Any “African” site first has to be more than African to work. If Muti or any other site such as African Path is marketed as an African site/business, then it has to stand for more on the user’s mind.

You recognize CNN or BBC as world leaders in news not because they presented news but because they marketed it, they taught their employees to act like it and then sold you that product. Soon enough, the image is built in you and you see it that way. Any successful African platform has to be more than just an African platform. The brand has to extend to the intricacies of our cultures, languages and unique backgrounds.

When Coke sold in new countries that spoke different languages, they tailored their offerings to serve these markets. But Coke is an American product. I grew up drinking it and never thought of it as American. We need to do that. I think the big issue here really is marketing and the funds necessary to get the idea to sell to all groups quickly instead of it being an issue of demographics and culture.

The African sphere doesn’t exist because it hasn’t be created now, or because it can’t exist ? The difference makes sense..One asnwer or another doesn’t imply the same thing.

For Muti, a problem can be marketing..You cannot form Cameroon (for example) discover Muti, just like that. There should be something triggering this (mailing, advertising, etc..). If not, you won’t know about it.
And, the Internet is not widely distributed through Africa to allow easy surf, and discover social platform like Muti.

Muti is young, it will grow; and Zangu is a good idea…

Nino

PS: Sorry for my english if unreadable

I like….good read here. The concept of “Africa” , to me, only seems to exists in the minds of a small group of folks: those not born on the continent and a smaller group comprised of folks born on the continent who adhere to the precepts of past leaders like Nkrumah and Kenyatta of a Pan-African unit. When it comes to how people socialize you are right, it is very much along the lines of common experiences, languages, and etc. However, when it comes to purely business oriented pursuits, recently I have been bumping into larger numbers of people from one African country doing business in other African countries, like Kenyans doing business in West Africa or Nigerians in South Africa, and etc.

How does this apply to online social platforms…I think that one guess is as good as another. But I lean towards your idea that some larger platform supporting various smaller ones organized around similiar regions makes sense..

Great job!

As versatile as this platform is very few service providers have enabled the use of the mobile technology as an efficient and effective tool in this regard. So getting them to buy the idea or facilitate the process and open their airwaves to this concept is very crucial.

In the meantime, Africans in the Diaspora and those in places like S. African are ready audience for anyone with sound and innovative ideas.

So, is there a magic bullet to allow these communities to interact through technology? I don’t know, but I think that many of them can be served with the right type of mobile/web platform. It’s something that others are working on now too. Quite frankly, I don’t really care who develops it, as long as it’s done right.

Maybe it’s about time you start renaming this site to whitekenyan.com?

Seriously, feeding the local community instead of some “African” sphere – which apparently doesn’t exist, or at least only in the heads of those who talk about “Africa” – should be the way to go.

What I am hoping for is a regional level. Like in our example the East African Community. Maybe through technology ppl will find each other in future – just as the European Commission in Europe “forces” us to cooperate with other european neighbours on a common constitution and similar local law.

Let’s take Celtel for example, who introduced a single tariff in all EA countries (yes?). Giving the technology incentive for people to come together.

Also, I agree with the mobile phone networks being the best technological plattform, and that they work as “PCs” for those who cannot afford their own. Expanding those communication channels is the way to go, I think.

Merci ,tres cordialement

F.Tape
http://africaincorp.blogspot.com
http://maitreangelekouassi.blogspot.com
http://ivorycoastprivatesector.blogspot.com