Kenyans are unhappy with British model Naomi Campbell for using a Nigerian song in a video meant to promote Kenya as a tourist destination.
Campbell, 50, was last month appointed as Magical Kenya international tourism ambassador by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala to market the country as an ideal tourism and travel destination.
The celebrity shared the video with her over 10 million followers on Instagram on Wednesday but Kenyans on social media took issue with the use of a Nigerian background song, saying she should have used a song by a Kenyan. The video shows different sceneries, local cuisine, white sandy beaches, and other attractions that one can enjoy in Kenya.
Below are some reactions from Kenyans online.
@Dreymwangi tweeted: “Si ata Naomi Campbell angeeka lamba lolo kama background music instead ya Maserati.”
@Trackmann wrote: “Naomi Campbell should have used a Gengetone track in her KTB video bana.”
@Eryr_said: “Msipigie Naomi Campbell kelele. She’s doing this for free remember?”
@JemGuru quipped: “Hiyo video ya Naomi Campbell is the longest 2 minutes video I’ve ever watched hahaha.”
@reubenkyuli stated: “Naomi Campbell promotes Kenyan tourism but using a Nigerian song ??.”
@Sue & motofire….you…
@Sue & motofire….you appear to get my gripe with this. It is so sickening to think that years after we gained independence, we still look to the West for approval of our validation. I watch the youtubers and I have learnt a lot about my own country…places I never heard of before and on a budget. Balala needs to aim his fishing net at these younger adventure and culture seeking tourists. The Image I have of Naomi is not a fun, cultured person but one with a “fiery temper, about to slap, fling my phone” at you diva attitude (allegedly). I could go on about this subject matter but…..now, another thing is the way the African Image is being marketed for the mases Fake wigs, fake this and that as if our original features are something to be ashamed of. In the current climate of “all lives matter” where we are demanding equality and all, we should also stand unapologetically proud with our prominent features for all to see… I feel sorry for the younger men..some will never experience the thrill of running their fingers though their partners head (without an entanglement), hit it straight into bed (without the mess of taking the face off) or indeed worrying if those two peak mountains are the real McCoy or made in a Doctors room!
Every time I say Kenya the…
Every time I say Kenya the 1st word I hear is either marathoners or cross country then masai mara. Naomi might bring in the hunting millionaire class tourists but majority are thousandnaires. Future tourist are young youtubers who want to experience culture as a whole and live in an airbnb. I would invest in a tourist village kind of thing. Wode maya has done kenya free promotion on YouTube.
Ati who…. exactly never…
Ati who…. exactly never heard of her, ati youtuber and influencers , okay , get rich quick money okay . Durability, key word
@whatever Wode Maya is a…
@whatever Wode Maya is a Ghanaian youtuber. He does a great job marketing Kenya free compared with others.
This is crazy that they have…
This is crazy that they have to look for a Naomi Campbell to “promote tourism” We have many people in Kenya that can do a better job. I am a tourist myself and i don’t buy things because they are advertised. So, she will just get so much money for no reason. @Balala, have you seen other 1st world countries importing models from Kenya to US or Europe? Can’t you believe your own people in Kenya? This shows how closed minded you are.
Kenyans always amaze me…
Kenyans always amaze me. They ignore their own first rate productions to immimitate second rate productions by foreigners. What happened to the beautiful original songs by Muungano choir of the 1980s? They are in Swahili, the national language. Alternatively, Balala can use the ministry’s money to buy the copyright of the Safaricom video song advert ‘niko na Safaricom’ and change it to ‘niko Kenya’.
Exactly Maxiley! Self hatred…
Exactly Maxiley! Self hatred ndio itatumaliza. I see some youtubers promoting Kenya in a way that is just endearing, warts and all. Coming in a business class straight into some millionaire hotel can only be achieved by a handful few. I have never seen her land with a bus load of people except her wig, wipes, gloves. Guest70, you seem to be dazzled by the ujungu mwingi. Tembea uone mengi…kisha rudi darasani ufunzwe historia. Utumwa hatutaki tena. Songa na reli, chunga kisogo chako. Makopo tumekula tosha. o.k? Now, what else is new, mgeni sabini?
@ Sukari, I maintain that,…
@ Sukari, I maintain that, its us to shape our destiny.Its us to solve our problems,its us to improve our image. When Mzungu left,or when ablack man got his freedom, and independance,mzungu left the”image repairing” solely on the black man and woman.
Yes we can do it without Mzungu endorsing our ways.We are creative,resourceful,talented,and intelligent.Unfortunately some of us are still in mental enslavement.
It is about bringing in…
It is about bringing in dollars and pounds.A local like that fake celebrity majimbo or whatever she is now calling herself will only deliver a small fraction Young people do not spend that much anyway because most of them do not have it.A group of foreign tourists brings in more than locals running down to the coast for a weekend some insisting on seeing the manager when they are shown the bill.People are quick to judge however if many of you in Majuu were suddenly told you will now be paid in Kshs many would run home.Kenya needs the foreign exchange and the international exposure if the tourism industry is to recover it is currently on its knees.She is doing it for free by the way why say no to free labor
What exactly does marketing…
What exactly does marketing Kenya entail? Was this an opening that home grown talent could not fulfill? If so,let’s see the credentials Naomi brings to this job.In other words is she a proven case,or is this just an experiment at Kenya’s taxpayer expense.Are we paying her to learn on the job? Well,I guess Balala will have to answer that.
Yap, I would shush if I was…
Yap, I would shush if I was a brain washed so & so! I have nothing against Naomi but I think our upuzi of looking outwards to promote ourselves means we are still enslaved. Majimbo would still have made it somehow. You can’t hide talent and the girl has it. Naomi is kept and stays in one of her boyfriend’s place so not sure what coins she is truly bringing in. We need to grow up and realise we have home grown talent waiting to be discovered. Period. Age has got nothing to do with it, but who looks like that at 50 in Kenya, let alone behave like that? I don’t and I am no where near her age. plastic and fakery all over.
Then start your agency pap…
Then start your agency pap and I will sign up a few girls I know – go give back and promote/help the homegrown talent you are promoting here . You seems to have an age issue or a Naomi issue, non married issue with Naomi getting her grove on whenever or wherever issue , kept or not kept issue – all that is noise you are bringing here . Naomi is a brand promoting another brand just like Samuel L. Jackson (over 50) promoting Capital One ! Majimbo would have made somehow – yeah sure – in Churchill show
Ati who looks like that at…
Ati who looks like that at 50 yrs in Kenya!! ??? A whole bunch of ladies do look like that. Maybe hunjakutana nawao but trust me they are there. N
You mean Majimbo girl – who…
You mean Majimbo girl – who do you think made her – YES NAOMI on her insta and youtube channel? Sure get the Kenyans models out there with little or not connections and influence and see how many billionaires will be landing in Mahali Pazuri? Your lack of business acumen shows. Naomi net worth aka her network is larger than all Kenyan 20 something models combined, do not underestimate someone because of age – how old are you? . Try follow her on insta and you see her influence. Sometimes it is good to shut it if you don’t understand the strategy of some moves
Naomi is forward looking but…
Naomi is forward looking but Kenyans are yet to get over their tribes leave alone other nationalities of African descent. If the song was by a South African would it have elicited same reaction?
But gengetone is terrible
But gengetone is terrible
We don’t need washed out…
We don’t need washed out models to market Kenya! We have young, vibrant you tubers who are doing a better job than she is! First, I hate the way she has disregarded COVID issues and breezed into the country. Kenyans have double standards. They retire their own when they hit 50’s yet they are ready to declare some fifty year old ex model to be an ambassador of sorts! Give the coins (if she is being pain in kind) to the young adults crying out to be employed. What is Balala doing posing like that….huu si ungwana, sio mila za wazee wetu. No one is travelling anywhere soon Balala, so get busy and promote internal tourism for sasa. GRRR!
But he looked for a Kenyan…
But he looked for a Kenyan lady Lupita, didn’t work so akaendea Naomi Campbell.
Kenyans and midomos itawaua
Kenyans and midomos itawaua