Hang out with Kenyan creatives who have been in the industry for a while and you will notice that there is a silent war when it comes to expatriates working in the industry. Since joining advertising I have always heard sentiments of lets take back what is ours.
Do we need expats? Well I think we do. The reasons are obvious. When you are faced with a situation where there are no formal training facilities which can pass on knowledge on creativity, then we are left with the only best option which is to learn from those with wider experience.
Most expats that I have worked with have the great asset of having admirable skills and experience with big brands or brands similar to those we have been briefed on. They have acted as great creative mentors.
Mentor ship is one thing that I am afraid us "Miros" in the industry are not very good at. We either leave work too early to start our own thing or get caught up in the fast ad life. The only things we are left good at mentoring is how to avoid the mututho laws or how to swallow a joint at a police road block.
Its not so much the skills of expats that we have beef with, but rather their pay. I think we sometimes feel that we should be at the same level of paycheck. Well, I guess indigenous creatives in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia feel the same way when Kenyans go over and "take over their jobs".
So if the vision is that Land Cruiser, then maybe we should start learning from the guys who drive them (By the way have you noticed that South African creatives never seem to survive Kenya?)
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
HAKI YETU! HAKI YETU!
Lets face it, creatives love the finer things in life. Tricked out rides, cool cribs, fast bikes, etc. But anyone knows that these things need fat wallets. Of course we do have the traditional options of save, save, save and all the bank loans that are thrown at us from every direction. But what about the option that we used to have? The SACCO.
For those new to the industry, there once existed an organisation called MATANGAZO, this was the SACCO that lots of us benefited from by getting fast loans at impressively low single figure interest rates. I personally benefited from it and bought my Nissan Sunny B12 aka "silver bullet "via this channel, unfortunately it was stolen right outside my agency and later found nesting baboons in a forest near Kijabe. Anyway, enter Kenyaism and wrangles began within the SACCO. Bad management, embezzlement of funds and poor investments killed it (Well, at least that's the story I got).
An attempt by some financially savvy ad guys to start a new SACCO was met with high resistance from agencies. I am curious as to why our agency top dogs are resistant towards assisting or endorsing their staff to start a co-operative society.
Could it be the old rule of keeping them dependent on the accounts department? Or maybe justifiably, agencies especially those accountable to shareholders do not want their names mentioned in case of mboi-kamiti style political issues within the SACCO?
Here's the good news, its easy to start a co-op, if a few willing individuals make a move. Visit the Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing website and see what you can dig up. Believe it or not they are extremely helpful.
It is rumored that that as an industry we work for pretty good paper. It may be time that we made that paper start working for us.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
For those new to the industry, there once existed an organisation called MATANGAZO, this was the SACCO that lots of us benefited from by getting fast loans at impressively low single figure interest rates. I personally benefited from it and bought my Nissan Sunny B12 aka "silver bullet "via this channel, unfortunately it was stolen right outside my agency and later found nesting baboons in a forest near Kijabe. Anyway, enter Kenyaism and wrangles began within the SACCO. Bad management, embezzlement of funds and poor investments killed it (Well, at least that's the story I got).
An attempt by some financially savvy ad guys to start a new SACCO was met with high resistance from agencies. I am curious as to why our agency top dogs are resistant towards assisting or endorsing their staff to start a co-operative society.
Could it be the old rule of keeping them dependent on the accounts department? Or maybe justifiably, agencies especially those accountable to shareholders do not want their names mentioned in case of mboi-kamiti style political issues within the SACCO?
Here's the good news, its easy to start a co-op, if a few willing individuals make a move. Visit the Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing website and see what you can dig up. Believe it or not they are extremely helpful.
It is rumored that that as an industry we work for pretty good paper. It may be time that we made that paper start working for us.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
How to tame a creative
The creative is indeed an interesting breed especially when you step into its territory. Highly possesive and unpredictable the creative carefully guards its den against unwanted intruders, namely the austrolo-suitcus. Cautiously the suit, feeds the creative with a brief which can either be mauled and ripped to shreds or cuddled with affection. This love hate relationship has stood the test of evolution and still remains puzzling to many who have tried to create harmony amongst these breeds. Symbiotic? Yes. They both need each other. So from a creative perspective how does one get to tame a creative.
Here's some advice to suits, which I came across in an Ogilvy publication written in 1978.....yes, wayyyyyyyyyyy back then. Its quite a gem that deserves to be sambazad to every suit alive (the ones that haven't been slayed by creatives).
Creatives can smell your account management skills. These are the talents they respond to at once.
- You know your clients business.
- You are brief. Especially in meetings.
- You have guts.
- You work hard, but you have fun.
- You have a sense of humor.
- You make the account fun for those who are working hard with you.
- You refrain from over intellectualizing.
- You are not a worrywart.
- You sell creative work with verve.
- You distinguish between client desire and consumer interests.
- You react with enthusiasm when you like something.
- You seek creative input on your marketing plan, media mix or promotion idea.
If these signs are visible you can be assured that you will not be eaten alive by most creatives.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
By the way check out this great related link posted by my pal Michael Munyi, http://bit.ly/dEZLUj
Here's some advice to suits, which I came across in an Ogilvy publication written in 1978.....yes, wayyyyyyyyyyy back then. Its quite a gem that deserves to be sambazad to every suit alive (the ones that haven't been slayed by creatives).
Creatives can smell your account management skills. These are the talents they respond to at once.
- You know your clients business.
- You are brief. Especially in meetings.
- You have guts.
- You work hard, but you have fun.
- You have a sense of humor.
- You make the account fun for those who are working hard with you.
- You refrain from over intellectualizing.
- You are not a worrywart.
- You sell creative work with verve.
- You distinguish between client desire and consumer interests.
- You react with enthusiasm when you like something.
- You seek creative input on your marketing plan, media mix or promotion idea.
If these signs are visible you can be assured that you will not be eaten alive by most creatives.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
By the way check out this great related link posted by my pal Michael Munyi, http://bit.ly/dEZLUj
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What happened to Kenyan creative teams?
So I've been sitting down and looking for an art director to partner with on some jobs then the thought hit me, what happened to creative teams?
When I started out in ad land my creative director and mentor used to emphasise on the importance of working with an art director with whom all successes and failures would be shared. It was almost like a blood brother relationship. We would be assigned to specific accounts together, work on pitches together, get involved in bar brawls together...basically we were inseparable.
Agencies back then would look for teams when hiring because they knew that as a team you would hit the ground running on every brief. Suddenly there was a lull and the whole aspect of teams slowly faded away. Copywriters began pulling solos and when poached or approached by another agency they would keep it to themselves and only share with their art director when pen was put to paper.
Come to think of it, the last creative team that moved as a unit (and that was some time back) was "the divas", Shiru Kanyua and Carol Oyier. Since then, the whole team concept has died in Kenya.
Is it that agencies nowadays find it cheaper to hire one creative and just assign someone in-house to work with? Is it that we are more technologically savvy and can multitask? Well I don't know, or is it the creatives who got too greedy?
In a creative world full of egos I find it essential to team up with someone you can cope with. It makes working or settling down to new pastures easier. It makes ideas flow. It makes work inspired. It ignites and incites passion. It fuels the competitive attitude that generates greatness.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
When I started out in ad land my creative director and mentor used to emphasise on the importance of working with an art director with whom all successes and failures would be shared. It was almost like a blood brother relationship. We would be assigned to specific accounts together, work on pitches together, get involved in bar brawls together...basically we were inseparable.
Agencies back then would look for teams when hiring because they knew that as a team you would hit the ground running on every brief. Suddenly there was a lull and the whole aspect of teams slowly faded away. Copywriters began pulling solos and when poached or approached by another agency they would keep it to themselves and only share with their art director when pen was put to paper.
Come to think of it, the last creative team that moved as a unit (and that was some time back) was "the divas", Shiru Kanyua and Carol Oyier. Since then, the whole team concept has died in Kenya.
Is it that agencies nowadays find it cheaper to hire one creative and just assign someone in-house to work with? Is it that we are more technologically savvy and can multitask? Well I don't know, or is it the creatives who got too greedy?
In a creative world full of egos I find it essential to team up with someone you can cope with. It makes working or settling down to new pastures easier. It makes ideas flow. It makes work inspired. It ignites and incites passion. It fuels the competitive attitude that generates greatness.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Advertising Isifiwe!
Now, I don't know if its the age factor creeping in or what, but I have noticed that most of my peers seem to have drawn closer to God nowadays and appreciating the influence of a higher power in their lives. This got me thinking and I came to conclude that the church uses strategic branding, advertising and thinking to draw the flock.
The one church that has clearly revolutionised how we look at religion or God is one Mavuno Church. Why? Well, I think the dudes there looked at market needs and saw an opportunity. Excellent branding, consistent personality and sub brands were engaged and now what they have is a rather successful outfit.
As I said before the definition I like most about a brand is "how a consumer feels about a product." Visit Mavuno and you will feel that going to church is cool, easy and not as intimidating as other churches would have. The target market somehow is connected in one way or another so you feel quite at home.
Mavuno did not stop there. They have sub brands like Mizizi: to get rooted into Christianity, Ombi: to get rooted into prayer and a variety of sessions and seminars from parenting to marriage. There is something for every step of growth just like BMW with everything from the sports car for yuppies to the older corporate executive 7 series.
The church experience does not end at the service because after the service you can interact at food courts. Add to this very active blogs, brand reps like Kanji the singer, highly entertaining shows, graffiti on the church exterior, collabos with Citizen TV, etc
Many called this church a fad but its still here and it is still growing from strength to strength. Brands cannot afford to be complacent and have to continue looking into their target markets changing needs. Brands need to use innovation to stand out. Mavuno is not only a church but a successful Kenyan brand.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
The one church that has clearly revolutionised how we look at religion or God is one Mavuno Church. Why? Well, I think the dudes there looked at market needs and saw an opportunity. Excellent branding, consistent personality and sub brands were engaged and now what they have is a rather successful outfit.
As I said before the definition I like most about a brand is "how a consumer feels about a product." Visit Mavuno and you will feel that going to church is cool, easy and not as intimidating as other churches would have. The target market somehow is connected in one way or another so you feel quite at home.
Mavuno did not stop there. They have sub brands like Mizizi: to get rooted into Christianity, Ombi: to get rooted into prayer and a variety of sessions and seminars from parenting to marriage. There is something for every step of growth just like BMW with everything from the sports car for yuppies to the older corporate executive 7 series.
The church experience does not end at the service because after the service you can interact at food courts. Add to this very active blogs, brand reps like Kanji the singer, highly entertaining shows, graffiti on the church exterior, collabos with Citizen TV, etc
Many called this church a fad but its still here and it is still growing from strength to strength. Brands cannot afford to be complacent and have to continue looking into their target markets changing needs. Brands need to use innovation to stand out. Mavuno is not only a church but a successful Kenyan brand.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Confessions of a Kamba advertising man
I have just arrived home from a three day trip to Machakos County. All my "mbois" are well and ad land is thriving there in its own special way. Does advertising exist deep in rural areas? Well, yes it does.
You see they may not have the technical terms we use in the city but the objective is the same. Ye ol sign writer (who I believe is the local art director) sits with the client/copywriter (who is the duka owner) and a brief is delivered, to come up with signage for a shop, bar, local kiosk etc.
I absolutely love the creativity you find in some of the small villages. One notable fact is the word "Ebenezer." There is an ebenezer kiosk, ebenezer butchery, ebenezer m-pesa, ebenezer salon almost everywhere you look. Maybe that attracts the believers and shows that the owners have christian values so you are not bound to be ripped off.
Then, there are some other names either inspired by a swig of kumi-kumi or projecting friendliness through humor. The ones that I give my top five Kamba Advertising Awards are as follows (Mark my word, I have not created these. They exist):
- A matatu called LAPTOP ONE HOUR.
- HAKI YETU general store.
- RATION shop
- SILENT bar
- JAY Z kinyozi and salon
Who said advertising/branding talent only exists in urban areas. Open your eyes, ushago has caught on.
But hey that's just my opinion.
You see they may not have the technical terms we use in the city but the objective is the same. Ye ol sign writer (who I believe is the local art director) sits with the client/copywriter (who is the duka owner) and a brief is delivered, to come up with signage for a shop, bar, local kiosk etc.
I absolutely love the creativity you find in some of the small villages. One notable fact is the word "Ebenezer." There is an ebenezer kiosk, ebenezer butchery, ebenezer m-pesa, ebenezer salon almost everywhere you look. Maybe that attracts the believers and shows that the owners have christian values so you are not bound to be ripped off.
Then, there are some other names either inspired by a swig of kumi-kumi or projecting friendliness through humor. The ones that I give my top five Kamba Advertising Awards are as follows (Mark my word, I have not created these. They exist):
- A matatu called LAPTOP ONE HOUR.
- HAKI YETU general store.
- RATION shop
- SILENT bar
- JAY Z kinyozi and salon
Who said advertising/branding talent only exists in urban areas. Open your eyes, ushago has caught on.
But hey that's just my opinion.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
"Jiinue na promo!"
Lets face it, the Kenyan advertising audience is unique and may be different from what we are used to seeing on ads of the world or best ads on TV. Like my friend Mike Munyi rightly said, you will never write award winning ads every day. So why not make the best of some of the briefs that are handed to you, especially promo briefs?
I wonder where the local creative hate for promo briefs came from. I will admit that I find promos quite an exciting challenge. To me, promos present a great opportunity to dig deeper into the creative vault. In a market saturated with promos, I think the creative can really stand out and make a name for himself.
The problem in Kenya is that once the word promo is mentioned, we immediately put ourselves in a box and think star bursts, a guy with smiley face holding cash or a guy waving a mobile phone at you. Well, look at those who have dared to think different. Like the Coca-Cola world cup tvc where a guy auditions for people to share his world cup trip with....Pretty cool idea.
After the success of innovators like Beba Yote and Bambua Tafrija, using local lingo became a hit. Somehow after that everyone took up the method and promo names started being produced like clockwork. Sad thing is that the more and more names that came out the smaller and smaller the ideas became. There is more to a promo than just an exciting swahili name.
A promo can have a huge idea and we need to convince our clients by selling them BIG ideas.Since our clients suffer from the "Marangi" syndrome it would be worth our while to come up with ideas that can up the standards.
Time to make lemonade when clients hand us lemons.
Hey, that's just my opinion.
I wonder where the local creative hate for promo briefs came from. I will admit that I find promos quite an exciting challenge. To me, promos present a great opportunity to dig deeper into the creative vault. In a market saturated with promos, I think the creative can really stand out and make a name for himself.
The problem in Kenya is that once the word promo is mentioned, we immediately put ourselves in a box and think star bursts, a guy with smiley face holding cash or a guy waving a mobile phone at you. Well, look at those who have dared to think different. Like the Coca-Cola world cup tvc where a guy auditions for people to share his world cup trip with....Pretty cool idea.
After the success of innovators like Beba Yote and Bambua Tafrija, using local lingo became a hit. Somehow after that everyone took up the method and promo names started being produced like clockwork. Sad thing is that the more and more names that came out the smaller and smaller the ideas became. There is more to a promo than just an exciting swahili name.
A promo can have a huge idea and we need to convince our clients by selling them BIG ideas.Since our clients suffer from the "Marangi" syndrome it would be worth our while to come up with ideas that can up the standards.
Time to make lemonade when clients hand us lemons.
Hey, that's just my opinion.
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