David Kobia, founder of Mashada, a well known community website among Kenyans, just let me know of their newly launched site. Mashada was first created in 1998 and has 40,000 registered member, and has just been completely redesigned from the ground up.
There are still some sections of the relaunch that aren’t finished. No word on when the classifieds and pictures area will be live. However, I’m quite impressed, this is one of the best community sites coming out of Africa today. It’s got a very healthy community of active users that make it their daily destination for conversation and news.
I really like the design, it’s easy on the eyes and simple to navigate. The feature set includes:
- Kenyan blog aggregator (aren’t these all the rage these days!?) Particularly well done.
- A really neat chat tool
- Archived forums – with all of the old posts, so it loses none of its flavor – good job on this one!
- Classifieds – coming soon
- Photos – looks like this is coming soon too
Mashada claims itself, “Africa’s Online Community”. So, I can only guess that David plans to grow it past the normal base of Kenyans to a wider web audience that includes more people from other African countries.
A look at the Kenyan blog aggregator:
March 28, 2007 at 6:38 am
i guess kbw is over since the monopoly is no more .siku za maringo zimekwesha
March 28, 2007 at 7:02 am
Hey Joe, I think the Kenya Bloggers Webring is still a much needed platform for extending blogging to the Kenyan community. Having another blog aggregator just adds some choice to the mix. Personally, I think both serve a different demographic anyway, so both will do well.
March 28, 2007 at 7:10 am
Hash i agree in a way .neo liberal leftist and their pro gay agenda,anti kibaki sentiments will need a home especially since mashada is an open forum that is none partisan . i think majority of kenyans will be on mashada because it willbe balanced and has a wider reach.
Voices such as mine that were kicked out of kbw and the likes of acolyte ,irena,poi and the many others that were silenced will now have a home that does not try to control our message and promote a single voice on kenyan blogs that has been like i said had a closet leftist agenda
March 28, 2007 at 7:13 am
As part of the diaspora, i must say that its good to see an online presence and a community in kenya. congrats to you all.
March 28, 2007 at 7:42 am
Joe, I was thinking about what you said on biases. In a perfect world these web platforms don’t have biases at all. They’re just places where anyone can write (ex: Mashada forums) or blog and get it aggregated.
On another point, as much as Mashada and KBW might seem like direct competitors – they’re actually not – they’re indirect competitors.
Though Mashada has started an aggregator, their strength doesn’t lie in that, it’s in their forums. KBW also has an blog aggregator, but it’s strength has been creating a community sphere around blogging in Kenya.
That’s why I think there’s room for both, they each own different spaces on the web: forums for one, blogging for the other.
March 28, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hash I hear you! Mashada doesn’t have a bias .It is a home for almost any view point you might have out there. The kbw issue is not a new one .infact it was after the Acolyte scandal that I wrote to David asking him to start an aggregator .At the time bloggers who did not agree with the powers that be in KBW were being harassed with emails that only KBW admin had access to .
There was a lot going on at the time .Including a closet agenda to remove voices that dissented with the KBW Secret agenda .In fact I was not the first to be removed from the web ring and later others were removed. Those who specifically did not fit into an agenda that toed KBW unofficial line were unceremoniously shown the door.
I agree there is a place for KBW on the Kenyan web community just like there is a place for Kencel in the mobile industry in Kenya .But the better option is here! Just like kencel that was elitist and too proud to serve all Kenyan bloggers .Kbw I predict will be languishing as mashada blogs climbs to new heights .Let it be a warning to those who think that starting something or being the first to come up with something is an acceptable excuse to mistreat others .The world wide web is not personal property, the Kenyan blogging community can not be held hostage to selfish agendas and closet machinations
Mashada is here and it is the better option!
March 28, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I for one will say that I was amazed but glad to see a new aggregator up. I do agree that diversity is indeed needed. It was sad to see censorship creeping into KBW, like when a humourus post by udi poking fun at gays was pulled and the harassment of other members. I will not touch on my situation and how poorly it was handled as that is water under the bridge.
Anyway at the end of the day it is all for the good of the Kenyan online community.
March 30, 2007 at 8:51 pm
The new Mashada design really rocks. Thx David! And thx Hash for blogging about it.
April 2, 2007 at 10:42 am
Why dont you guys try JUKWAA which a better organised forum and full of solid bloggers. I think mashada is full of kids and this makes it so painfully rubbish
May 8, 2007 at 12:59 pm
sixigirl
May 18, 2007 at 4:05 am
keep it up bro
June 20, 2007 at 9:35 am
Kisumujah this is the beauty of Mashada. Every one is entitled to their own opinion even the kids who “make it so painfully rubbish” after all don’t forget you were once a Kid …….
December 27, 2007 at 4:33 pm
mashada is by far the best. Jamela,Jaykam,Mkono,Supuu, Mzalendo Mkenya and the rest of the crew are rocking the crap out of that website.
Mad love to you guys
January 9, 2008 at 10:19 am
mashada is rockin eldy however we are disapointed of its open defence of the thievious rresidencya
January 9, 2008 at 10:19 am
mashada is rockin eldy however we are disapointed of its open defence of the thievious presidencya
February 12, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Mashada is a place to relax,a place you meet all types of fellas.Its nice and may we all use it to our benefit.Get to know what others think about you and thus we will soon know that which hold us back towards each other.ONE LOVE GUYS.KENYA NI YETU SI YAO.AMA?
April 1, 2008 at 5:01 am
does maweed there is a living rap legend in ku calledA
March 23, 2009 at 4:47 am
When it comes to emergency well you get me up. em pleased with what you are doing, keep it up. you are welcome.