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Monday, March 24, 2014

WHAT DAYSTAR CAN LEARN FROM USIU CULTURE WEEK

#CULTUREWEEK



As an events blogger, writer and one who has a few expertise up my sleeves on events; I will be honest about one thing-Daystar Nairobi campus culture week was a flop! Totally it flopped! I love seeing a great initiative trend and take hold that is why when I was invited to USIU (United States International University) Culture Week; I couldn’t refute-I had to snob Daystar’s.

Both events at these two prestigious universities were going down on the same week. The glitz? The glamour? It was there in abundance at USIU culture week. At Daystar, we lacked that and we drank our sorrows to stupor with the free Nescafe coffee. In fact, not even our students had an idea it was culture week. Moreover, Daystar culture week lacked the hype and the excitement. Why you ask? I will tell you why! It is because, we are doing the same things done by past leadership over and over again, expecting different results. Does it work that way? Hell, no!








I will give you a clear perspective on how USIU turned their earlier low hyped event into one of the best ever calendar event in their history and in my history of events blogging. Running from Tuesday to Thursday, with over 60 countries, international and continental, the cultural performances and the stars were a plenty.

Gates opened as early as 9am each day. The tents were up; and the exhibitors and sponsors pitched tent all day. Each country had to display what it has to offer. And I mean the best since there were judges, made up of a panel of students and lecturers going round to assess each culture exhibited. The after affair in each tent- music met fashion, great food and the best of the country’s culture.

Don’t even get me started on the mode of dressing. This is it; there people unlike us here in Daystar care! The students dressed to impress. They brought culture and fashion on the same pedestal. At Daystar; I found myself and a few others in our African regalia. Nobody cared to dress-up; let alone make it out the Freedom Corner for fashion week. USIU culture week went viral from the onset. Good PR! The “selfie campaign” similar to The Oscars; of the event on social media created the much needed hype and plus Nokia Lumia phones were up for grabs for the best “selfies.”

But the climax of it all was the Thursday Night concert. Coca cola brought in free sodas for everyone; a cool tent and of course Dj Joe Mfalme on the decks. Here, each country had the privilege of showcasing their best culture performance in terms of music, dance, fashion, you name it. All these for the bragging rights and for a trophy that is contested annually.

Someone told me that USIU events are always great because they have funding. I will be honest again because I had a chat with the event organizers and the funding they get from their administration is way too low to pull such an event.

I pressed on to find out how they did it. What does it take? If there is a magical formula behind the success of USIU culture week and any event for that matter; this is it; students who care, passion for what they do; a driving ethos about making the university urban positive and a better place but above all; willing sponsors who believe in an idea and are willing to partner with the student-organized event- and hence overall benefit in terms of smart and cool solutions for their businesses and a willing market amongst the students.

How can Daystar redeem herself? Well, we start now. Mr. and Miss Daystar pageant is almost here and as long as you, the Daystar student, believes in it, then we will make it a success!
By Embukane Vincent Libosso.



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