RECAP: Better understand and reach the African Diaspora traveller

David Elikwu
Founder: Democratic Republic of Coffee & Baba’s Flight Club

David is an entrepreneur and brand-builder with a background spanning corporate law, consulting and marketing. He is the founder of the Democratic Republic of Coffee, a business working with African farmers and creatives to bring direct-trade African coffee to the diaspora and beyond. He is also the founder of Baba’s Flight Club, a UK based travel collective organising yearly group trips to destinations across the globe.

Paula Franklin
Co-founder: FranklinBailey

Paula is a globally minded communications strategist with a true understanding of conservation and sustainability. For two decades she has been at the nexus of the conversations in the travel, philanthropy, culture and lifestyle spaces, giving her a unique view on shaping a modern communications strategy. A natural storyteller, she has the ability to impart brand messaging to global audiences in an inclusive way with a feel-good slant. Specializing in public relations strategy, content development, media and client relations, brand partnerships, special events and business development, Paula has guided some of the most influential brands in hospitality. In her work with tourism boards, major hospitality chains, boutique properties and foundations she has excelled in creating truthful, engaging stories and parlaying these into impactful media coverage. 

Lorna K. Johnson
Principal: Global Linkages, Inc.

Lona K. Johnson is the Principal of Global Linkages, Inc., a management consulting firm, representing a multitude of organizations including a cross-section of nonprofits, educational institutions, faith-based, businesses, and municipalities. Global Linkages builds international partnerships providing, strategic planning, organizational development, governance, fund development, volunteer development, grantsmanship, and program management.  It has a particular focus on those organizations whose work includes international and global interest with a special focus on the African continent. With a passion for Africa, she has served organizations, in creating viable partnerships with the continent.  Most recently, she has used her experience in Africa to assist and create awareness on the needs of African immigrants in the United States. 

Global Linkages has made a footprint in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: alleviation of poverty; gender issues; youth; sustainable tourism; health; housing; HIV/AIDS; and the arts. 

Mimi Mmabatho Selemela
Curator & Director: MM CONNECT

Mimi Mmabatho Selemela is a consultant, curator and director at MM CONNECT, an advisory firm that shapes strategic engagement by creating platforms for businesses and brands to connect, grow and thrive in key African markets.  Mimi has spent the last 15 years building a career which began in hospitality then moved on to public relations and project management. She has worked in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Nigeria in the communications and tourism industries. She has project managed and curated visits to South Africa by foreign captains of industry.

A ‘digital’ native, and early adopter, she is fluent in today’s most important digital conversations and she brings to every project the excitement of the new age of social media and digital lifestyles. Her roster of past clients include Foundation for Youth Development Nigeria, The Brighton Museum, Google Africa and the Venice Biennale to name a few.

Her recent previous roles include designer liaison for Fashion Cities Africa exhibition at the Brighton Pavilion Museum in the UK. Editor of Young Business Leaders Magazine, a publication aimed at informing, educating and inspiring young entrepreneurs.

She designed and curated the Johannesburg Experience for Travel Noire, an award winning boutique travel company based in the US. Founder of Cool-Africa institute, an arts advisory organization which is leading the movement to break art out of its ivory tower by exploring and partnering with organizations in other sectors. Cool-Africa offers curated art tours, in selected cities on the African continent. This unique experience includes gallery and private collection and studio visits with renowned artists and curators. 

Ernest White II
Producer & Host:
FLY BROTHER with Ernest White II

Ernest White IIis a storyteller, explorer, producer, and host of television travel docu-series FLY BROTHER with Ernest White II,currently airing in the United States on Public Television Stations and Create TV nationwide. Ernest’s writing includes fiction, literary essay, and travel narrative, having been featured in Time Out London, USA Today, Getaway, Ebony, Skylife, The Manifest-Station, Sinking City, Lakeview Journal, Matador Network, National Geographic Traveler’s Brazil and Bradt’s Tajikistan guidebooks, and at TravelChannel.com. He is also senior editor at Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel, former assistant editor at Time Out São Paulo, and founding editor of digital men’s magazine Abernathy. 

Appearing on the Travel Channel television series Destination Showdown and Jamaica: Bared, as well as in the 2013 documentary film about the dangers of mass tourism, Gringo Trails, Ernest also works as an actor and voice over artist for radio, film, and television, and speaks to youth and adult audiences about the incomparable magic of travel. A Florida native, Ernest’s obsessions include South Africa, São Paulo, and Rita Hayworth.

Naledi K. Khabo
CEO, Africa Tourism Association

Naledi K. Khabo is a corporate strategy leader with over 25 years’ experience within Operations, Marketing & Technology. Having developed and implemented countless of global innovative multimedia brand initiatives, she possesses a rare combination of exceptional business and technology acumen and the ability to translate complex technical concepts for practical business applications. 

Naledi currently serves as Chief Executive at the Africa Tourism Association (ATA), a global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. ATA serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry.  Naledi is passionate about the intersection of marketing and emerging technologies, and is excited about this intersection and great opportunities within the tourism sector. Her diverse background lends a fresh perspective to ATA’s approach to promoting tourism to and within Africa.

During her tenure at ATA, Naledi has led the organization through significant operational changes including a complete re-branding of the organization and launching several new digital platforms to serve the hospitality and tourism industry, including ‘thexchange.africa’ which was recently launched in response to the impact of the coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic on the hospitality, tourism, and meetings industry.