When content creators’ conference scaled up story telling with big five experiences

Recently, Nigeria hosted the first Travel Content Creators Conference and the organiser, the Taste of Africa Vibes painted a giant picture of the power of content and storytelling through the five personalities from Nigeria and around the world who give detail perspective of their experiences and how it has help to shape their travel business and the world around them.

Content creating is diverse and generic, depending on the subject matters and what you actually focus on or what your audiences want and how you intend to engage and carry them along through your structure and dedicated format of passing your message (s) across to them.

This days where mass communication has diverse channels, talking of the traditional media which has completely fused up with the speed of the new media (social media) things get pronounce and reach more heterogeneous audience globally with the same speed of feedbacks which gives credence to the effectiveness of two ways communication.

For content creation and creators, the new media space had made information dissemination not only cheap and fast, but given all and sundry a voice and dramatically made the platform a space that allows the good, the bad and the ugly to strive independently with minimal restriction all in the name of content creation.

However, the maiden edition of Travel Content Creators Conference organized by the Taste of Africa Vibes has brought a broad spectrum of understanding to content creators, especially the travel storytellers who create images that shape how people see things, which has made them people and destination perception changers.

The event, which will be a yearly platform for content creators across In Africa, also unveil its new baby the Africa Travel Content Creator Awards.

Speaking at the Mr Pelu Awofeso, a renowned travel writer and journalist who shared his travel experiences at the conference spoke extensively on his journey within Nigeria and around Africa, and the many adorning beauty of African destinations.

He gave an instance of the Voodoo culture of the Republic of Benin, his exploration and findings show that there is nothing bad about the people’s beliefs and cultural practices. He concluded by encouraging participants to use the power of social media to promote our culture and their travel businesses.

Awofeso travel experience speak volume on the importance of travelling, according to him many things I thought was bad or did not like was not because there was any reason but a mere perception but when I visited and tried other people’s food and also immersed myself in their culture, I now have a different perception.

“Travelling is educative, entertaining, unite and makes you to appreciate other people and destination better and that will also help you to tell the story better.”

Awofeso implore content creators to passionately use the social media platform to their advantage, adding that there is a whole lot windows of opportunities as well as it has a very far reach that the traditional media.

In his grand presentation, the organizer of Akwaaba African Travel Market and Publisher of Africa Travel Quarterly Magazine, Ambassador Ikechi Uko, took the audiences on an educative tour of an outstanding  storytelling as a tool in marketing African destinations

Uko who held the participants spell bound with is business reality content creation, left the house with five success stories on the power of content creation and how it can make or mare a destination, people or products and services.

He concluded by highlighting the 3 dos/and don’ts to succeed as a storyteller according to him; Stop doing stupid things- spin the wheels. Start doing smart things- be intentional and Plan for the future- a lot will change.

For Mr Michael Runkel, the world’s 2nd most travelled person and Award-winning travel photographer captivated the participants with fascinating pictures; showcasing natural landscape, waterfall, people among other exclusive shot of the beauty of Africa and how he has travelled all the countries in Africa.

According to him “Africa his beautiful, rich with historical places, the people are accommodate, so we need to travel, explore and showcase the beauty to the world.”

In her live presentation streamed from Belgium, Valerie Masumbuko, a Human rights activist, who see colonialism as one of the problems said the absence of a central language in Africa is a big challenge to Travellers.

She blamed colonisation for taking away our identity and pride in our local language, thereby encouraging every African to learn a second language as a way of bridging the communication gap that made inter-Africa travel more difficult.

One of the strategies of resistance to oppression is to use what was given by the oppressor and take advantage of it. So it will be interesting to one or more African languages can help in promoting unity and progress in Africa.

She advocate for a second language as a means of communication and appeal to the founder of taste of Africa to promote and encourage the use of another language like French so as to allow more countries to join the promotion bid of Africa to foster unity.

Mrs Clara Chinwe Okoro, Chairman of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), who spoke on Tourism and Tech: The Impact of Technology on The Growth of Tourism in Africa said there is need for content creators to be tech savvy because it is the trend.

She stressed the need to the new media as a strategic way to network, connect and partner with others to boost tourism promotion.

In his welcome address at the first Africa Travel Content Creator Conference, the Convener and Founder of Taste of Africa Vibes, Mr Jibola Oluseye Abati described the event as a gathering of opportunities with  the aim of connecting, collaborating, learning and celebrating Africa’s rich potentialities.

According to Abati “Nearly 3 years ago in August 2020, I founded my group, Taste of Africa Vibes, because I wanted to change the negative narrative about Africa, to challenge stereotypes, and to showcase Africa’s natural beauty.

“We were only 20 members back then and I never thought that small beginning would grow into a vibrant community of over 50,000 members!

I am humbled and grateful to stand before you today to share an incredible journey we have taken. Through our online platform, we have been countering the portrayals of Africa as a poor and dark continent, only full of conflict and despair. Those misconceptions have overshadowed the beauty of Africa for far too long.

“Our group’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Last year, we were honored to receive a prestigious award from Facebook, in recognition of the positive impact we’re making to change perception and to promote Africa online as a premier tourist destination.

Today, as we convene for our first conference, we embark on a new chapter and this event is a pivotal moment in our journey. We have assembled an incredible lineup of speakers and sessions that span a diverse range of topics.

“I am thrilled to announce this conference will not only be experienced by those present in this hall today but will also be live-streamed on our social media platforms. This means our message will resonate far beyond these walls.

As we begin this momentous journey together, let us remember the great power we possess as a united force. Each of us in our own way, through our content, through our storytelling, can inspire a new generation of travellers to see Africa for what it truly is—a land of wonder, opportunity, and endless possibility.

Let us strive to showcase the beauty and authenticity of Africa, not just through our words, but through our actions. Together, we have the potential to shape the future of Africa tourism, to create opportunities for sustainable growth, and to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who call this land home.

I extend my deepest appreciation to each and every one of you for joining Taste of Africa Vibes on this journey. I give my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of my team for your unwavering support, dedication, and belief in our shared vision. I also express my deepest appreciation to our esteemed partners, sponsors, and all those who have contributed to making this event a reality.