SL's first African Festival has come and gone, and now it's time to reflect. The three-and-a-half day affair brought a lot of visitors to Saminaka, some of whom have chosen to be residents, regular loiterers (in a good way!), or merchants. The crowds and interest were gratifying, but the work was substantial. So--some reflections on the festival itself, but also on the idea of organizing a big event, which might help those doing something similar.Suggestion #1. Imagine how long it will take you to create all the components, then multiply by three. There are bound to be rl interruptions, technical glitches, problems and unanticipat
ed situations of all sorts. If you are creating things (builds, prizes for a treasure hunt, slide shows) begin months in advance! It won't molder on your computer, and you don't even have to schedule the event until there's only a smidge left to finish. Do you really want to (ahem) make your stiltwalking masquerade costume the day you're going to wear it?
ed situations of all sorts. If you are creating things (builds, prizes for a treasure hunt, slide shows) begin months in advance! It won't molder on your computer, and you don't even have to schedule the event until there's only a smidge left to finish. Do you really want to (ahem) make your stiltwalking masquerade costume the day you're going to wear it?Suggestion #2. Do
n't hire a publicist. I didn't, because I heard too many horror stories of people who paid lottalindens for pr, with few results. Did I get any better results? Probably not, but I had passion for the project, and some really helpful friend. Oliha Yiwama had lots of great ideas, and send out notices to tons of groups, as did I; Firery Broome hit the SLED lists and places academic, Charity Richez dug into her endless friends list and brought people regularly to events, and Kabaka Kwaszes tweeted and notified throughout the weekend--and those are only the ones I knew about. No reporters interviewed me, but I contacted some. However, an enquiry about radio ads to Khitten Kurka (aka DJ Flashback on Ground Level Radio) brought me into a discussion with Ground Level's Bryson Capalini who ran constant public service announcements for us on his excellent R&B station throughout the weekend. Fabulous people WILL help out in wonderful ways.
n't hire a publicist. I didn't, because I heard too many horror stories of people who paid lottalindens for pr, with few results. Did I get any better results? Probably not, but I had passion for the project, and some really helpful friend. Oliha Yiwama had lots of great ideas, and send out notices to tons of groups, as did I; Firery Broome hit the SLED lists and places academic, Charity Richez dug into her endless friends list and brought people regularly to events, and Kabaka Kwaszes tweeted and notified throughout the weekend--and those are only the ones I knew about. No reporters interviewed me, but I contacted some. However, an enquiry about radio ads to Khitten Kurka (aka DJ Flashback on Ground Level Radio) brought me into a discussion with Ground Level's Bryson Capalini who ran constant public service announcements for us on his excellent R&B station throughout the weekend. Fabulous people WILL help out in wonderful ways.Suggestion #3. Regard your first big ev
ent as an experiment. So nobody entered the writing contest? Two of the photo contests were a bust? Perhaps the wrong contacts, too little publicity, or too much of a good thing. Only one person in the canoe regatta, and the durbar petered out? The first turned out to be terrific fun, while the latter has potential. Shake it off, and consider how each could be a dedicated event you can give full consideration to. Durbar will happen later, after Nigerian style horse trappings are made at leisure.
ent as an experiment. So nobody entered the writing contest? Two of the photo contests were a bust? Perhaps the wrong contacts, too little publicity, or too much of a good thing. Only one person in the canoe regatta, and the durbar petered out? The first turned out to be terrific fun, while the latter has potential. Shake it off, and consider how each could be a dedicated event you can give full consideration to. Durbar will happen later, after Nigerian style horse trappings are made at leisure. And as for the regatta? Ah, Saminaka WILL have an Olokun festival and pull 
out the stops! We'll supply usable decorated canoes, have a slide show about water deities in Africa, and invite SL's mermaids to make free with an enhanced underwater paradise. Plus the rideable hammerhead shark and manta ray will return! Saminaka looks so great circling round the perimeter, and the outer islands provide some marvelous opportunities for perilous steering!
out the stops! We'll supply usable decorated canoes, have a slide show about water deities in Africa, and invite SL's mermaids to make free with an enhanced underwater paradise. Plus the rideable hammerhead shark and manta ray will return! Saminaka looks so great circling round the perimeter, and the outer islands provide some marvelous opportunities for perilous steering!As the only entrant with a decorated canoe, Feretian St
ring won the regatta contest, but we had fun with resident Fox Foxdale and the fabulous water spider, Oronoque Westland! In short, don't let any aspect get you down.
Suggestion #4 Where your plans involve other people, inure yourself to disappointment and have a back-up plan. No need to be disappointed when people can't do what they said they would--First Life had BETTER have priorities. Be flexible. We almost had a great live performer, but it didn't work out. A DJ who agreed, then never showed up or even said sorry (no requests to you again, sir!). Some vendors said they were ready, but ultimately weren't (have your stalls up and rent boxes ready when you ask!). It was all good. Fallbacks fell in place. As luck would have it, a fave DJ, HarleyMC Homewood came on just as I was in despair we would have an opening party at all--and from his superkind heart, stepped into the breach immediately. No live performer, but live DJs everyday. A couldn't-be-helped late show? African music videos in the meantime. It'll all be fine if you keep despair at bay and can please the gathered with something.
ring won the regatta contest, but we had fun with resident Fox Foxdale and the fabulous water spider, Oronoque Westland! In short, don't let any aspect get you down.Suggestion #4 Where your plans involve other people, inure yourself to disappointment and have a back-up plan. No need to be disappointed when people can't do what they said they would--First Life had BETTER have priorities. Be flexible. We almost had a great live performer, but it didn't work out. A DJ who agreed, then never showed up or even said sorry (no requests to you again, sir!). Some vendors said they were ready, but ultimately weren't (have your stalls up and rent boxes ready when you ask!). It was all good. Fallbacks fell in place. As luck would have it, a fave DJ, HarleyMC Homewood came on just as I was in despair we would have an opening party at all--and from his superkind heart, stepped into the breach immediately. No live performer, but live DJs everyday. A couldn't-be-helped late show? African music videos in the meantime. It'll all be fine if you keep despair at bay and can please the gathered with something.
Suggestion #5. Don't let the technical problems stop you. Saminaka's Sultan, Oliha Yiwama gave two fabulous talks. The first, on African music, would have included the greatest of demo drumming, but the mic was too "hot" and the feedback interfered with the drums (and had been nonexistent in an earlier soundcheck). Everyone enjoyed the talk nonetheless, but there was a hunger to hear the drumming, so Oliha was going to work some drumming, voice and percussion into his talk on African Spirituality. But sound did not cooperate. For some unknown reason, static metastasized, and he philosophically abandoned his original plan, went to typing, and soldiered on. (We will make sure he gets a chance to shine in future, because he is a terrific speaker and performer). Both talks were very well attended and made the sim new friends (I also gave a talk on African art).
Suggestion #6 Bring new groups together and collaberate. As Bryan Mnemonic suggested at the launch of SL's group Ananse's Web, our sims can be like a blogroll, with links to sims that complement our interests. Ananse's Web (Ananse is the Ashanti people's wise trickster, the spider) is a group of those interested in promoting African and Diaspora studies in Virtual Worlds--an academically-oriented group whose launch included fascinating data on Africa's digital leaps by Khoisan Fisher, and a keynote address by Bryan (Prof. Bryan 
Carter in rl). These stimulating conversations energized the members, who followed the University of Delaware opening with a tour of Virtual Africa, the Middle Passage Experience, Indea Vaher's Remembrance, and Virtual Harlem (the latter Bryan's project). Discussion afterwards was at Saminaka, but drew several treasure hunters, who quietly absorbed the group's broad range of topics.
Carter in rl). These stimulating conversations energized the members, who followed the University of Delaware opening with a tour of Virtual Africa, the Middle Passage Experience, Indea Vaher's Remembrance, and Virtual Harlem (the latter Bryan's project). Discussion afterwards was at Saminaka, but drew several treasure hunters, who quietly absorbed the group's broad range of topics.Suggestion #7. Relax and enjoy yourself. Have spontaneous events, chat with visitors, make new friends, and listen to people--that will help you propel things forward and realize that those many rl hours were well worth it.
The festival closed with a splendid party, and some of us continued to linger there, reluctant to leave the happy companionship that had developed throughout the weekend. Nigerians who didn't know Saminaka existed found it, as did folks from all corners of the world. Satisfying, indeed!
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