WaxPrint Media recently hosted Influencer Africa, a virtual forum featuring panels, one-on-one dialogues, and product demonstrations exploring the present and future of influencer marketing and highlighting trends, best practices, and successful case studies of influencer partnerships across the continent to an audience of 200 global participants. The program was broadcast live from the Martini Studio in Accra, Ghana while a range of influencers, content creators, brand representatives, marketers, and technology experts from Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Hollywood, California shared insights on topics
including brands navigating the pandemic to generate sales, the impact of technology on influencer marketing, and the increasing use of micro-influencers.

“Incorporating influencers into a brand’s marketing mix has proven to be one of the most effective and impactful forms of marketing. Our agency works on a significant number of client projects in Africa and internationally that utilize influencers and felt it was important for marketing industry stakeholders, brands and influencers to come together, dialogue and envision ways of better collaboration,” shares Muhammida El Muhajir the host of Influencer Africa, Director of Strategy at WaxPrint Media, the Accra based digital marketing and communications agency who has a wealth of brand, marketing and entertainment industry experience with organizations such as Nike and The William Morris Agency.

El Muhajir led a one-on-one interactive dialogue with recording artist M.anifest who shared his approach to brand partnerships, the significance of social media on his career, and the details behind his collaboration with _Absa Bank_ to promote smart banking in Africa and experiential approach to working with Martell.

M.anifest

The Brand Panel was moderated by Bidemi Zakariyau Akande, Founder & CEO of LSF PR and included panelists Jeannette Quashie, Brand Manager at Pernod Ricard, Bukky Akomolafe, Country Manager at Travelstart, Nicole Leah Ogle, Head of Influencer Marketing, Strategy and Development at OnPoint PR, and Candice Thurston, Marketing Executive Sorbet Group and Founder of Candi&Co. The panelists gave insights from the brand and
agency perspective on the trends shaping the African continent, what brands look for when partnering with influencers, and successful case studies.

The Technology Meets Influencer Marketing session highlighted the role of technology in influencer marketing with Therese Jones, C.E.O of Ripple Influence, and Akitoye Balogun, Business Development Manager at Humanz, giving detailed demonstrations on their tools.

Celebrity journalist Ameyaw Debrah shared his journey from blogger to full-fledged influencers, his thought process when working with advertisers which was followed by a one-on-one session with Joselyn Dumas, one of West Africa’s top influencers who has served as an ambassador for Jaguar, Jobberman Ghana, and Standard Chartered Bank.

“Sometimes you don’t know but when you’re being yourself, you don’t know who is watching. So I always like to stay true and authentically me. I think that’s what has attracted some of these brands to me. My advice to influencers is to know your target audience, what they want, and create content around that,” said Dumas.