TEXPO 25 will be unrolling at Zimbabwe Academy of Music in Bulawayo from 21 - 25 April. The 5 day event will feature exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on how technology's role in reshaping African creative industries.
Daring to ask "What if..." TEXPO 25 aims to create a unique intersection between tomorrow's innovators – young minds aged 13 to 21 – and the corporate pioneers who are driving technological advancement today. TEXPO 25 is more than just an exhibition but it serves as a strategic platform where future talent meets industry leadership. The theme for the event this year is "Ideate. Create. Elevate."
Key among this year's events will be the TEXPO Hackathon. The contest features challenges that bring together technology and the creative economy. The hackathon will be asking developers to come up with solutions to what it sees as some of the most pressing issues in the African creative sector.
The 4 challenges for developers will be:
Echoes of Africa
This is centred on keeping Africa's musical heritage alive and will challenge developers to design a low-cost, Raspberry Pi-based motion capture system that can capture hand and finger movements of musicians playing African instruments using motion sensors, IMUs, or cameras.
MoCap4All
This challenge will take on affordability in filmmaking tools, with developers required to create an affordable, DIY motion capture system that can capture body and limb movements using low-cost IMUs (inertial measurement units), cameras, or DIY sensor arrays, and convert raw movement data into real-time 3D animation or motion capture files.
TuneTrack
This challenge will require the creation of an automated tracking system, for musicians that can capture and identify songs playing on FM radio and online streams using audio fingerprinting, record details of the plays and genrate a quarterly statement of airplay and send it to the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) and respective stations.
CrowdBeats
This will require a real time system to assist DJs in understanding what the crowd wants. The low cost system will need to capture crowd energy levels using audio feedback (cheers, claps, movement) and optional mobile song suggestions. Use sentiment analysis or mood indicators to detect audience preferences, create dynamic set recommendations based on live crowd input, ensuring seamless transitions and offer a frictionless way for attendees to suggest songs without overwhelming the DJ.
The hackathon will take place during TEXPO 25 from 21-25 April 2025 at the Zimbabwe Academy of Music in Bulawayo. The final presentations and prize giving for it will on Thursday 24 April 2025.
The winning team will be taken on a Technology Immersion trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
TEXPO 25 will be an Expo, Gaming Hub and a Literary Space. Activities will include a book launch, a film premiere, prize giving, panel discussions and a battle of the DJs.
Events to note during TEXPO 25:
Tuesday 22 April
10:00 - Gaming Pit
FIFA Gaming Tournament (Group Stages) - (Texpo Day 2)
16:00 - Main Auditourium
BOOK LAUNCH & FILM SCREENING: "THE HISTORY OF WOMEN POLITICIANS OF ZIMBABWE" - (Texpo Day 2)
Wednesday 23 April 2025
10:00 - Main Auditourium
Keynote - Turning Passion into Profit - The Business of Creativity - (Texpo Day 3)
15:00 - Exhibition Space
Inganekwane ZikaGogo - (Texpo Day 3-5)
17:00 - Main Auditourium
Haywire Performance - (Texpo Day 3)
Thursday 24 April 2025
10:00 - Main Auditourium
Keynote - The Future of Work - Where Technology intersects with the Creative (Texpo Day 4)
10:15 - Main Auditourium
PANEL -The Future of Work (Texpo Day 4)
17:00 - Main Auditourium
Screening "Enrico Piaggio- Vespa" - (Texpo Day 4)
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