Kenya vs India

If you have checked out the local dailies you will notice that Kenyan production houses have come a long way. In terms of advertising the presence of local directors and  producers is increasingly being felt and recognised. Bob Nyanja, Alison Ngibuini, Josie Kamunyo, Linda Karuru, Martin and Isabel Munyua and a host of others have all made their mark.

Unfortunately though, the battle for production budgets has changed and now local producers have a new mountain to deal with. It's called Bollywood.

Tonnes of local commercials have found homes in studio suites across the Indian ocean. Coca-Cola mabao, Coke meals, Pilsner, Rik shoe polish, Nguvu Cement, Sunlight, Crown paints my style are amongst the list of many Kenyan commercials shot overseas.

The reason is quite simple. The industry in India is so big that they all undercut each other when quoting for jobs. This works as a great advantage for clients because they also get great quality. Another advantage is that they shoot, process and edit all in one location which works cheaper than flying in crews, especially when you are shooting film.

I actually see where the clients come from and the same for creative directors who are after getting more out of their production house. So what can we do?

Technological advancements to reduce processes might be our saviour, but to tell you the truth I am lost for words on this one, except for the fact that I know we are getting there. It would be good to know what strategies local producers have in mind to encounter this issue and their views are highly welcome.

So next time you put your feet up to watch tv, make the ad feel at home with a finger licking good Chicken Tikka.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

HOW TO SURVIVE KENYA

“G’day mate I’m Crocodile Dundee and I’m here to show you how it’s done over at the gaba!” Yes, I’m back to the subject of expats. Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time in a media house, a mzungu gave a local a blasting at a meeting. The local was not a guy known for taking punches without counter punching and immediately shot up from his seat. He dropped the whole corporate etiquette and broke out into his mtaa roots. He told the expat boss, “wewe kwendaaaaaaaaaaa, kwani wewe ni nani. Kama ulikuwa deadly huko home kwenyu mbona walikuleta Kenya?”

Kenyans are not xenophobes but, they do get rather sensitive when corrected by outsiders. So here are a few tips on what rubs us the wrong way, especially in the advertising circles.

Do not keep on telling us how things worked in your country and how things do not work in this country. Kenyans like wailing about their country's problems but do not appreciate it when the same sentiment comes from outside.

Do not keep on saying that we are third world. In this place comments like this can be taken as close as calling an African American a nigger. We know we may not be the most developed nation but we are certainly proud that we are getting there.

Never ever use the word monkey when showing anger with another work mate. An Australian buddy of mine pulled this once in the office and was almost lynched by his African workmates.

When you talk to your client about Kenya consumer habits, make sure you have gone far and wide. A bar in the suburbs hardly captures Kenya’s drinking habits.

Stop referring to what a certain company did back home and always forcing it down our throats. It may look derogatory and unless it is completely similar in circumstance you will look like a show off.

Do not refer to our practices as disgusting. When in Komarock, rock with it. You are not here to change how we live, you are here to adjust to how we live.

Stop  forming exclusive clubs. As much as we know that you like sticking with each other, it is good to try and make genuine friends with the locals. You will always be looked at with suspicion if the only time you interact with us is during work hours. Fake it or force it, you will be accepted much easily.

So, I hope after that short tale we can all live happily ever after with a house in the suburbs, 2.5 kids, a 4wd and a lovely African wife.

But hey, that’s just my opinion.

Someni vijana!

My creative mentor and highly respected creative director Andrew White once told me. "Never come to my office with a problem, come to me with solutions". This got me thinking about this topic of training which eats many a young creatives mind. So if there are no facilities in Kenya and you are restrained by the fees in ad schools in Australia, U.K or the U.S, how about looking within the diaspora?

South Africa has proven itself to be a great force in advertising with agencies like The Jupiter Drawing room, Lowe Bull and others winning both international accounts and also cleaning up awards in Cannes. In fact most top notch agencies in places like the Arab emirates highly respect creatives from this region.

Since S.A is just a 4 hour flight away, it could be worth looking at ad schools in that region. Most lecturers in these institutions are ad professionals from agencies. The schools are also highly competitive and even have a whole category dedicated to them in the Loeries (South Africas feted advertising awards).

So, if you feel like putting down your sketch pads and taking a few years off to do some learning, it could be worth your while to check into these institutions below.

Top of the list: 

AAA School of Advertising

Vega, the Brand Communications School

Red & Yellow School

Others worth looking into:

AFDA - The South African School of Motion Picture Medium & Live Performance

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

CityVarsity

Greenside Design Center, College of Design

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

North-West University, School of Communication Studies, Potchefstroom Campus

Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography

The Open Window School of Visual Communication

Tshwane University of Technology - Dept of Visual Communication

University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture

University of Pretoria, Visual Arts Department


You just never know. You could come back and be spoilt for choice on which offer to accept. Or even better, go work in another market as a Kenyan expatriate.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Akili ni Mali

So there are no colleges or schools in Kenya that teach creative advertising or specialize in stuff like copywriting. So whats the next best thing? Get a mentor, go onto the net and learn what you can or try reading a great book that gives you the bigger picture on the industry.

I remember once while at scanad we were busy asking for training. The company CEO told us "I don't know why you guys always complain while the resources are right there in front of you. I never built this company by going to a training program, I learnt from what was within my reach". He advocated reading and reading hard.

Today I am feeling rather philanthropic so here are some of the books that I have read which provide valuable resources for any creative:


Creative Advertising: Ideas & Techniques from the World Best Campaigns - Mario Pricken

Hey, Whipple, Squeeze this: A guide to creating great ads - Luke Sullivan

Ogilvy on Advertising - David Ogilvy

Cutting Edge Advertising - Jim Aitchison

The Copywriter's Bible


Send someone abroad, talk to a local bookshop that takes orders or put that credit card to use on the net. It's an investment you will not regret.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Mwah Mwah Mwah!

So, its valentines day. As I was making my way to work I was thinking about this whole love thing and asking how many things I love. Then it hit me, I absolutely love advertising.

Lets face it, this is one of the best jobs in the world.

I love the fact that everyday is not the same and you get to use the freedom of expression and creativity to do things that will change people's lives.

I love the interesting bunch of people that I have met in my career. People who are always themselves and share much more about themselves than in most careers. They are not just work mates they are family.

I love the environment. Agencies are free environments, they have an ambiance like no other place I would imagine working in.

I love the freebies. With every job comes the opportunity to test a product. This ranges from test driving cars to free holidays at five star destinations to free samples.

I love the travel. There have been instances where I have had the opportunity to cross continents all in the name of training or overseeing the production of commercials.

I love the socializing aspect. There is always a launch here, a launch there. The opportunity to mingle with big shots in society and always make new acquaintances.

I love the education. Working on different brands gives you insights into different industries. From finance to how charities are helping needy Kenyans.

I love the recognition. You get to hear people talking about the work you have done and if you are lucky you get pieces to hang in your home or office in the name of awards.

I love the pay. It feels like a blessing getting paid to do something you love to do everyday.

Once in a while its good to sit back and say, thank you God for putting me exactly where I love to be.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

I lurrrrv this game

The season of love is here and with it comes all the trimmings. Red events, red ads, red this, red that. Now is the time for most advertisers to capitalize and make a buck from cupid. Now is also the time that creatives have to think more out of the box. Why? Well valentines is filled with advertising clichés.

Yesterday though, when I opened the papers I was pleasantly surprised by one Safaricom. A green cut out love heart insert. What made it cooler was there were no apologies with the boldness of the headline, “what’s the color of love”.

It seems that my target of the week – mobile operators, have styled up. I love it when I see refreshing different thinking that makes the competition go oooooohh ahhhhhh and throws them a challenge to take advertising to the next level. So Joanna and the boys, kudos.

Speaking of waiyaki way, it raises another point. The old guru of ad land David Ogilvy once said “clients don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care”. Red sky the Safaricom agency cares about the bucks they make from Safaricom so much that they moved the Safaricom agency team to offices right across the road from Safaricom. Now apart from the Creatives and Media chics reveling over the prospects of gout at Njugunas I am sure the clients have given them golden stars.

The only beef I have with the pull out is that it comes with pressure for us males.

Wife:                     Babes, did you see the Valentines Safcom ad?

Husband:             (In denial) Safcom? Valentines ad? Ehhhh Nope!

Wife:                     I have it right here. See the phones, see!

But hey, that’s just my opinion.

A smile is worth a thousand bob!

Yesterday I happened to attend a meeting at that big hotel across from Kencom. The first thing that struck me was how intensively friendly the staff was. I excused the first guy but I noticed that the trend was similar across board. Every single staff member that I came across greeted me with a smile and were ready to assist on the spot. To the point that I felt like a king.

Now, check into any supermarket where you will find promotional sales personnel and the story is completely different. A large majority just stand there with gloomy faces waiting for the payroll to check in. On many instances I have stood right next to them and purchased goods from the competition without them uttering a single word.

Brands have personalities and this should flow wherever the brand is. If the people who represent your brand have a negative a.t.t then I guess it will influence the purchaser. The hotel I spoke about has completely changed my earlier perceptions towards it as I found it rather intimidating in the past maybe due to its sheer size and the customers who are associated with it. But yesterday all of that changed and I can see myself considering it on my list for places to spoil myself all due to a few gestures of friendliness.

Back to the supermarkets. I think its worth marketing and advertising personnel to pull some ninja stunts once in a while for the people in charge of on ground activations. I tell you, you would be shocked. There is always a good side to everything though and the first brand that comes into my mind when it comes to in-store activations is Lifebuoy. They have gone as far as giving their girls some outfits that really stand out and cannot be ignored. You are drawn to them quite easily as opposed to someone in a branded t-shirt cringing.

Its so disappointing that you even get scared of the ones offering free samples of edibles. She looks like she just had a domestic with her boyfriend and could be thinking that all men are just the same ....."EEEK!I could be poisoned, run little copywriter, run!"

But hey, that's just my opinion.

USE ME, I'M FAMOUS!

After my last post, I happened to have a conversation with a rather mad, loud and extremely talented Senior Art Director friend of mine who we shall not name Arnold Mwashumbe. He pointed out to me that my post on mobile providers was rather unfair and emotional not looking at the points they have contributed to changing the landscape of ad world in +254. Then my credit ishad.

It then hit me that since the entry of mobile operators, good and really big things have happened. Apart from making BT laugh all the way to the bank, finally Kenyan artistic talent have started getting fair dues.

Before Safcom, R-kelly tel and Orange checked in, Kenyan artists were swindled left right centre by companies looking to make the best of their talent and not reciprocating. Check in the big boys and kina the likes of nameless, jua kali, amani and my boi ken wa maria started making very good paper.

This has changed the scene for those who sign model release forms nowadays. Its a far cry from the days when clients would say. "But the guy is just standing there or saying something for a few seconds, why should we pay him so much?" Total and complete wivu for not pursuing their own talents.

You see ad land feeds off and feeds other industries. Local talent has started making a living from advertising endorsement deals. It had to take real professional thinking to make this change in a country where music greats have sadly passed away penny less.

Advertisers are even creating overnight celebs like Mr. Marangi who I am sure can now command better fees as Mcs or comedy acts.Man eat man mentality is beginning to die off and even modelling agencies are starting to become businesses worth giving a thought.

So all ye holders of my sms credit when it comes to raising the bar on talent, I give you R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Hey, that's just my opinion.

Thank Yu!

Now it might not be the newest of ideas, but it brought a smile to my face when I opened the papers and saw the Yu Zaziada campaign. Sure the execution and art direction could have been better, but what makes me happy is that a mobile phone operator is finally doing interesting advertising.

You see the problem I see with ads from this sector is that they have become rather predictable. Lots of Safaricom ads I guess are targeted to the mass market when it comes to products like M-pesa, but this does not have to mean that they should just show a guy holding a phone and showing his teeth or throwing big coins at us. Orange ads on the other hand are just too plain- while if you look at what orange does in other  markets you would be pleasantly surprised yet they work under global advertising guidelines, Airtel on the other hand seems to have a collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Services.

What yu has done according to me is a bit refreshing. What this does in turn is make other brands start considering doing some fun advertising. Kilimo and his boys on mombasa road need a hi-five for this one.

Its already boring enough having to read about one mobile phone company blaming the other or cck for this or that. In fact mobile advertising has been reduced to a PR war or who can get the best interviews on air. People, people, you are killing us with boredom. Please realise that consumers also watch lots of other content on television and are exposed to lots of visually stimulating stuff if papers and mags.... not just your ads, so please step up the game and challenge our brains.

As David Ogilvy once said, the consumer is not a moron...she is your wife.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

Where do ideas come from?

Ok so I'm sitting in the office and have a deadline to beat. I am busy biting my nails trying to figure out how in the world I am going to get my brain functioning. I need that idea but its not checking in, then wham...my mind starts cranking out thoughts. So what inspired it?

Creatives have been classified amongst the weirdest guys around. That's why you find most of us staring into space or talking to ourselves. One myth that I would like to kill is that we do not get the best ideas while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or even licking those amazonian toads that have hallucinogens. In fact most of the time you will sober up and discovered that what you thought was brilliant after that shot of tequila was complete bio-gas in the morning.

What I have discovered is that the environment you work under heavily influences your mind flow. Its varies from creative to creative. That's why if you walk into most top notch agencies in Kenya you will find creative spaces laden with interesting architecture, bean bags, aquariums and even fully stocked bars.

Now, here is my confession. I find that my best ideas check in when I am in the Loo doing a nice long relaxing Number 2. I don't know what it is, but there is a certain feeling of deep relief, undisturbed concentration and peace when sitting down in a toilet. In fact most of the time I will jot down the ideas I get on my phone. It may sound weird but hey, it works for me. I have never tried it in a pit latrine in shags because the stress levels are pretty high considering that you can measure the distance of the latrine from when you launch your missile to when you hear the distant sound of the thud and the flies.

So fellow creatives, next time you are "pressed" for an idea, try thinking out of the box from inside the "box".

But hey, that's just my opinion.

R.I.P John, Mary, Marto

For the last so and so years Kenyan radio advertising has been dominated by three characters namely John, Marto and Mary. Every single time you tuned into your favorite radio station  you would be exposed to these characters. Fellow copywriters, its time to let them go.

You would think that there was a golden rule of advertising that states every script in Kenya has to have these three characters.

Its always

vo: Hi Mary, did you see the....

or

vo: Hi John, have you done the...

And funny thing Marto was always the other guy. The guy who always solves the problem.

Dudes, why cant we come up with different names for characters on our scripts or did every copywriter get them for free at fosters home for imaginary friends. Please guys lets make a silent pact and stop sharing the same usual names on our scripts.

Goodbye John, Mary and Marto.

But hey, that's just my opinion.

How kabumbu got its groove back

Last weekend I happened to drive past Nyayo Stadium. I couldn't help but notice waves of guys and gals in green Gor MAhia branded shirts. Turn the clock back and I remember watching Sofapaka play and couldn't help but notice their well coordinated bevy of beautiful cheer leaders. So what brought the passion for local soccer back?

The answer is social media. You see, back in my days of primo and seco this "barbie" used to walk from GPO to Nyayo Stadium to watch matches at a time when soccer was considered uncool and deeply "ghetto". Check in facebook and it started seeming like a good and out of the boxishly cool idea to join a local team fan page.

Is this advertising at work? Most definitely. For a country ranked close to Papua New Guineas scrabble team internationally, social media has catapulted a sense of belonging to local teams thereby making them brands. You can get the latest fans scoops, order team jerseys etc

It has grown so big that nowadays you can take your lass to a stadium without her feeling that you are a cheap skate. Its a cool weekend plan.

So does social media work for brands in Kenya? Yes in a very big way if done correctly, i.e sticking to the essence of socializing and sharing experiences around a brand as opposed to imposing the brand on people.

By the way when it comes to feline swag, the Sofapaka wasichana wa mungu  win hands down. Who do I support? Well, I have not zeroed in but I generalize around gor, mathare and sofapaka. Maybe I should start a GORMAPAKA fans club.

But hey, that's just my opinion.