Africa Rocks…
Author: Sarah
Back in June, Ida Horner approached us to see if we wanted to do ‘Africa on the Blog’. Knowing how much the Blogmistress loves a challenge she swiftly set to work on setting up Africa on the Blog (why change a winning formula 
). Given the brief of , colour it like Africa, she came up with a golden brown design on the Studiopress framework that is consistent theme on the ‘On the blog’ sites.
It’s visually stunning.
Ida in the mean time started recruiting bloggers – please welcome @naomiestment @AshantiGirl @taluta @Chocolat_a_toi @jkainja @TonyBurkson @STM95 @sportinkenya @Chiira
From start to launch it took 14 days and three of us working at it – and the first blogger posted a blog about African traditions and since then, 5 days a week there has been a huge amount of discussion on the site. Significant amounts of retweets and a tremendous amount of traffic.
I learned a huge amount from this experience – blogging about what you are really crazy about, what gets you hot and bothered is a good thing. Ida who also blogs about African development and manages ‘our girls‘ through her charity, is relentless in bringing the voices of Africa to a wider audience. To the tune of a 1000 people a week, and then some.
An example of this is the blog post The Cut, about female genital mutilation. Yeah I know, it’s been spoken about for years. This time the story was told by a man and the impacts on the community and different perspectives. Just when you think you have been de-sensitised about something and nothing can be done, a blogger gives you fresh perspective and puts the fire back into the fight against it.
I have learned about Eba, the African equivalent of tapioca or semolina. I have learned that Nigeria has a thriving film industry. I have read about what it was like to be a child in Egypt. I have read what the World Cup really did for South Africa and I saw some stunning photographs.
If this blog can change my thinking about Africa, and her people in diaspora, show me sides of Africa that I never knew existed, I think you could learn something too.
Sarah
@AfricaOnTheBlog for tweets of the blogs and African news updates or join the Facebook page to get the updates there.
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I noticed last week that Africa on the blog existed. And I also fell across Kent Business Buzz on the blog. I know there are at least two more coming out soon under the same template. And yes, they all look great.
I am sure they will all generate lots of comment and Babs will remember her poor little friends when she takes over the world
.
Seriously, well done everyone.
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The “on the blog” series is Sarah's baby – I just take care of things behind the scenes…
It is interesting to see who different groups work together – the Birds are doing so incredibly well, and Ida has taken Africa flying in a very short time. With Blokes I'm obviously not providing sufficient incentive (or not cracking the whip enough). And have not given the Kent Business Buzz enough attention so need to spend some time enticing more bloggers to join in.
Next to come along is Grumpies on the Blog – that will be my baby as Sarah is too young! And then a much-demanded Mums on the Blog later in September.
I've always enjoyed collaboration, and am finally doing something with that, thanks to working with Sarah.
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A big thank you Sarah and Babs for giving in to what was a wild idea whilst I waited in a dress maker's waiting room! I am very excited about it and hoping that more bloggers will come on board very soon!
It is doing exactly what i wanted it to do. AFRICANS TELLING THEIR STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS!
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It good to work together, although sometimes I think I get too many clips around the ear
We started with the 'on the blog' theme of challenging a few stereotypes and I think we have smashed them instead. Oops
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Big CONGRATS and THANK YOU all for a brilliant concept, awesomely executed! It's a privilege to participate in such a great team and be offered this opportunity to share something of Africa!
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