Dakar Lives: Using Instagram to show off the 'real' Senegal

By Sophie Eastaugh, CNN

Updated 0915 GMT (1715 HKT) October 31, 2016

From left to right, Dakar Lives founders Olivia Codou Ndiaye, Mamadou Wane aka "Papi", Mamy Tall and Marouane Gasnier. The start up uses Instagram and an online lifestyle platform to promote Senegalese culture and tourism.
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Dakar Lives – From left to right, Dakar Lives founders Olivia Codou Ndiaye, Mamadou Wane aka "Papi", Mamy Tall and Marouane Gasnier. The start up uses Instagram and an online lifestyle platform to promote Senegalese culture and tourism.
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It started with an Instagram feed that curates great photography of Senegal, such as this shot of breakers in front of Dakar's obelisk by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/siaka.s.traore/?hl=en" target="_blank">@siaka.s.traore</a>.
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It started with an Instagram feed that curates great photography of Senegal, such as this shot of breakers in front of Dakar's obelisk by @siaka.s.traore.
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The website highlights what to do in Senegal, and features a searchable business directory that advertisers can be promoted on. "There are a lot of expats who write blogs on Senegal, but it's always the expats. It's not really the real Senegal," said co-founder Olivia Coudou Ndiaye. Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mamytall/?hl=en" target="_blank">@mamytall.</a>
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The website highlights what to do in Senegal, and features a searchable business directory that advertisers can be promoted on. "There are a lot of expats who write blogs on Senegal, but it's always the expats. It's not really the real Senegal," said co-founder Olivia Coudou Ndiaye. Photo by @mamytall.
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The group's Dakar Lives Hub also brings together young freelance creatives to support each others' talent and bring about commercial opportunities. Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soukena/?hl=en" target="_blank">@soukena</a>.
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The group's Dakar Lives Hub also brings together young freelance creatives to support each others' talent and bring about commercial opportunities. Photo by @soukena.
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The founders are passionate about harnessing digital media to grow the country's next generation of creative entrepreneurs. "The biggest countries in tech in Africa are mostly English speaking...Kenya, South Africa," said Codou Ndiaye. "We need to get up there so people can see potential and invest." Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soukena/?hl=en" target="_blank">@layepro</a>.
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The founders are passionate about harnessing digital media to grow the country's next generation of creative entrepreneurs. "The biggest countries in tech in Africa are mostly English speaking...Kenya, South Africa," said Codou Ndiaye. "We need to get up there so people can see potential and invest." Photo by @layepro.
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"Living in France, I had no information about Senegal," said co-founder Marouane Gasnier. "One hour from Dakar, you have magnificent beaches." Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soukena/?hl=en" target="_blank">@layepro</a>.
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"Living in France, I had no information about Senegal," said co-founder Marouane Gasnier. "One hour from Dakar, you have magnificent beaches." Photo by @layepro.
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The group hopes their photography helps to dispel misconceptions about Africa. "Unless you get to travel a lot, we don't really realize what's going on outside of our borders in every day life," said co-founder Papi. "Social networks have helped bridge that gap, incredibly."
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The group hopes their photography helps to dispel misconceptions about Africa. "Unless you get to travel a lot, we don't really realize what's going on outside of our borders in every day life," said co-founder Papi. "Social networks have helped bridge that gap, incredibly."
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The entrepreneurs have started a separate creative production agency, Kubicl, and are using their network to connect freelancers with opportunities. "We know people like what we do, because everybody wants to collaborate," said Papi. "There's a constant energy of finding how we can help each other out." Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/codsolivia/?hl=en" target="_blank">@codsolivia</a>.
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The entrepreneurs have started a separate creative production agency, Kubicl, and are using their network to connect freelancers with opportunities. "We know people like what we do, because everybody wants to collaborate," said Papi. "There's a constant energy of finding how we can help each other out." Photo by @codsolivia.
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With already 50,000 Instagram followers for the Dakar page, they've launched a similar<a href="https://www.instagram.com/moroccolives/?hl=en" target="_blank"> feed for Morocco</a> and are considering Abidjan and Bamako. Photo by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/codsolivia/?hl=en" target="_blank">@codsolivia</a>.
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With already 50,000 Instagram followers for the Dakar page, they've launched a similar feed for Morocco and are considering Abidjan and Bamako. Photo by @codsolivia.
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