Uthango and Orange brings first annual Africa Day to Second Life

Uthango Social Investments, an NGO based in Capetown South Africa, is partnering with French telecommunications company Orange to present the first Africa Day in Second Life on Thursday, April 24 from 10:00 Second Life Time (PST) to 18:00 SLT/PST. 

Africa Day is a celebration of African content development in virtual worlds and access to technology. The first event includes a mini-conference, live music performances, art exhibitions, field trips to pro-African communities in Second Life and the opening of a virtual social space called African Rain. To view a complete schedule of events, go to: http://slafrica.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/africa-day-in-second-life-24-april-2008/ or visit the Orange Island site at http://www.orange-island.com/.

"Uthango brings Africa Day to Second Life to create awareness for the opportunities and challenges related to Africa's access to, and presence in, virtual worlds," said Alanagh Recreant, the digital avatar of Uthango co-director Dorette Steenkamp.

According to Recreant, Africans have an enormous contribution to make in the development of virtual worlds, but access to infrastructure and technology marginalizes the continent to a large extent.

Said Recreant, "In the future, we have to work together to find appropriate ways to reflect the global diversity through content development and ensure that the digital divide does not increase as a by-product of innovation in new media."

Added Fab Outlander, avatar of Fabien Alexandre, community manager at Orange Island, "Communication between people is at the premise of every solution. At the heart of the Orange brand lies the belief that together we can do more; by contributing to people's lives, by helping them to build stronger communities, sharing their experiences and make more meaningful connections."

Outlander said that content makers from Africa have something positive to bring to the world that can also be spread via virtual worlds.

"Orange is glad to support Uthango's initiative, Africa Day in Second Life, and to have this opportunity to learn more about the African contribution to global diversity and culture," said Outlander.

To visit the events on Orange Island – SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orange%201/195/134/31

To visit Virtual Africa – SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Africa/140/84/23

In "real life," Africa Day is commemorated on 25th May every year in most states which are members of the African Union (AU). It commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, which became the African Union in July 2002 after amalgamating with the African Economic Community.

ABOUT VIRTUAL AFRICA

'Virtual Africa' is an advocacy initiative of Uthango Social Investments, a reputable registered NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa and the first non-profit company from Africa with a virtual worlds' strategy. Their projects in Africa involve addressing poverty - including information poverty - through innovative, sustainable solutions.

In support of the initiative, Uthango now also manages 'Robben Island' to accommodate and promote pro-Africa communities across virtual worlds in the form of 'embassies,' and to promote the inclusion of authentic African content into virtual worlds.

ABOUT ORANGE ISLAND

Orange Island is a place where we want to share and collaborate with the Second Life community, offering a range of events that not only give opportunities to discuss and explore new ideas and technologies but provide fun experiences too. On the Orange Island you can expect to experience a wide variety of events such a concerts and guest speakers, competitions, skills workshops and you can even apply for the "Create Programme."