For years the Kenya Tourism Board has been working to improve the penetration and dissemination of the US Tourism market into the Kenyan soils. You see - Tourism in many African countries is big business, tourism in Kenya is the second largest source of foreign exchange after Agriculture. Many westerners like to explore the countries vast lands, national parks, game reserves and some of its fancy beaches.

There are many different types of tourism opportunities, some include sports tourism, business tourism, eco-tourism, beach tourism, educational tourism (research tourism) and so forth, however its important to note that majority of the Governments budget and planning is focused on ‘vacational’ tourism opportunities.

A few years ago I was involved in establishing a company called Kenya.com - through this journey I learned a lot about how some of the conventional thinking in Kenya has dominated the group think mentality of the tourism industry in the country. At the time the Government had established an outfit called Magical Kenya which since then seems to have improved in functionality and objectivity, however no measurable results can be seen from the online destination from where I stand (meaning I cant really tell what that site is trying to accomplish or achieve). Magical Kenya is managed by the Kenya Tourism Board which is part of the Ministry of Tourism headed by Hon Najib Balala.

The Government portal is slightly a disgrace and doesn’t really say much to me as an American consumer so I will disregard it in my article. The Magical Kenya website is definitely a step towards the right direction but that also doesn’t give me the kind of information I would be looking for as an American consumer so that too will need to be disregarded. I also found an Eco Tourism website that is independently managed and maintained, it had plenty of information but nothing I would be interested in as an American seeking to go on vacation to Kenya.

The point I am trying to make here is - I don’t think the Kenyan Government realizes that the American consumer spends a lot of time online doing research and comparison shopping. I don’t think the Government realizes that the web is probably the first interface that the westerners interact with before they make their decisions to travel into any country. Without the web - the Americans are left to explore destination through television, print and probably through referrals through friends and family.

So I wont use the web to make my argument because its obvious we have failed miserably in keeping up with Western consumer habits when it comes to making decisions about travel to Africa. (note: The only African country I am impressed with is South Africa, which has a strong web presence - http://www.southafrica.net/ managed by the Tourism Board. I don’t think I would need anymore info if am not convinced with the quality, approach and communication on that website)

So lets think about other options available to the Government short of their monthly crappy conferences and in flight magazine inserts they do on KQ and other airlines. (sidenote: Tanzania has Advertisements on Train/Subway systems in the UK, and also has been running 30 sec spots on CNN).

Am sorry I am digressing here and veering off let me stay on topic…

What if the most powerful tool that the Kenya Government had was not really the web, print, or television. What if the most powerful media the Kenya Government had was WOM (Word of Mouth)?

There are many Kenyan artists, story tellers, creative geniuses, writers, poets, scientist and other people (Not withstanding Obama). who are silent advocates for a country that wont acknowledge their existence. We essentially are silent merchants and ambassadors of a country we so believe in - love, and pray for each day. We know very many things about the country, we talk about it to almost everyone we meet, we wear our branded Tusker T-shirts and Dedan Kimathi shirts. We cannot be anymore Kenyan than our accents give us away. But the Government at large has never figured out how to tap into people like us to develop the conversation we have with Americans past the Hi, Hello and Bye.

I mean Kenya let the whole Obamathon season pass - without one single commercial on CNN about Kenya. Kenya lets Wangechi Mutu hold art galleries without a single connection with her countrys awesomeness. Kenya lets Oomiro Culture, Victor Sila, David Kobia, Michael Wanguhu, Wanuri Kahiu, Leo Faya, Tom Mwicigi, Peres Owino, Rachel Muigai, Stella Mwangi, David Otunga (I love NY), Mwashuma Nyatta… and the list goes on… Kenya lets these Jewels flourish in their own right - without putting a BRAND Kenya endoursement on any of them or their work.

But more importantly - Kenya will let this video clip (below) freely get distributed on the web - Maybe because it doesn’t have the maasai’s, the animals and the mountains that Americans want to see. But it has a lot more culture engraved in it that the new age American will understand that somewhere in East Africa, I can enjoy a safari, come to the city party at a popular night club, possibly do business with English speaking folks - and then get back to my country…

Maybe one day - some young blood will come to change how the Tourism Industry is percieved with the old folks. Maybe one day some young guy will come and introduce Spring Break Mombasa where 5,000 American and British kids will come spend their spring break at. Maybe one day - one young guy will endorse shining Kenyan stars who are constantly carrying the face of their country through their work, either online, on print, on TV, on stages or through their music… Maybe one day///

This entry was written by admin, posted on May 5, 2009 at 9:45 pm, filed under My Partners and tagged Brand Africa, Brand Kenya, Kenya tourims board, kimathi, wangechi mutu. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.

I maintain several different wordpress accounts and several different blogs. I have never thought of activating my own named - domain name until today. Whenever Godaddy tries to upsell you on your own name - it feels awkward. Its as though one should start treating him or herself as a brand, it makes you feel like maybe, and just maybe one day you could be LARGE, BIG, GRANDE, KUBWA, MASSIVE - you one day could be a BRAND.

How many people do you actually know who own their own top level named-domain names (www.yourfullnames.com) or use their own named domain names as their email address extensions? In African societies these could be closely aligned with vanity and arrogance. In the US this is merely an extention of your well to do services as a proffesional seeking to serve other clients. In the US having your own domain name, and thinking larger than life is not necessarily capitalizm - its called managing the ME, Inc brand. 

Because lets face it you are a walking brand.

And for the longest time I have been a brand, there are certain qualities about me that are uniquely … well .. me. They say a brand is a persons gut feeling about a product or service. A collection of experiences and associations connected to a service, product or a person. I think I am one of the greatest experiences out there today. I strive to be an important part of the culture, my culture, my society, my work enviroment, my friends, my family and most importantly my daughter. 

Over time ofcourse however my brand has changed as with all brands they evolve. My brand has transformed and become many things to many people but one thing to a few. You could say for a long time I didnt understand what my own brand essesense was. But the good news is that I still stand out from the crowd and thats how its supposed to be. With each day of learning, improving and building up new skills I am able to account for the different negative brand attributes - shed them off and then align myself with the key benefits of being me. 

Last week I went to Linkedin and I wanted to update my Linkedin profile which I havent done for over a year. But I realised why I find Linkedin slightly irrelevant in managing my brand. Many of us - newbie generation X’ers have done many things - its assumed that over my lifetime I will change jobs 12 times. I am sure it doesnt help that I have already changed my job close to 6 times since I graduated from college. Not withstanding I have gambled and tried very many new things that were never in my career path since highschool that Linkedin doesnt have room for. 

They say your resume should be a good indication of what your current capabilities are, and omit the rest of the garbage that doesnt really describe you. In any case I am encouraged by my mentor to be a hedgehog and not a fox (A fox knows many small things, a hedgehog knows one big thing). But how can I possibly be me - if I dont accept and account for the endless hours I put in at the Indie record label, the informal business management skills I horned working with Jamaicans and Nigerians, the two year radio stint I ran successfully in Nairobi Kenya that I got critically acclaimed for.  Why is it so bad for me to put that on my resume today when all I am looking for is a better position in an online Media company? Owe shit silly me - thats right because the Online Media companies dont give a shit whether I was a soccer player, a DJ, a presenter or a Distribution analyst… Thats right. 

Its kinda sad when you think about it that your brand is all these things yet you only put out a few of the things that make up who you are. So I wrote a letter to Linkedin and told them that their site doesnt do justice to people who have informal training and varied skillz. I think Linkedin should create a section for WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, WHAT CAN YOU DO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO. I am sure that would get more people fuzzied up and giving more accurate answers aligned to their brands. 

So here is an ode to humble beginings - as I embark on yet another blog from the 78 i manage and maintain - well they are more like 5 but they feel like 78. However this site is more inclined to capture my more intellectual views on my journey and relationships in the media world both in Africa and in the US. This site also will help me celebrate my 30th bday party which is coming up. A good indication that I need to get out more and venture into new things - possibly finally learn how to swim. Now that Obama is president I cant get away with saying that Black people dont swim. It wont fly anymore. 

Well maybe I should just say Africans dont swim // we paddle

This entry was written by admin, posted on April 1, 2009 at 12:04 pm, filed under Becoming, Changing Lanes, My Media World and tagged Brand Leo Faya. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.