Henshaw Jacobson on the Importance of Telling Our Stories Ahead of QliqMedia’s StartupSouth Event
Henshaw Jacobson, founder of QliqMedia and Naira Diary, recently emphasized the significance of telling our own stories—whether as individuals, businesses, or as a nation. In a recent post on Facebook and Instagram, Henshaw explained that when we fail to tell our stories and shape our narratives, we allow others—who may not truly understand us—to misrepresent and distort our identity.
Drawing on the story of Mungo Park and the River Niger, Henshaw highlighted how our ancestors allowed outsiders to take credit for "discovering" a river that had been a source of life for generations.
In his post, he wrote:
"TELL YOUR STORY & BE IN CHARGE"
"It’s about time we start telling our own stories and documenting our history and processes to influence and preserve our culture, even as we build brands for impact and profit. Westernizing everything only makes us lose our identity. Allowing people unfamiliar with who we are to tell our stories, instead of doing it ourselves intentionally, will only cause more confusion.
We’ll continue to have distorted narratives, like the claim that Mungo Park ‘discovered’ the River Niger—a river our ancestors had been fishing in and drinking from long before colonial masters and missionaries arrived in Nigeria. That story might sound absurd, and we may continue to blame our ancestors for allowing such an insulting narrative to be published and taught in schools. But the next generation will blame us in the same way if we don’t wake up and take control of the narrative.
Even as a personal brand or business, you need to tell your story, either directly or indirectly through an agency. Leaving it to others might cause confusion and damage your brand."
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Henshaw’s insights come ahead of QliqMedia’s panel session at StartupSouth 2024 on October 4, where the topic will be: “Digital PR and Storytelling: Building Brands and Influencing Culture in the Digital Age.”
The panel will feature leading experts in PR, digital marketing, and brand storytelling, including:
- Abiye, Founder of Rivers Brides
- Fortune Wobidi, Media Evangelist
- Faith Orluchukwu, Content Creator and Storyteller
- Comrade Phils, Communications Specialist and Digital Journalist
- Henshaw Jacobson, Founder of QliqMedia and Naira Diary
This session is ideal for entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone looking to leverage digital PR and storytelling to shape their brand’s identity and influence culture in today’s digital world.
Register today to secure your spot!
For more information, send a WhatsApp only 08070950313
