A social networking website aiming to unite all Africans living abroad has been launched in Ireland.
AfroBingo.com – which went live recently – was developed by Mbuso Kulube, a Zimbabwean engineer and web designer now based in Dublin.
Kulube tells Metro Éireann how his idea for the website came about after his arrival in Ireland in 2001: “It took time for me to adjust to the new way of life in Ireland. The only way to meet people from home was by chance or through friends. I wanted people to meet and socialise, but didn’t know how.”
The popular networking site Facebook was the main inspiration for Kulube’s site, which allows anyone to join and set up a profile, browse other members’ profiles, add them as friends, send messages and share photos. “It is for use by anyone, not just Africans,” he adds.
Kulube also explains to Metro Éireann the origin of his site’s name: “Bingo is an African word that means ‘invitation to dance’. In Europe it has other meanings, but the most common is a game. So for a site meant for socialising it was a fitting name.”
According to its creator, AfroBingo has a range of advantages over the more popular social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace – in particular the interface, which is very basic and designed with an emphasis on “sharing, meeting and socialising with people.”
Kulube believes that networking is ever more important in these difficult economic times.
“In Ireland the economic situation is affecting everybody irrespective of nationality,” he says. “It is important that people are part of a network of friends, social and business contacts in a time of need.”
The Zimbabwean immigrant also has a strong desire to help his home country and his continent.
“Africans are very social and welcoming people and it is unfortunate that conflicts at home are driving us apart,” he says. “I feel that we could achieve so much if we got together and worked towards a common goal of uplifting our continent.”
