A haven for geeks of all stripes at Cairo’s Maker Faire

The sight of drones hovering over the GrEEk Campus Saturday afternoon alerted passers-by in Downtown Cairo to the fact that something out of the ordinary was happening.

Inside, some 8,000 visitors from across Egypt and the Middle East converged to explore exhibitions, workshops, discussions and live performances celebrating the do-it-yourself spirit of what the organizer’s describe as “maker culture.”

Following a mini-Maker Faire last year, Saturday’s event was the first official Maker Faire in Egypt, making it part of series of events that has attracted more than 2.3 million attendees around the world since launching in California in 2006.

While the event gave plenty of opportunity for computer whiz-kids to show off their creations, the fair was also intended to demonstrate that it's not just engineering students who can be makers. “The idea is to get together, share ideas and learning with others and inspire them to become makers,” said Ahmed Gad, business development manager of Fab Lab Egypt, one of the event organizors.

“Do you cook? Do you fix your own electricity?” asked Gad. “Then you are a maker.”

In line with this ethos, the 150 exhibitors attending ranged from teenagers with science projects to small businesses selling handmade jewelry and sweets.

The event hosted a smattering of slick displays from corporate sponsors, but for the most part hewed to a scrappy, do-it-yourself aesthetic.

With a special section for kids and a host of hands-on activities, the Faire attracted makers and future makers of all ages, creating a cheerful, if somewhat frenetic atmosphere. Cosplay enthusiasts also made their presence felt, with a mini-summit and workshops on making the intricate costumes.

Like any event in its first year, the event had a few hiccups: far more people wanted to attend workshops than there was space for, resulting in a bit of a mob-scene outside the door, and the organizers seemed ill prepared for light rain showers, despite several rainy days in the weeks that preceded the event.

Still, it was an uplifting event — showcasing a broad array of creative talent and inspiring would-be makers of all ages — and a genuinely nice day out, despite the grey weather.

For those who missed it this time around, the organizers say they are already planning on holding a second edition next year.