Comments on: Branding Africa with a new domain http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/ African business and culture trends Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:53:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Jeff http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/comment-page-1/#comment-39976 Jeff Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:44:19 +0000 http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/#comment-39976 Dot Africa sounds well intentioned, and probably looks good on paper. But there are a number of problems with it. A couple of the more important ones: * fails to reflect the cultural diversity of the continent - people there don't view themeselves as part of some pan-African culture * takes an English-centric view - "Africa" is an English word and not the language a large number of people in Africa use as their first language Dot Africa sounds well intentioned, and probably looks good on paper. But there are a number of problems with it. A couple of the more important ones:
* fails to reflect the cultural diversity of the continent – people there don’t view themeselves as part of some pan-African culture
* takes an English-centric view – “Africa” is an English word and not the language a large number of people in Africa use as their first language

]]> By: Kofi http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/comment-page-1/#comment-21143 Kofi Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:18:40 +0000 http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/#comment-21143 Thanks for your comment Robbie. I certainly agree with the alternatives you indicate. I just fear that though something like a wikipedia page is a great effort, the effect of doing so might be lost on many African governmental agencies. Unfortunately many African governments are just beginning to understand the possibilities of using the internet to brand and spread a message. While many of us are experts at the benefits of online efforts, I just don't see us being able to convince many African governments that it's a better idea. What points do you think can be used to convince them to focus more on creating their own content instead of going along with a centralized domain effort? Thanks for your comment Robbie.

I certainly agree with the alternatives you indicate. I just fear that though something like a wikipedia page is a great effort, the effect of doing so might be lost on many African governmental agencies. Unfortunately many African governments are just beginning to understand the possibilities of using the internet to brand and spread a message. While many of us are experts at the benefits of online efforts, I just don’t see us being able to convince many African governments that it’s a better idea.

What points do you think can be used to convince them to focus more on creating their own content instead of going along with a centralized domain effort?

]]> By: Robbie Honerkamp http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/comment-page-1/#comment-20955 Robbie Honerkamp Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:24:25 +0000 http://annansi.com/blog/2007/10/branding-africa-with-a-new-domain/#comment-20955 I'm just an abroni, but I'm skeptical. I think the efforts that will go into getting a .africa TLD are great, and the end results will be small. That being said, I'm also still skeptical about many (most, actually) of the other TLDs that have been approved (.info, etc). But I'm a (relatively) old Internet geek, and I'm just set in my ways. If the people who are pushing hard for .africa would take those efforts and put them into something more worthwhile such as maintaining Wikipedia pages about their countries (to make sure the world has access to plenty of accurate information about their homelands) or working to develop local Internet content (applicable to their city/country/region or in a native language) I think Africa would be so much better off in the long run. In short, I think .africa is a well meaning but ultimately empty effort. But that's just my two cedis. :-) I’m just an abroni, but I’m skeptical. I think the efforts that will go into getting a .africa TLD are great, and the end results will be small. That being said, I’m also still skeptical about many (most, actually) of the other TLDs that have been approved (.info, etc). But I’m a (relatively) old Internet geek, and I’m just set in my ways.

If the people who are pushing hard for .africa would take those efforts and put them into something more worthwhile such as maintaining Wikipedia pages about their countries (to make sure the world has access to plenty of accurate information about their homelands) or working to develop local Internet content (applicable to their city/country/region or in a native language) I think Africa would be so much better off in the long run.

In short, I think .africa is a well meaning but ultimately empty effort. But that’s just my two cedis. :-)

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