Table of contents for Issue 189 - February-March 2025 in Msafiri

“By providing mentorship and opportunities in music and the arts, I hope to help them build confidence and find their voices. It is crucial for girls to know they can achieve anything they set their minds to.” MODUPE IGE KACHI “Honestly, I am not big on individual accolades. I have never been. I have always wanted the team to win and did everything to make that happen.” FLAVIA OKETCHO FLAVIA OKETCHO SPORTSWOMAN, UGANDA (@FLIRSHFAVIA) “Who am I?” Flavia Oketcho repeats the question we had put to her. “What can I say? I am a proud wife and mother. I am a sportswoman and a businesswoman.” Quite an honest depiction of a woman who perhaps did not want to blow her own trumpet and announce her renowned exploits in sports. Oketcho, or ‘Flirsh…

01 SET CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The foundation of any successful social media campaign lies in establishing clear goals and objectives. Without a defined purpose, your campaign can lack direction, making it difficult to measure success. You might want to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, generate leads, or boost sales. It's crucial to make these goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. For example, instead of vaguely stating you want more engagement, aim for something specific like “increase Instagram engagement by 25% in three months”. 02 KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE You need to know who your ideal customers are, what they care about, and where they spend their time online. Consider factors such as age, gender, interests and social media habits. Tools like Facebook Audience Insights or Google…

KQ's group MD and CEO has been named chair of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). This prestigious recognition came during the association's recent General Assembly and Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, and represents a landmark moment for Kenya Airways. He will initially serve a one-year term, with the potential for renewal. His leadership will be pivotal in shaping AFRAA's strategic direction, representing member airlines, and championing initiatives that enhance the growth of Africa's aviation sector. DID YOU KNOW? LONDON GATWICK WAS THE FIRST AIRPORT TO FEATURE A DIRECT RAIL LINK The Gatwick Express, a dedicated airport rail link, began operations in 1948, connecting passengers seamlessly to London's vibrant city centre. KQ will begin flying to Gatwick in July 2025. GET SOCIAL WITH US: facebook.com/KenyaAirwaysKE/ twitter.com/KenyaAirways instagram.com/officialkenyaairways/ linkedin.com/company/kenya-airways…

Wildlife Photographer of the Year was founded in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine, then called Animals. The Natural History Museum joined forces in 1984 to create the competition as it is known today. The annual competition and touring exhibition are now run and owned by the Natural History Museum, London. Today, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world's most prestigious wildlife photography award. The winners of the sixty-first competition will be announced in October 2025, and entries to the next round of judging for the competition will open in October 2025 as well. For the past two years, the competition has waived the entry fee for 107 countries across the globe including in Africa. For more details, visit nhm.ac.uk/wpy…

CAPE TOWN MINSTREL CARNIVAL Held in the Mother City, the exciting and enthralling Cape Town Minstrel Carnival – otherwise known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year) – is when local musicians and performers dressed in colourful uniforms and with their faces painted, parade through the Cape Town streets singing traditional folk songs. It's a cultural tradition that dates back to the early days of slavery and colonisation in the Cape. CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Dubbed ‘Africa's Grandest Gathering’, The Cape Town International Jazz Festival brings together the world's best jazz musicians, attracting massive audiences. Cutting-edge performances take place at various city venues and there's a free outdoor concert in the central Greenmarket Square. CAPE TOWN CARNIVAL The biggest carnival in Africa, The Cape Town Carnival brings together…

By 2050, nearly 70% of humanity will live in urban areas, with much of this growth concentrated in the Global South. These cities are not just expanding, they're transforming, innovating and reimagining urban life for the 21st century. At the forefront of this transformation is Nzinga Biegueng Mboup, a Senegalese-Cameroonian architect and curator based in Dakar. “The city is one of the fundamental categories for understanding contemporaneity,” Mboup says. “It's not only in the cities where most of the world's population lives but also the spaces that generate the forms of coexistence and collective action that define a large part of our present.” EMBRACING THE GLOBAL SOUTH The term “Global South” has gained prominence in recent years, uniting cities across continents under a shared identity. While some might critique it…

START WITH A COMPELLING VISUAL Instagram is a visual platform, so the image or video you choose is crucial. High-quality visuals immediately grab attention and encourage users to stop scrolling. TIPS FOR CREATING GREAT VISUALS: • Use natural lighting for photos to create a clean, vibrant look. • Maintain a consistent color palette that aligns with your brand identity. • Experiment with various formats like carousel posts, Reels, or Stories for variety. • Consider adding text overlays or graphics for added context or emphasis. Aim for authenticity Show behind-the-scenes moments or user-generated content to build trust and relatability. CRAFT AN ENGAGING CAPTION Your caption should complement the visual and provide context, spark curiosity, or inspire action. Captions can be short and punchy or longer storytelling narratives, depending on your goal.…

Three places to visit Celebrating the destinations that Kenya Airways flies to… NEW YORK CITY, USA Among the many attractions in New York's Central Park is Turtle Pond, just south of the Great Lawn. As well as being a top spot to relax, picnic, and admire the city views and the park's iconic Belvedere Castle, the 4000sq metre pond is home to five species of turtle – the red-eared slider, snapping, painted, musk and box. ALL HAIL There are 13,587 licensed (medallioned) yellow cabs in NYC. The signatory livery became law in 1967, when the city ordered that all medallioned taxis be the same colour to cut down on unlicensed drivers. LUSAKA, ZAMBIA Just 25km south of the Zambian capital, some 1000 species of wildlife roam in the 46sq km…

BETWEEN 2010 AND 2012, AN ESTIMATED 100,000 ELEPHANTS WERE SLAUGHTERED ACROSS AFRICA IN A POACHING CRISIS DRIVEN BY IVORY DEMAND. THANKS TO A DECADE OF EFFORT BY MANY ORGANISATIONS POACHING HAS DECLINED, BUT A NEW PROBLEM LOOMS: HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT. THE ELEPHANT CRISIS FUND HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THESE EVOLVING CHALLENGES, AS ITS DIRECTOR DR CHRIS THOULESS EXPLAINS When we started the Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) in 2013, elephant poaching was rampant across Africa, and our first partners were fully immersed in combating the killing of elephants, the illicit trafficking of ivory and the insatiable demand for ivory. The carcasses of elephants, their tusks hacked from their faces, had become a frequent, sickening sight in elephant habitats across the continent. This poaching was driven by a complex, international ivory…

Africa's first Transfrontier Park, the Kgalagadi, celebrates its 25th birthday this year. Formerly South Africa's Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana's Gemsbok National Park, the Transfrontier Park is co-managed by the two neighbouring countries with wildlife conservation and the free movement of animals as its major focus. Since then, a number of cross-border initiatives have emerged in Africa, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has a dedicated program to establish more Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). Unlike Transfrontier Parks, TFCAs are complex and made up of multiple land use areas, including national parks, communityowned land, game management areas, villages and cities that are co-managed through international treaties. There are now 12 formalised cross-border conservation areas within the SADC region, with others still in the making. The uptake has…

Guess where… While perhaps not best known for its beaches, this stretch of sand on this city's Indian Ocean coastline is a popular hangout with locals, surfers and tourists alike. Founded in 1862, it has since grown into a major port, and serves as a gateway to some wellknown islands and national parks. It is also home to one of the region's largest markets. But in which city on Kenya Airways’ network are we? TURN TO PAGE 80 FOR THE ANSWER NEW ROUTE: LONDON GATWICK STARTING JULY 2025, KQ TAKES UK FREQUENCY TO 10 FLIGHTS A WEEK From 2 July 2025, Kenya Airways will begin operating direct flights to London's Gatwick Airport from its hub at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. KQ will now serve the UK through two entry…

LADIES’ FRAGRANCES VERSACE CRYSTAL NOIR Eau de Parfum 50ml Like a sumptuous evening gown, Versace's Crystal Noir Parfum will ensure that all eyes are on you. The blend of warming spices with delicate white florals creates a powerful fragrance that allures and intrigues. FRAGRANCE NOTES: Oriental – Floral MEN'S FRAGRANCES VERSACE EROS ENERGY Eau de Parfum 100ml A joyful and dynamic addition to the Versace Eros collection, Eros Energy opens with a splash of sweet and sharp citrus notes to transport you straight to serene and sun-drenched Italian vistas. The heart is surprising and adds depth with a delightful contrast of white, amber, pink pepper and sharp blackcurrant, while the dry-down is earthy and musky to provide a strong masculine base to this intriguing eau de parfum. FRAGRANCE NOTES: Fresh…

From priority check-in to expedited baggage handling, now you can quickly see which benefits apply across your journey thanks to SkyTeam's new Loyalty Calculator. Designed to help eliminate guesswork when travelling with different SkyTeam members, simply enter your loyalty programme, status level and the operating airline and the Loyalty Calculator provides an at-a-glance overview of the benefits you are entitled to.* Not everyone likes surprises – especially when it comes to loyalty benefits, which can vary by airline, loyalty programme and status level. SkyTeam has 230 million loyalty members belonging to 17 different programmes offered by its 19 member airlines. Available on skyteam.com, the Loyalty Calculator helps you know what to expect before you fly, so you don't miss out on any travel perks and are better prepared if an…