Tapmagazine issue 5 by Tap Magazine

T H E

A F R I C A N

P E R S P E C T I V E

M A G A Z I N E

VOL 1 | ISSUE 5 | 2015

UBER Africa

9 cities and Expanding

Nairobi Night Life

The Madiba Tribute

CULTURE | BUSINESS MUSIC | SPORTS | HEALTH POLITICS | LIFESTYLE TRAVEL

Leadership lessons from Myles Munroe

The African Holocaust

100 Days

of African Fashion

WWW.TAPMAGONLINE.COM

UBER AFRICA

Cape Town Durban Joburg Pretoria Port Elizabeth Nairobi Lagos SSA Cairo Casablanca 2 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Download the APP Today Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 3

ABOUT UBER Uber is evolving the way the world moves, seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through smartphone technology. Uber’s mission is nothing less than a revolution in the way citizens of the world move, work and live. It aspires to transform the way people connect with their communities and to bring reliability, convenience and opportunity to transport systems. The Uber network is now available in 362 cities in over 63 countries spanning 6 continents. To request a ride, users must download the free application for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7, or register for Uber at www.uber.com/go. For questions visit www.uber.com

AFRICA

YOUR uberX IS ARRIVING NOW

4 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Uber has pledged globally to create 1 million jobs for women by 2020, 2000 of which in South Africa by the end of 2016.

UBER INFO Uber is a technology company connecting riders with drivers, through a smartphone app.

Uber has created 2000 work opportunities since launching in South Africa and could easily create another 15 000 in two years

Uber has nine cities in Africa

UBER NAIROBI Uber does not employ any drivers nor own any vehicles.

was globally the second city to launch a successful cash payment option, and business has double since the introduction of this payment option.

Fare quotes and vehicle options: www.uber.com (simply search your city) Alastair Curtis is the International Launcher, Uber Africa

Uber's headquarters are in San Francisco, United States of America. Alon Lits is the Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 5

EDITOR'S NOTE Dear TAP family,

Editor-in-Chief

MOSES MUTABARUKA

VOL 1 | ISSUE 5 | 2015

Welcome to the fifth issue of The African Perspective Magazine. Once more, it is a great honor and privilege to be bringing you another issue. At the beginning of this year, we set out to bring you five, well-made issues and it gives me great pleasure to say we’ve achieved that goal. On behalf of TAP, I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success. Your work is very much appreciated and we are indebted to you. This fifth issue remains true to our core principles of availing rich and informative content in a manner that is easy to understand. On the cover, we pay tribute to the great man - Madiba. This December marks the second anniversary of his passing and we wanted to pay our respects in a proper way. In paying homage, this issue also honors Dr. Myles Munroe who passed away last November soon after returning from a tour of Africa. We speak to one of his closest protégés. Moreover, we also remember the “African Holocaust” that led up to the deaths of 3/4 of the population of Herero people, and 1/2 of the Nama people in Namibia under the German colony. Furthermore, you’ll also find a special info-graphic that point to some of the visa requirements for African nationals visiting African countries. Issue five also features two other phenomenon people; Diana Opati who is on a mission to revolutionize the way the world looks at the fashion industry on the continent and Olivier Twagirayezu who is building a platform that will bring African fashion designers and Artists to the global market. Tanasha Oketch, a 21-year-old half Kenyan/Italian is our featured model. To conclude, I’d like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of you who have read each issue and supported us throughout. Because of you, we've had a breakthrough year and we will continue to revamp our content to make sure we continue to bring you superior content. For this reason, we’ve recently opened a regional office in Nairobi, brought new partners on board and expect to have TAP accessible in print throughout East Africa by the end of 2016. Thank you again for reading, engaging and supporting us. You are the backbone of what we do. More than ever before, we are committed to telling the African story to the world; unbiased, uncensored and from a balanced perspective. Enjoy the fifth issue and happy New Year 2016 Moses Mutabaruka CEO, TAP Magazine mutabaruka@tapmagonline.com

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter”. — African Proverb 6 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Fly Directly three times a week with B787 and B777 to Addis and connect to over 47 destinations throughout Africa

A STAR ALLIANCE MEMBER www.ethiopianairlines.com

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 7

CONTENTS

MADIBA TRIBUTE

7 things You didn't Know About

Madiba

REMEMBERING The African Holocaust

LEADERSHIP Lessons from Dr. Myles Munroe

DIASPORA 5 things to do before visiting home

POLITICS Visa free countries for Africans!

INTERVIEW An Online Marketplace for African fashion and Arts

FEATURED MODEL Tanasha Oketch

68 26

TRAVEL The Nairobi Night Life

FASHION 100 Days of African Fashion with Diana Opati

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 9

Ethiopian Airlines

operates an all Women functioned flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok The daughters of Lucy controlled the skies on November 19, 2015, flying an all women operated flight from Addis Ababa to Bangkok. This historic flight was aimed at crystalizing Ethiopian corporate conviction of “Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Growth” on the eve of Ethiopian Airline's 70th year Anniversary. Lucy, the world's oldest hominid fossils, has come to verify that Ethiopia is not only a country of diverse cultures and ancient civilization, but also a country where humanity began, a country that holds the key of understanding human ancestry. ET Lucies operated the flight fully on ground and in the sky from flight deck crew members and Cabin Qperations to Airport Qperations; Flight Dispatcher; Load Controller; Ramp Operations; Baggage Handling; Flight Planning; Cargo Handling; Qn-board logistics; Aviation Safety and Security; Ticket Qffices; Catering; Air Traffic Controllers and

Global Call Center. Ethiopian senior female executives will grace the event onboard the flight. Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked,“It is a great honor for us to have competent Women Aviation Professionals at Ethiopian in every aspect of the aviation field, which portrays Ethiopian as gender responsive organization that strives to pursue its underlying stance of being an equal opportunity employer. This is an ample opportunity to inspire young African female students to believe in their dreams and embark to fill the skill gap for Aviation professionals. Our world has more 3.6 billion female population and equal engagement and equal treatment in all aspects of life will mean significant increase in global Economic growth. Text below should be on the other two page spead not the women one!

“Women are the continent’s

greatest untapped resources.” Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO – Ethiopian Airlines

DID YOU KNOW

Photo courtesy: Photopedia

What popular media doesn't tell us is that the first Holocaust committed under the German rule did not take place in Europe but in Africa and that the people subjected to this genocide were not Jews or Gypsies but Africans. 12 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

AFRICAN HOLOCAUST

hirty years before Hitler came to power in Germany, and about forty years before Raphael Lemkin authored the word “genocide”, genocide had already been committed at the hands of Germany. What the popular media doesn’t tell us is that the first Holocaust committed under the German rule did not take place in Europe but in Africa and that the people subjected to this genocide were not Jews or Gypsies but Africans. Today,

A report published later by the British government indicated that in 1906, Shark Island registered an annual death rate of 227% for the Nama, and 86% for the Herero. when the word “Holocaust” is mentioned (or googled) people automatically think of the terrible events that happened in Germany (and across Europe) during the Second World War and how millions of Jewish children, women and men were brutally packed into concentration camps and mercilessly killed. The first genocide of the 20th century; the Herero and Namaqua racial extermination campaign is hardly ever mentioned. In fact, most Africans are not familiar with this tragic event that befell fellow Africans in what is today Namibia. Furthermore, this event is completely missing in our schools and literature. For this reason, I’ve sort help from a documentary initially made by BBC films which outlines the events that lead up to the deaths of 3/4 of the population of Herero people, and 1/2 of the population of Nama people in Namibia. Press Play on the following videos and you will be blown away.

Setting the tone On 12 January 1904, tired of being slaves, having their women being raped, their lands and cattle being stolen and given to German settlers, the Herero people, led by Samuel Maharero, rebelled against German colonial rule, In August, German general Lothar von Trotha defeated the Herero in the Battle of Waterberg and drove them into the desert of Omaheke, where most of them died of dehydration. In October, the Nama people also rebelled against the Germans

only to suffer a similar fate. In total, 24,000– 100,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama died. The genocide was characterized by widespread death from starvation and dehydration due to the prevention of the retreating Herero from leaving the Namib Desert by German forces. Some sources also claim that the German colonial army systematically poisoned desert wells. In 1985, the United Nations' Whitaker Report classified the aftermath as an attempt to exterminate the Herero and Nama peoples of South-West Africa, and therefore one of the earliest attempts at genocide in the 20th century. In 2004 the German government recognized and apologized for the events, but has ruled out financial compensation for the victims' descendants. In July 2015, the German government and parliament officially called the events a "genocide" and "part of a race war"

Concentration Camps Those who were lucky enough to survive the desert, majority of whom were women and children, were caught and put in concentration camps. At this camps, the Germany authorities forced the Herero into slave work for the German settlers and military. At Shark Island, the deadliest of all concentration camp, all prisoners were categorized into group’s fit and unfit for work, and pre-printed death certificates indicating “death by exhaustion following privation” were issued. A report published later by the British government indicated that in Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 13

DID YOU KNOW 1906, Shark Island registered an annual death rate of 227% for the Nama, and 86% for the Herero.

Medical Experiments During the period of colonization and oppression, many women were used as sex slaves. Eugen Fischer, the famous German scientist, came to the concentration camps to conduct medical experiments on race using children of Herero people and children born to these abused women. The experiments conducted in this camps included sterilization, injection of smallpox, typhus as well as tuberculosis. Fischer also subjected them to numerous racial

tests such as head and body measurements, eye and hair examinations. Fischer decided that each mixed-race child was physically and mentally inferior to its German father. In conclusion of his studies he advocated genocide of alleged “inferior races” stating that “whoever thinks thoroughly the notion of race, can not arrive at a different conclusion” and wrote a book promoting his ideas: 'The Principles of Human Heredity and Race Hygiene'. Adolf Hitler read it while he was in prison in 1923, and cited it in his own infamous pursuit of 'racial purity' in Europe. Fischer’s (at the time a highly respect scientist) scientific actions and

torment of the children were part of a wider history of abusing Africans for experiments, and echoed earlier actions by German anthropologists who stole skeletons and bodies from African graveyards and took them to Europe for research and for sale. An estimated 3000 skulls were sent to Germany for experimentation. In October 2011, after 3 years of talks, the first skulls were due to be returned to Namibia for burial.

Influence On Nazi Germany Before the Nazi murdered millions of Jewish people in Europe, the story of what happened in Namibia was of no interest to many intellectuals. Since then, the Herero genocide has commanded the attention of historians and scholars. They have studied the relationship between the Herero Genocide and the Holocaust

The Herero genocide set a precedent for what followed later in Germany. According to Benjamin Madley, “the German experience in Namibia was a crucial precursor to Nazi colonialism and genocide. 14 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

In conclusion of his studies he advocated genocide of alleged “inferior races” and wrote a book promoting his ideas; 'The Principles of Human Heredity and Race Hygiene'. Adolf Hitler read it while he was in prison in 1923, and cited it in his own infamous pursuit of 'racial purity' in Europe.

extensively. Majority of them argue that the Herero genocide set a precedent for what followed later in Germany. According to Benjamin Madley, “the German experience in Namibia was a crucial precursor to Nazi colonialism and genocide. He argues that personal connections, literature (Hitler read

Eugen Fischer’s experiments in Namibia and decorated him with awards) and public debates served as conduits for communicating colonialist and genocidal ideas and methods from the colony to Germany. Tony Barta,who is also a respected scholar argues that “Herero Genocide was an

inspiration for Hitler in his war against the Jews and that the two tragedies have key similarities in that the perpetrators conducted medical experiments on their subjects, believed to be of superior race hence the elimination of the weaker race to enhance their superior one.

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 15

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Manila

DIASPORA

5 THINGS TO DO BEFORE VACATIONING HOME BY MOSES MUTABARUKA & LEILA KHADIFHA ( CEO TASKWETU )

Disclaimer: while my experience is specific to Kenya, you can apply this information in most countries

18 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

For the past two summers, I’ve visited Kenya. First, to mainly visit old friends and family; and on the second occasion, to explore a business idea. On both instances, I’ve found that my stay could have been more convenient and efficient had I taken time to get the following done before I departed.

Get a local bank account

The last thing you want to do when you travel back home is to spend time lining up at a bank to exchange or withdraw money every time you run out. Using your international debit/credit card at home, or asking friends to send you (your own money) western union/money grams can be both super expensive and inconvinient. Thankfuly, and given the amount of money that the Kenyan diaspora ($143M= 2014) remits back home every year, it is only given that any financial institution worth their salt would be interested in tapping into that market. And Kenyan banks seem to have done that, almost to the last man. Most banks in Kenya offer banking services specifically tailored for the diaspora. You can apply for a bank account online, receive it in the mail (pick it up where you land) and have it ready to use when you land. Equity bank even has agents in the diaspora.You can have the account in local currencies or in any major foreign currency. Banks offer Mastercard and Visa affiliated cards which can be used at any ATM in Kenya and when paying at merchants affiliated with the two.

The NIC Bank diaspora account is available in ten major currencies. You can send money to anyone in Kenya through MPesa, conduct same day transfers to any bank in Kenya and SWIFT transfer to any bank worldwide, according to the bank’s website. Most of the banks require that you attach a passport size photo, a copy of your passport, and, in Equity’s case, to sign an email indemnity form. Furthermore, most of the banks allow you to conduct online transactions, offer debit cards, give loans after banking with them over a certain period and promise a dedicated customer service team. Other banks that offer diaspora banking accounts include KCB group, I&M Bank. CBA group, Family Bank, ABC bank.

Short-term rentals Staying with friends and family is all fun but sometimes you want your own space. Especially if you have to move between different cities or if you are visiting people that you haven’t seen for a long time or looking to get some work done during your stay. Apart from hotels, you can get very affordable accommodation in the city Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 19

DIASPORA if you are willing to consider alternative arrangements. That includes furnished apartments, and having a local host through Airbnb. I used Airbnb during my trip this year and it was amazing. My host was caring and informative. She referred me to a business associate and was able to close a deal. Airbnb is not as widespread as in the Western capitals, but there is a vibrant and growing community. You can check online for options but most of the people who have used the service in Nairobi have had positive experiences. Prices can be as low as $20 and go up to$80, a night. Furnished apartments have been around for a while, and there are quite

a number in the city. It is quite rare for one to miss one, even on short notice. They normally come fully furnished and there is an inhouse cook to cater for your culinary needs. Alternatively, you can opt to prepare your own meals. Prices range from $50 upwards depending on location, size and the level of services that come with the apartment. They are mostly located in upmarket areas and close to shopping malls, hospitals and recreational joints. Some of these areas are served with public transport, but if you are not sure about 20â&#x20AC;&#x2030;â&#x20AC;&#x2030;| Tap Magazine | December 2015

finding your way around, it is advisable you use taxis. They are abundant as we will be able to see in a bit. Staying in alternative accommo-

is not advisable to use it unless you understand your way around the city well, or you are up for adventure. Nairobi is well served with semi private

dation gives you flexibility, affords you interaction with the locals, you get to experience more as compared to staying in the hotel, and it comes with a friend/local host, sometimes. You get to experience hospitality similar to that in hotels but at lower rates and more nuanced.

transport; either in form of taxis, either by companies or individual drivers, car hire companies or if you already use Uber... Uber on. You can hire a car which you can use throughout your stay. The rates start at $200 a day depending on the size of the car and the geographical location where you are going to use it. Drives out of town cost more. Most travel and tours companies provide car hire services, or they can organize one for you. So, if your travel was organized by an agent, it is advisable to ask them to arrange for a car for you if you need one.

Transportation You will need to move around, you will need a reliable mode of transportation. The most common means of transport in Nairobi is public transport, but it

You should note that to some extent, taxi services in Nairobi operate around referrals and using someone you are familiar with. If you are out and you require the services of a taxi, it's advisable to ask your local contact, if you have one, to recommend someone. Uber also operates in Nairobi. So do taxi hailing companies like Easy taxi and Maramoja Transport.

Investment Opportunity There are companies that solely deal with car hire services. A simple online search can yield you impressive results. But as all things sold online, it is advisable to look at what other people have to say about the particular companies. You can make arrangements for the car for various time periods. Most dealers are open to lengthy as well as short car hire periods. Taxi companies are a dime a dozen. You can also find individual taxi drivers with their cars parked at several locations in the city, and outside entertainment and recreation joints and shopping malls. Prices vary but on average they start at $1 a kilometre. They go slightly higher during rush hour, but prices are sometimes negotiable. Airport transfers cost higher than the normal rates. For instance, if you are moving from Karen to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, your cab fare should be around the conines of $30.

STAYING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS ALL FUN BUT SOMETIMES YOU WANT YOUR OWN SPACE

While at home, you will want to know what are some of the opportunities you can pursue or even invest in. KenInvest is a good place to start. It is a state parastatal charged with the task of promoting investments in

Kenya. They have a depth of knowledge in the investments trends in the country and are in a position to advise you on how to go around investing in Kenya. Some of the services they offer include providing information around the the business climate, operating rules, investment opportunities and sources of capital. On top of that, they assist investors in navigating the legal structures in the country. They will help you get licences

and approvals even those directly not handled by them. Banks and investment companies also provide information around investments opportunities in the country. However, it is always advisable to check out the nature of some of these entities with the relevant government bodies before engaging them. On top of that, there are a number of online platforms, such as TasKwetu, and regular meetups in the city where investments opportunities are discussed.

Errands You will only be around for a short time, do not waste that precious time running errands you shouldn’t. Far too many Nairobians have cars. That translates to almost crippling traffic gridlocks. It limits movements, which means it makes economic sense to have someone else who knows how to quickly navigate the city handle your errands. There are local companies that run errands, depending on your needs. TasKwetu stands out because of the spectrum of issues they handle on behalf of customers; This ranges from the usual parcel deliveries to complex matters like getting birth certificates and pupil pass, business registration on behalf of the owners, renewals and follow ups of passports, driving license, insurance, work permits , filing tax returns, collections of school certificates and managing projects that include land acquisition and securing it and handling of investments and construction projects on behalf of Kenyans in the diaspora. I have used them extensively and will recommend them to anyone. Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 21

POLITICS

Only 11 African countries offer liberal access to all african citizens Inward travel, visa requirements for other African citizens to visit, % 94

No Visa required Visa applied on Arrival Visa Required

6 Uganda

Seychelles 15

Cape Verde

Togo

100

100 Rwanda

Mauritania

Comoros 15

100 78

Mozambique

46 11

26 9

Gambia

22 Tanzania

Madagascar 35

9 Mozambique

100

Dijibouti 33

Somalia

74 Guomea Bissau

19 Senegal

Kenya 24

22 50 Burkina Faso

Zambia

Cote d'Ivoire 26

9 63

Guinea

Ghana 33

67 Benin

63 Mali 33

33 67

67 Botswana

Niger

66 Nigeria

Zimbabwe

Malawi

Swaziland

2 70

Tunisia 11

83 Morocco

Namibia

Car 9

Algeria 2

South Africa

78 Chad

Congo Republic

72 Liberia

Lesotho

Sierra Leone 22

2 2

Sao Tome

96 Angola

2 100

96 98

96 Gabon

2 2

Sudan

Ethiopia

South Sudan

Cameroon

Burundi

94 Eritrea

DRC

Egypt

Courtesy of - Global Agenda Council on Africa

Libya

Equatorial Guinea Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 23

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THE GREEN IN THE NAIROBI NIGHT LIFE

26 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Its diversity and vibrancy of culture is what makes Nairobi the city that never sleeps. Stepping out into the night can be scary if it’s your first time but the city welcomes you with warm open arms. Viva Nairobi!

Images courtesy of @The_Mentalyst

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 27

TRAVEL

Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is one of the most popular destinations in Africa. The place also known as the green city under the sun for its lush undergrowth and its serene environment derives its name from the Maasai phrase “Enkare Nairobi” which loosely translated means “cool waters”. Since the colonialists landed in Kenya over a century ago, the city has grown from a small rail port to Kenya’s capital and one of the biggest cities in Africa, boasting of a robust and vibrant business environment and people from different walks of life. Its diversity and vibrancy of culture is what makes Nairobi the city that never sleeps. The New York of Africa if you may. Each day, night gathers in this city and the watch begins tick. A whole flurry of activities goes on in the gleeful watch of the moon and the stars. If you find yourself in Nairobi one of these fine nights, probably a Friday or Saturday night (oh Thursday is the new Furahiday (a corruption of word Friday by merging it with the Swahili word for happiness – furaha) then this is your guide to the city when the sun finally goes to bed after a long day.

Transport First we have to get you somewhere, right? Moving around Nairobi at night can be a simple affair as it is a tricky one. The most popular means of getting from point A to B is by public transport via what are known as matatus. There are matatus that ply almost every route into and out of the CBD. They always have numbers depending on the route they are going to and if you miss that then there are touts standing at the 28 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Images courtesy of @The_Mentalyst

door shouting atop their voices which route the matatu is headed. Just hop into one that is going where you want to and voila! However, there are some routes that are not as accessible via public transport especially the leafy suburbs and that is where the cab/taxi services come in. These are the safest for moving around at night. You can access these services through companies that have mobile-based applications for getting their services like Easy Taxi or Uber

and a cab driver is sent to pick you from your point of call to wherever your destination is. The average waiting time for a cab is 10-20 minutes and the charges vary depending on the distance. There are also motorcycles which ferry people around but they aren’t as popular as the cabs and matatus especially since they are a tad expensive whist not offering the protection from weather hazards like the rains or the cold weather and they are prone to attacks by gangs at

Kshs. 3500 on the lower side to Kshs. 10000 on the higher side.

Destination The vibrant Nairobi life presents a variety of choices for where to go out and have fun. If you are with friends who are locals and/or know their way around then you are most possibly sorted out. If you are alone you can still have fun albeit unadvisable since you may be prone to things such as robbery. It is always advisable to have company while enjoying the Nairobi night life.

Bars and Clubs

Nairobi at night is a sight to behold. Stepping out into the night can be scary if it’s your first time but the city welcomes you with warm open arms. Viva Nairobi!

night. Also, if you are not a fan of speed then this is your option. However, they are common during the day as they easily navigate trafficjam prone areas. Cruising around Nairobi in a personal vehicle can be the most fun way to move around. These can be hired from car hiring service companies whose details can be found online such as 4by4 car hire services. A car hire for a night depending on the car type and the company will cost you between

Ha, these are the most probable and most popular destinations for anyone who wants to experience the Nairobi nightlife firsthand. Most of the popular clubs are located around the CBD along Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue or in Westlands. Other popular joints are found in Hurlingham, Karen and along Ng’ong Road. Some of the most popular bars and clubs include Brew Bistro, Skyluxx, Aqua, K1, Havanna, Gypsy, Tribeka and Black Diamond. Nairobians are known to go club hopping and may visit up to five clubs in one night in search of where the party spirit is. Most clubs stay open all night if you are the energetic kind of person then you can party all night. Most people choose to leave the clubs between 3am – 4am.

Events Nairobi night life is a fun filled with events ranging from concerts and gigs around the city. On one particular Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 29

TRAVEL

evening you cannot miss an event to attend ranging from free to heavilypaid for. Some of them may be corporate events while others may be indie-organized events that are open to all. For the lovers of art you could go to the Kenya National Theatre for performances or head over to art galleries when they are open for shows.

Restaurants If you are that kind of person that doesn’t thrive in the loud music and rowdy crowd that the clubs present then you could just head out into one of the restaurants in Nairobi that offer a whole range of cuisines from the local foods to the Chinese and Italian foods. Most of the restaurants open way into the night and you could pop in for a decent meal at a reasonable price. Some of the most popular restaurants include Fogo Gaucho for their Brazillian cuisine, Chowpaty for the popular Indian cuisine, Talisman for their fusion of cuisines, Carnivore for the delicious roast beef popularly known as nyama choma and Habesha for their Ethiopian cuisine.

Fast Food Joints The typical Nairobian loves fast foods and if you love fast food too then welcome home. If I had a dollar for every time I saw a fast food joint in Nairobi then Bill Gates would have nothing on me. Hahaha. The most popular fast food is a combination of fries (popularly known as chips. Yes just chips. Not potato chips. Just chips) and fried chicken found everywhere. 30 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Images courtesy of @The_Mentalyst

Kenchic, KFC, Sonford and Altonas are some of the most popular for these. They are open at night and if you want to grab a bite then feel free to do so.

Hotels If you are looking for somewhere to rest afterwards then the city has a whole range of stars in the hotel business. This only depends on your pocket and the

type of comfort you want. Villa Rosa Kempinsky and Sankara are some of the most popular up in the price range while the Laico Regency, The Intercontinental and Hilton follow closely. Nairobi at night is a sight to behold. Stepping out into the night can be scary if it’s your first time but the city welcomes you with warm open arms. Viva Nairobi!

internet.org is

Connecting the World Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 31

TRIBUTE

Two years since his passing We pay our Respects to Madiba. LIVE ON

SEVEN

THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT

MADIBA

There’s more to Nelson Mandela Madiba, the South African freedom fighter and one of the most honored persons of the last century than most of us know, even though we all feel like we’ve studied the man. For example, while the aforementioned names are correct, at birth, his father chose to name him Rolihlahla, a traditional Xhosa name which simply translates to “troublemaker.” Very few people can claim they have never heard of Nelson Mandela. He is easily one of the most influential and inspirational leaders of our time. But did you know the following about the Great man?

His Name Did you know his father named him Rolihlahla - a traditional Xhosa name which loosely translates to “troublemaker.”? In fact, Mandela only got the name Nelson on his first day at school! In his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, Mandela interestingly recounts the incident as follows. “On the first day of school, my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name and said that from thenceforth that was the name we would answer to in school. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 33

TRIBUTE

In 2009, The United Nations ratified July 18th as Mandela Day world wide. It was his 91st birthday and about a year after he made a speech calling for new leaders to relieve his generation from the burdens of leadership.

34â&#x20AC;&#x2030;â&#x20AC;&#x2030;| Tap Magazine | December 2015

We are the missing pieces. You and I. Madiba Art by - Komi Olaf

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 35

TRIBUTE the British bias of our education. The education I received was a British education, in which British ideas, British culture, British institutions, were automatically assumed to be superior. There was no such thing as African culture. Even today, most Africans of my generation generally have both an English and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name, and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it has to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, But that would be only a guess”.

Royalty Mandela’s father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was the chief “by both blood and custom” of Mvenzo; a position confirmed by the superior chief or king of the entire Thembu people. A great uncle of Mandela was the paramount king of the Thembu but since Mandela was born to a third wife, the lineage had passed down to him in a lesser “advisory” role than that of a potential successor. Nevertheless, when Mandela’s father passed away, Mandela moved into the home of his uncle and the paramount chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo and he was trained and groomed to one day fulfill his role as an advisor to the King’s son and his cousin Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo; now King of the Thembu family.

Evelyn Mase Contrary to popular belief, Winnie 36 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

was not Nelson Mandela’s first wife. Before Winnie, there was Evelyn Mase. Evelyn had moved to Soweto to study as a nurse, her and Mandela met through family friends Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Evelyn and Mandela married on the 5th of October 1944 at the city's Native Commissioner’s court. The couple had four children together but their relationship broke down soon after Mandela became increasingly political and Evelyn converted to a Jehovah Witness. They divorced in 1958. In the past, Evelyn has accused Mandela of many things among them adultery.

First day out of prison After serving 27 years in prison, where do you think Mandela spent his first night of freedom? Mandela chose to spend his first night as a free man at his friends house; South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It is believed that Tutu had his cooks prepare chicken curry, rice and green salad and had rum raisin ice cream and custard for dessert.

UN Mandela day In 2009, The United Nations ratified July 18th as Mandela Day world wide. It was his 91st birthday and about a year after he made a speech calling for new leaders to relieve his generation from the burdens of leadership. The day aims to encourage global citizens to give at least 67 minutes of their day to reflect on how they can apply themselves to improve the conditions of the world they live in. Each minute represents each year of Mandela’s public service.

I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.

Nelson Mandela became the first honorary Canadian Citizen. Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 37

TRIBUTE

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - NELSON MANDELA -

Awards Nelson Mandela has received over 250 awards and more than 50 honorary degrees from universities and various academic institutions worldwide. He is a Noble Peace Prize winner and the last recipient of the Lenin Peace Price from the Soviet Union. In 2001. Nelson Mandela became the first honorary Canadian Citizen. 38 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Mandela and Cuba’s Castro When you think of Cuba, or Castro, you don’t necessarily think of South Africa, or Mandela. Well, these two nations and men share among them a strong bond built on mutual admiration and respect. While speaking about Fidel Castro, Mandela once noted that “What Fidel has done for us is difficult

to describe with words, first in the struggle against Apartheid he did not hesitate to give us all his help and now that we are free we have many Cuban doctors working here”. To get a good understanding of how this relationship developed, watch a YouTube video of Mandela visiting Cuba and Fidel Castro addressing the South African parliament!

TAPTRIBUTE

It always seems

impossible until it’s done.

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 39

LEADERSHIP

He extended his mentorship to us. He understood that success without a successor is failure

40 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

THE TEACHER AND THE PROTEGE Leardership lessons from "The Leader of all Leaders" - Dr. Myles Munroe

The late Dr. Myles MUNROE was an internationally renowned bestselling author of over 70 books, lecturer, teacher, life coach, government consultant, and leadership mentor who traveled to over 100 nations and addressed millions. He met with Prime Ministers, Presidents, Kings, Governors, Congressmen and women, Parliamentarians, Senators, Corporate Executives, Business Professionals, Educators, Scientists, and Religious and Spiritual Leaders from every culture; as well as facilitated training and consultative sessions with governments, businesses, and religious groups. Dr. MUNROE, who passed away last year in a plane crash in Freeport, Grand Bahama along with his wife and several other leaders, was regarded as one of the most highly respected leadership teachers of our era and had recently spend time in Africa visiting nations such as Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Gabon, just to name a few. Throughout the years, he adopted young Africans as mentees to travel closely with him to observe and learn. Among them was Hubert Sugira Hategekimana, a Rwandan genocide survivor who he met at a conference and took under Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 41

LEADERSHIP

"A leader is someone who sees a better future and is willing to pay the price to bring that future to the present."

his wings. In the last few years, Hubert has attended conferences, speaking engagements, mentorship sessions, and workshops that Dr. Munroe has done. It was only right that on the day of the first anniversary since Dr. Munroe’s passing, we reach out to Hubert to hear what he learned being so close to the man referred to as, “the leader of leaders”. You could have been on that flight on November 9th last year! How does it feel to be in the Bahamas honoring the lives of Dr. Munroe and those he was with on that unforgettable day? Yes, there was a possibility that I could have been on that flight because my friend Diego, who was on the flight and died with them, was urging me to go to Nassau so I could leave with them to Freeport, which is where the conference was being held. However, I had a guest coming to the conference with me. So I told Diego that we would just go to Freeport directly. I was not supposed to be on that flight; but, if my friend was not coming to the Bahamas with me from Ottawa, it was a possibility that I could have been. Tell us of one of the experiences you recall while traveling with Dr. Munroe. I remember one day we were attending a conference in New Jersey, USA where Dr. Munroe spoke, and he received a call from the Speaker of the House of the Bahamian Parliament informing him that the Parliament wanted to honor him. That morning, we had to fly back to Nassau. We landed, went to the Parliament, and he was honored. On the same day, we flew into Charlotte, North Carolina, which was the location of his next scheduled event. I remember thinking that I was the only foreigner who was in the House (Parliament) that day! Those are the kind of things that occurred with Dr. Munroe

42 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

"I always tell people that I was trained by the best. We didn’t have to stand around and ask, “What now?” When he died, everyone knew what to do."

on a regular basis. Just the other day I was reflecting and even when I think about it now, all I can say is, “Wow! How did I get here?” I spent the last two years of his life going almost everywhere he went. I was even with him in Burundi when we met the President--exactly two weeks before they departed from us. So how did all this happen? How did you end up getting a front seat view of this great man’s life and teachings? Dr. Munroe’s passion, vision, and life purpose was to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change, especially in the third world (emerging nations). That’s why he founded the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), the organization which we are a part of and which brings

us to this island (Bahamas) each year for the annual Global Leadership Forum. In his pursuit of transforming third world leadership, he had it in his mind to not die with his knowledge, but to pass it on. He was very intentional about mentorship and transferring all he knew and learned to the next generation. That’s the easiest way to explain how and why I was traveling with him. He extended his mentorship to us; he always looked for people who were ready to learn. He understood that success without a successor is failure. He firmly believed that if you didn’t have a successor, you didn’t actually succeed. He also had a mentorship program that I was involved in and after seeing my hunger to learn more, he opened the door for me to be personally mentored. I will forever be grateful for that. It’s one thing to Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 43

LEADERSHIP

Dr. Munroe with his Children

learn from someone speaking but its another thing to learn from observing and watching someone do what they say. I’d say it was destiny that brought me to his side, but he was someone who would mentor anybody that was ready and willing to go through the whole process. Mentorship is a long process that has a price! You have to follow, submit, and obey someone who is mentoring you. Most people in this generation, don’t want to submit to anyone—perhaps, they think they already know it all. Now that he is no longer here, how do you feel about the responsibilities he has left behind? When he and the others who were with him died, there was something that happened--not just to me but to many people he mentored. We [his 44 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

mentees] are now doing so many amazing things because he trained us so well. I always tell people that I was trained by the best. We didn’t have to stand around and ask, “What now?” When he died, everyone knew what to do. One of Dr. Munroe’s big missions was to transform the third world in terms of leadership development and that’s now where my responsibility lies along with many of my friends that he also mentored. He believed that mentorship is the transfer of passion, responsibility, and vision. He spent his life instilling that into us and perhaps his best mentees: his son Myles Jr. and daughter Charisa are now running Myles Munroe International. Actually, his son was already the CEO, even before Dr. Munroe died; so, he was already in the process of transferring the responsibilities. In fact, they have recently launched the Myles and Ruth

Munroe Foundation, which will carry the Munroe Institute that continues the work and teachings of Dr. Munroe. How many people do you think Dr. Munroe mentored? Formally, I would say thousands and informally (by way of his books and materials) I would say millions. I remember when I used to travel with him, people would walk up to him and say, “I’ve read all your books and they’ve helped me build businesses.” In an island-village on Lake Victoria in Uganda, people used the wisdom gained from one of his books on vision [The Principles and Power of Vision] and built schools, an orphanage, and hospital. Now, the government is sending electricity to an island that once had no lights. All of this happened because someone read his book. Dr. Munroe didn’t know this person but

they were mentored because of his materials. What did leadership mean to Dr. Munroe? Dr. Munroe would say that it took him forty years of research, interacting with leaders, and teaching, to define leadership. In his terms, “Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose”. He had to come up with his own definition of leadership because many people confuse leadership with positions and titles. That’s why he had to explain that leadership is to influence others on the visions birthed by a sense of purpose. He believed that everything rises and falls on leadership. He used to give us the example, “An army of sheep, led by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by a sheep!” For him leadership was very critical. He went further to emphasize that you are where you are in life because someone lead you there. He also gave an example of a basketball team. If the team continues to lose games, the players are not fired. The coach is always fired because he/she is the leader. Leadership will transform

cowards into warriors. Leadership to Dr. Munroe was the ULTIMATE thing. zz You have to influence people through inspiration not manipulation. People must be inspired to do things. zz Leadership is the capacity to deploy people and not employ people. Good leaders employ, great leaders deploy. Leaders

push people to become who they really are. What would Dr. Munroe qualify as traits of a good leader? The traits are found in his definition of leadership and to become a leader, you must start from the bottom of the definition and work your way up. zz First, you discover your purpose. Purpose is why you were born, and why you were created.

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose”. Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 45

LEADERSHIP zz Then, you are convicted about your purpose. Once you discover your purpose, you must be convinced about it. It is one thing to discover your purpose and another to be convinced. zz Next, you have vision. Once you are convinced about your purpose, you will produce a vision. You will begin to see a preferred future. zz Then, you have passion. Once you discover and are convinced of your purpose, you must become passionate about your vision. zz Finally, you inspire others. Once you are able to motivate and inspire people, you will be able to influence them, which is when they call you a leader. The quality of a leader is first to discover your purpose and to have a vision. Leadership is nothing without a vision. Vision is to see a future as it should be and not as it is. There is only one difference between a manager and a leader. A manager sees things as they

46 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

are, but a leader sees things as they should be. A leader is someone who sees a better future and is willing to pay the price to bring that future to the present. What is the connection between leadership and legacy? Leadership is seeing a future bigger than you and your life. According to Dr. Munroe, there’s a difference between vision and ambition. Ambition is something to benefit you. A true vision is to benefit not only you and your generation, but generations to come. This is why mentorship is critical in leadership. If a vision is true and authentic, it is bigger than the visionary. That’s why you must mentor people to take on your vision after your life has ended. The greatest act of leadership is mentorship. A vision is never given to a group of people but to one person at a time. The task of a true leader is not just to acquire the vision, but also to define and refine the vision, to write it down and to transfer it to people who will run with it—this is when legacy takes effect, when the

baton is successfully passed. Why is legacy so important? Legacy is important because you have to intentionally prepare for someone to take your place. If you don’t think and prepare for your legacy, then it will happen in a way you didn’t want it to happen. When you don’t plan to succeed, then you are planning to fail. Again, success without a successor is failure. The quality of your leadership is not determined while you are still around. The quality of a true leader is what happens in your absence. This is when leadership is proven. Dr. Munroe used to say that his leadership would be proven when he was gone. He would say, “That’s when you will see if I managed to transfer my vision, my passion, and my conviction to the next generation.” This is why he lived for mentorship. There is no legacy without mentorship! Dr. Munroe believed that he was born to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change. That’s how he defined his work. 

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Interview with Oliver Twagirayezu…

The Rwandan/Canadian entrepreneur behind Luksmart.com

AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR AFRICAN FASHION AND ARTS

n recent years, African fashion has seen an exponential increase in popularity across the world. These days, it’s common to spot celebrities wearing clothes and accessories with an African touch. This sort of publicity and an increasingly diversified industry full of talent and promise has ignited demand for everything African fashion and young entrepreneurs have wasted no time getting into this industry. In fact, various business institutions have valued African fashion industry to be worth $15-31 Billion by 2020. This, among other reasons, were the main drive behind the grooming of a business idea that 50 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

later gave birth to an online market place that strive to connect African fashion Designers and Artist to the rest of the world, and vice versa. Introduce yourself to the TAP audience! Names, where you were born, what was your favorite memories growing up? My name is Olivier Twagirayezu and I was born and raised in Rwanda. My favorite memories as a child were the times spent chatting, joking and playing sports with my friends. Connecting with people has always been my source of inspiration.

'At the age of 6 with a bicycle given to me as a gift, I started my first money generating venture. Whenever I was not using the bicycle, I was renting it to other kids in my neighborhood. Since then, I've build my life toward an entrepreneurship lifestyle.' OLIVER TWAGIRAYEZU

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 51

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

LUKSMART IS AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE THAT PROVIDES AFRICAN FASHION DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS ACCESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET What is your education background? I'm a university (college) graduate in engineering and applied sciences, a certified engineering technologist with a focus (major) on Electronics engineering technology (Electrical). I'm experienced in telecoms, critical communications engineering and public transit fare collections systems. How did you get into entrepreneurship? I grew up in an environment that stimulated my entrepreneur senses. My father was an entrepreneur himself and at the earliest age I learned that working for yourself provided both financial and life flexibility. At the age of 6 with a bicycle given to me as a gift, I started my first money generating venture. Whenever I was not using the bicycle, I was renting it to other kids in my neighborhood and I could make and save some money. Since then, I've build my life toward an entrepreneurship lifestyle. Tell us about LukSmart! How did you come up with the idea? What is LukSmart mission and exactly what gap are you looking to fill! After living and working in Canada for almost ten years, I learnt the importance of bringing a positive impact to the communities we live in as well as the ones we come from. I realized that most people only know bad stories about Africa. I thought of creating something 52â&#x20AC;&#x2030;â&#x20AC;&#x2030;| Tap Magazine | December 2015

that will positively impact the economy of Africa and change the perception of Africa on the long run. I noticed that African fashion and arts products were not reaching the global market. The only way to find them was to buy them while you visited their local market. From there, I decided to create a platform that connects African fashion designers and artist to the global market. LUKSMART was born to be the online marketplace for African fashion and arts. Why did you decide to name the platform “LukSmart”? What is the thinking behind the name? LUKSMART has a double meaning. 1. A combination of "looks" or LUKS (Fashion, arts work or décor items) and MART (Market). 2. The second meaning is that we want our customers to look smart by having African products Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 53

ENTREPRENEURSHIP What has been your experience dealing with African fashion designers and artists? It’s been easy and challenging at the same time. Most of them want to grow their market and access the global market but only a few of them (thus far) are ready to learn what it takes and start doing the job required to break into the global market. By dealing with them, we realized that many are working without a long term vision. This has forced us to adopt an educational angle to our business model. We are now showing them the importance of producing products with a customer in mind and building brands with a reputation. What would you say are the main challenges facing African designers today? Unfortunately, most Africans do not believe that quality products can be produced by their fellow Africans. Most designers rely on getting revenue from tourist shoppers or Business to Business contracts. In some countries, access to fabrics is still a challenge and that results in having designers producing products that are hardly affordable by an average African in their local market. Second hand clothes from the west is more trusted and affordable by local people. African fashion has been criticized where quality is concerned, what is your position on this and how do you ensure that your customers receive the best quality? Quality African fashion products are being produced now and people need to believe in them. I personally believe that once we set up expectations, we have higher chances of getting good results. At LUKSMART we emphasize on distributing quality

IT’S BEEN EASY AND CHALLENGING AT THE SAME TIME. MOST OF THEM WANT TO GROW THEIR MARKET AND ACCESS THE GLOBAL MARKET BUT ONLY A FEW OF THEM (THUS FAR) ARE READY TO LEARN WHAT IT TAKES AND START DOING THE JOB REQUIRED TO BREAK INTO THE GLOBAL MARKET. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST AFRICANS DO NOT BELIEVE THAT QUALITY PRODUCTS CAN BE PRODUCED BY THEIR FELLOW AFRICANS. MOST DESIGNERS RELY ON GETTING REVENUE FROM TOURIST SHOPPERS

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African fashion and arts item. We help designers and artist to raise the standards of their products before they can sell on LUKSMART and we have a rigorous quality control process since we are the ones who take care of the product packaging and warehousing. What is the average cost of an item on LukSmart? Since we are a marketplace, we advise our partners on pricing but we do not take full control of the pricing. With $20 a customer can find something on luksmart but the prices goes up to more than $200 depending on the item. How long does it take for someone buying a product in North America to receive them? Once the order is completed, the customer receives the order within 3 to 5 business days and we offer free shipping in North American for any order of $35+ USD. Africans are not known to be big online spenders! Has this been a challenge and how do you plan to change this behavior? The mentality is progressively changing, people have started to understand the convenience of shopping online and our job is to ensure the best experience when one is shopping or dealing with LUKSMART.

Do you offer your potential customers any assurances on the products they buy? Yes, apart from getting quality and affordable products most of the products can be returned for full refund or exchange within 14 days. What is the best part about running an online African shop? The best part is learning every day and having the privilege of changing lives using technology.

HIGHLIGHTS

Once the order is completed, the customer receives the order within 3 to 5 business days and we offer free shipping in North American for any order of $35+ USD. Most of the products can also be returned for full refund or exchange within 14 days. At the age of 6 with a bicycle given to me as a gift, I started my first money generating activity. Whenever I was not using the bicycle, I was renting it to other kids in my neighborhood and I could save some money. Since then, I've build my life toward an entrepreneurship lifestyle. In some countries, access to fabrics is still a challenge and that results in having designers producing products that are hardly affordable by an average African in their local market. Second hand clothes from the west are more trusted and affordable by local people.

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 55

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Customers can also enjoy shopping by downloading the LUKSMART smartphone app available for both Android and Apple devices.

In the future, should we expect to see LukSmart operating in Africa? Yes, we are committed to distributing African products to the global market but we also have our eyes on the African market. If am a designer and I want to get my products on LukSmart! What do I do? What's the process involved? The first step is to visit www.luksmart. com. Check out the "sell with us" tab and get in touch with our team. From there we explain the process and once we reach a common ground, we get you activated on the market. Where do you see LukSmart in the next five years? In the next 5 years, LUKSMART should be the leading online marketplace that distributes outside and inside Africa.

56 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 57

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MODEL

Tanasha Oketch TANASHA IS ONE OF THE YOUNG DIASPORA YOUTHS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY CHOOSING TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND AND RETURN HOME. AFTER YEARS IN EUROPE, TANASHA HAS RECENTLY PACKED HER BAGS AND MOVED BACK HOME TO KENYA TO START A NEW LIFE AND CONTINUE HER MODELLING CAREER.

60 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

MODEL

My name is Tanasha Donna Barbieri Oketch, I am 20 years old… half Kenyan and Italian. I grew up in Kenya and left for Europe when I was 11. While in Europe, I had a lot of opportunities to get engaged in the modeling and fashion industry and to participate in various events such as the Miss Africa Belgium but I wanted to come home and participate in miss world Kenya instead. Represent home from home, not from a foreign country.

While in Belgium, I studied tourism and can speak 5 languages: English, Swahili, French, Dutch and Spanish.

62 Tap Magazine | December 2015

ON BEING HOME I’m home here; my whole family is here except my mother (still in Belgium). I wanted to come home to pursue my passion for fashion and modeling and am doing that now. I might even get into acting and singing.

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 63

MODEL

ON THE LOCAL MODELING INDUSTRY We all know that the modeling industry in Kenya still has to grow. People don’t prioritize fashion and modeling here. Kenyans would rather spend money on “more relevant things” than buy a nice suit or an elegant dress but I plan to change that! My favorite local designer is Firyal .. her clothing line is called “Nur”

WHAT’S NEXT? I will soon be starting a personal vlog based on my experiences here in Kenya, my projects, shoots, etc. Stay tuned on that

Tanasha Oketch

@ZaharaZaire

Images by: Clement Kiragu @TheBotl on IG

Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 65

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Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 67

FASHION

DIANA

OPATI

68 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

100 DAYS OF

AFRICAN FASHION After a very successful campaign last year, one of the most recognizable figure in African fashion, media personality, fashion blogger and supporter of everything pan Africanism ‘Diana Opoti’ is redoing her “100 days of African fashion”. The digital campaign, presented in her own style across various social media platforms - features African designers, brands made by global Africans and lines inspired by Africa. After starting off as a platform to promote African fashion as more than just wax prints, the campaign has now grown to be an annual event that encompasses designers from all 54 countries. TAP reached out to Diana about her campaign and we were pleased she wanted to share her journey with us on this particular project… Diana takes over from here Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 69

FASHION

The Inspiration In 2012, as a producer, I created the television format “Designing Africa” to celebrate a new generation of fashion designers on the continent by sharing their stories and collections. To film the series, I travelled the continent to some of Africa’s top fashion weeks and documented both runway shows and interviews with designers. The show was aired across the continent on satellite network (DSTV) and following a successful run of the television series, I wanted to make 70 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

African fashion more accessible to consumers and so I created the digital campaign, 100 Days of African Fashion (100DAF) commencing June.23.2014

The execution The campaign is run in a personal style diary format and lasts the duration of 100 Days during which I wear different African brands and share these looks with followers across my social media platforms. #100DAF

This year’s campaign In it’s first run, 100DAF begun with clothes I previously owned from African designers that I had collected from my travels. It featured a lot of African print textiles but I knew there is more beyond wax print, thus, this year I want to show design outside common misconception about “African Fashion”. Moreover, I run a fashion “brand” consultancy company so it is important for me now that the campaign’s continuity is relevant to the needs of the consumer market. This year, we are listening Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 71

FASHION

I wear African brands every day, for me this is not a publicity stunt. It’s a way of life I want others to emulate.

to concerns of those who follow the campaigns. We invite followers to like the pages of the brands we feature, we also engage designers to interact with the audience and grasp feedback from the featured posts among other issues. In addition, 100DAF was previously run as a personal project but it soon became an additional channel for designers to connect with their potential consumers. With this in mind, I quickly saw the need to feature more current collections and that is a strong component of this years campaign. We are also looking at designers from more countries, trying to make the campaign more representative of the continent and designers

72 | Tap Magazine | December 2015

living in the diaspora and all across the world. Other changes we’ve made are that we’ve now included a better photographer and we now have a “more managed” digital campaign team working behind the scenes to satisfy questions from followers.

Challenges 100DAF has served as a useful tool for understanding what the consumers want or expect from African Fashion brands and so the campaign has served as a great resource for research. Some of the biggest challenges we’ve encountered include the following.

• As a pan African campaign, we receive clothes from around the continent and even as far as US and Europe. The high custom taxes charged to receive packages. • As a pan African campaign, we receive clothes from around the continent and even as far as the US and Europe. The high custom taxes charged to receive packages are a burden. • In addition, delays at customs and the postal service means that its difficult for brands to have reliable delivery timelines to consumers for purchased orders. • Sizing still remains a challenge on the continent – are we UK or US 12, which metric for M, S, L? • Most designers still manage most aspects of their businesses themselvesso responses to orders/inquiries are often delayed – a factor which greatly affects consumer confidence. • Consumers products Accessibility is also still a challenge. It’s imperative that these issues are addressed if we are to trade across the continent.

"Last year I featured 137 unique brands; this year I’m aiming for at least 200 African fashion brands."

Campaign highlight To complete the campaign in itself is an accomplishment for me. Last year I featured 137 unique brands; this year I’m aiming for at least 200 African fashion brands. In addition, my team and I are working with a couple of designers featured to be part of a pop-up event early 2016 aimed to sell their spring 2016 collections.

Accomplishment To complete the campaign in itself is an accomplishment for me. Last year I featured 137 unique brands; this year I’m aiming for at least 200 African fashion brands.

In addition, my team and I are working with a couple of designers featured to be part of a pop-up event early 2016 aimed to sell their spring 2016 collections.

What's your opinion on the current state of African fashion, more so in Kenya? Fully acknowledging the strides we’ve made as a continent in African fashion, the success of independent fashion brands will be dependent on how accessible they make their products. Bloggers, personalities, artists and celebrities have contributed to making visible amazing designs but we need to convert this publicity into access of products.

What's next after 100 days? 365 days? I wear African brands every day, for me this is not a publicity stunt. It’s a way of life I want others to emulate. The campaign is designed to create a period of anticipation across the 100 days – long enough to introduce new brands, showcase emerging ones and “listen” to consumers as we feature African fashion a day at a time. At the end of this season’s campaign – I will have showcased 200 + days of African Fashion. The campaign will continue annually with improvements including offline and online platforms to cross promote featured brands. In the future, it is my vision to include menswear and also do a series of collaborative posts with personalities and key bloggers on the continent. Key to note, 100 days of African fashion complements other work I do in promoting African fashion brands and runs concurrently with my fashion consultancy. Yours truly, Diana Opati Tap Magazine | December 2015 | 73

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