It seems somewhat fitting that Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg dropped in on an unsuspecting Kenya last week as part of his first ever Africa visit to better understand the nascent yet fast growing technology scene here. Indeed, everyone now gets a sense that Kenya is most definitely at the epicentre of Africa’s burgeoning technology revolution driven by a mobile-first tsunami that is connecting millions on the continent to the Internet and by extension the world. Even this week, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates was in Nairobi for the AGRF conference as was Econet’s Strive Masiyiwa showing that Kenya is most definitely on the global agenda with titans of technology from across the globe.

I am truly excited by what will be the very first Social Media Week Independent Nairobi (SMWi Nairobi) which will be happening at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre as well as Strathmore University next week from the 12th and 16th September 2016. SMWi Nairobi is part of Social Media Week Independent (SMWi), a global platform that connects people, content, and conversation around emerging trends in social and mobile media – sharing insights into how social media and technology are changing business, society and culture around the world.

SMWi Nairobi will bring together thousands of professionals in marketing, media and technology. It will feature a central stage for keynotes and panels, multiple rooms for workshops, master classes and presentations, and an area dedicated to co-working, networking and interactive events. These will provide the ideas, trends, insight and inspiration to help people and businesses understand how to achieve more in a hyper-connected world fixated on social media in all its myriad forms. The global SMWi theme for 2016 is The Invisible Hand: Hidden Forces of Technology (and How We Can Harness it for Good).

Given that Kenya has approximately 10 million social media users with a confirmed 5.7 million on Facebook alone, SMWi Nairobi has come at a most fitting time for Kenya. The conversations that trend everyday on social media in Kenya and the many brands that are grappling with consumers who are talking back via social media, SMWi Nairobi presents a compelling opportunity to better understand the social media juggernaut from a myriad of perspectives. There are numerous panels that will run for the 5 days next week with experts giving insights on what works and does not work on social media. There is a stellar line-up of speakers for SMWi Nairobi so do try and make it, if you can. Visit www.smwinairobi.com to get plugged in!