Is Burundi's ultimate goal to be famous?

Ketty N.

Ketty Nivyabandi's reply to Thierry Uwamahoro's blog post:

 "Thanks for this post Thierry, very well written! Please share more...
I wrote the piece 'How to write about Burundi' and just wanted to clarify something.
The fact that Burundi is not known is not what really bothers me (actually the idea of paying colossal amounts to branding firms does a little, I do recognize the need and impact, but frenetically sweeping one's front yard is not necessarily great governance). What bothered me in Obbo's article, and in your post too, is the suggestion that journalists can no longer do their jobs. Whether a citizen of Kisumu or Aurora cannot spell our president's name correctly is not a catastrophy to me. Can I spell the name of Seychelles's president? The idea however that a EAC journalist cannot investigate and report on my country the same way he does for the 4 member states unless we have invest in an elaborate international branding strategy does bother me, quite a bit.

In other words if journalist need marketers to do their jobs, then we are in trouble. It may be the cold reality, but it is is trouble. As for Burundi's fame... Well, realistically speaking, i don't think ordinary citizens can compete with cut-throat marketing firms like the ones you mention. That does not mean we shouldn't promote Burundi, but you just can't expect the same effect. Secondly, is Burundi's ultimate goal to be famous? Something in me begs to differ; I think we ought to seek for more than the ‘bling’. Besides, all that shines is not gold.

You ask if sentiment and fury inspired by Mr. Obbo's 'wake up call' will last. Maybe, maybe not. Those who are truly committed to their country will continue to do what they do on a daily basis to build it, from inside out (not the other way round). The rest will probably forget after a while. And the world will go on. And maybe one day -probably far away- the world will come to hear of this little country not because of its marketing retainer fee, but because of what it has actually accomplished. Until that happens i will still to find it hard to digest seeing the regional media failure covered up in tacky jokes on my little country's back..."
Ketty N.