A lot of our Africa-centric marketing is (way) off center. Lucky for us, we have Kofi.

Kofi Annan is both a new friend and a new read (no, not THAT Kofi Annan). I'm not sure how many of you readers know of his blog but I'm really benefiting through it.

Why?

Because he's teaching me so much about that which I know so little (I find that to be one of the nicest things anyone can do for another).

Covering African style and business trends, his blog is also teaching me about advocacy initiatives and, most important, how to get our African-aligned marketing right.

Why?

Becuz we're getting a lot of it really, really wrong. (For some very basic reasons.)

Take that t-shirt up there--it's just one of the business-meets-advocacy efforts his clothing co. put together. According to that initiative's site:

"The Bling is Dead project is a part of the Demand Details! initiative which encourages a global community to demand details from the diamond industry. Details about the sale history of diamonds and details that will ensure that the diamonds we purchase do not support wars in African nations. Through key programs and partnerships Demand Details! gives Annansi Clothing Co. customers and the public at large the proper tools and facts to make educated decisions about purchasing diamonds while pushing retailers to become more responsible in their business practices."

Efforts that push for more responsible business practices are music to my ears. But Kofi's blog has many facets. Here are some of my favorite posts so far:

Celebs visiting Africa "effect"

Mud-faced African Advertising blunders

Telling the story right by starting with the best storytelling medium (movies)

On the website he just launched Kofi says, "The future of design and innovation lies in emerging markets." I agree...but would add "emerging markets AND emerging mediums."

PS: That's a pic of me with Kofi, Carolyn and C.B.

Comments

[Ryan Karpeles]

Thanks for the blogtip, CK. It's always nice to read a fresh perspective, especially from such a great writer. Love the pic too ;-)

[Stephen Denny]

ck -- your "Kofi Annan" isn't the first "Kofi Annan" that came to mind. The one that most will think of first is the former UN guy with that Iraqi oil money problem.

This "Kofi" has what appears to be a pretty good blog -- I'm not sure I'd be taken in by the other guy's, even if he had one.

Let's make sure we keep them straight!

[CK]

@Stephen: Ha! You'll like this celeb sighting, here's the "other" David Berkowitz (not son of sam but son of Dan) and Kofi Annan. Pretty amazing whom all I know, eh?
http://www.marketersstudio.com/2007/09/celebrity-sight.html

[C.B. Whittemore]

CK, glad you referred @Stephen to David's celebrity citing post. Great post about Kofi. Nice photo ;)

[David Reich]

Yes, I like Kofi. George introduced us, thanks to Steve.