far the organization only confirms the virtual event.
November 22-23: Cybertech Africa,
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
The Cybertech conference and exhibition offers a comprehensive agenda and a series of special events. Cybertech special events cover industry-specific topics. The 2020 conference offered sessions on building the ecosystem of innovation, telecommunications and IOT, cyber awareness, cyber security for critical infrastructures, cyber medicine, agritech, cyber security in aviation, criminal investigations in the cyber era and financial security.
A special note for the event AngoTIC, which was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, but so far there is no official note on the 2021 edition.
Do you know of any other technology events with an impact on Africa? Share in the comments.
It would be nice to add the Africa and Arab championship (Competitive Programming Contest), to be held in Egypt, Lexur. Where Angola will be represented by ISUTIC, ISPTEC and UAN-FC.