Starting AfriHue has been nothing short of an adventure! It has been an incredible journey filled with unexpected twists, late nights, and a fair share of "what am I doing?" moments.
It all began as an assignment for my Leading Innovation course at London Metropolitan University, but it quickly evolved into something much bigger. A passion... an ambition that I refused to let crumble under the weight of challenges.
Here's my story of starting AfriHue, raw and unfiltered, with all its bumps and breakthroughs.
1.The struggles of Building a Team
When I started out, I knew that the most important step was to build a community, and for that, I needed a social media manager. I turned to Instagram, scouring profiles and sending messages to about 10 people.
The responses? Let's just say they weren't exactly encouraging, but I wasn't going to let that get me down. While some were honest enough to admit they hadn't checked their emails for weeks, others promised to send their CVs and then went off the radar for a few days. Then again a few were more interested in selling me courses or referring me to people they were affiliated with.
Out of all the messages I sent, only one person responded on time and truly knew what they were doing. Their response was a shining example of how persistence and a touch of luck can pay off when starting out.
2. Photoshoots and the Chaos of Organization
Organizing my first photoshoots was a heartfelt journey into the unknown. It was a blend of excitement, nerves, and deep personal growth. I dove in with little understanding of how to manage schedules, scout locations, or coordinate the many people involved, only to discover that every challenge was a gentle teacher
Emailing Influencers
I remember sending out hopeful emails to potential cover story influencers, each message carrying the promise of a brilliant collaboration. Yet, the silence that often followed or the last-minute cancellations and vague promises of “the weekend” that never came. It left me feeling the sting of uncertainty. Still, with every unreturned email, I was nudged to dig deeper, to look beyond the obvious. And in doing so, I didn’t just find a cover image. I found the right person, someone who embodied everything I stand for, and brought my vision to life in ways I hadn’t imagined.
Hilarious bloopers
There was also the time when a mix-up led me to accidentally call the boss of a venue manager. What started as an awkward conversation quickly transformed into an unexpected opportunity, as she eventually agreed to let us use the space. Sometimes our missteps pave the way for the most memorable breakthroughs.
Scouting Locations
The long hours spent driving around with Google Maps as my compass led me on a quiet, determined quest for locations that truly resonated with my vision. What began as a practical search, often met with absurd fees and frustrating detours, soon transformed into something far more meaningful. Each turn became a moment of rediscovery, revealing just how beautiful, and artistically rich the spaces in Nairobi truly are. Hidden corners, forgotten walls, and busy alleys turned into backdrops that was truly fascinating.
Time Mismanagement
Then there were the challenges of time itself. Studio bookings were precious, and the unpredictability of collaborators arriving hours late turned each shoot into a fast and furious race against the clock. In those chaotic, tension-filled moments, I learned the delicate art of graceful adaptation. Mastering the ability to smile sweetly while screaming on the inside became a crash course in patience, by fire, by force. It was the kind of trial that tests your limits, but also reveals just how much grit and grace you can summon when everything's on the line
3. Email Mishaps and Apologies
In the beginning, even my emails weren’t reaching people. I discovered that there was an issue with my email system, meaning that responses from potential collaborators had been lost. Once I realized, I had to send out apology emails, hoping to rebuild trust and salvage the opportunities I thought were gone. It was humbling and a little embarrassing to be honest.
4. Final thought
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process, it’s that persistence is everything. The emails that went unanswered, the influencers who backed out, the schedules that fell apart, all of it was meant to test my resolve.
For every “no,” there was eventually a “yes.” For every roadblock, there was a workaround. AfriHue is more than magazine to me—it’s a symbol of pushing through doubt, frustration, and fear to create something meaningful.
The journey isn’t perfect, and it’s far from over. I still face challenges, but I face them with more confidence now because I know this is what building something worthwhile looks like. AfriHue has grown from an idea into a platform, and I’m proud of every hard-earned step it’s taken to get here.
To anyone building something from the ground up, my advice is this: embrace the chaos, celebrate the small wins, and keep going. Because at the end of the day, the journey is just as important as the destination.