Naijapals vs Blueworld - Who Really is Facebook of Africa?
Have you ever been to naijapals.com?
What about Blueworld.co.za?
[Update: Photos have been updated]
If you’re a social networking freak, I bet you should know these sites. Since I’m one, I decided to take a peek at the social networking scene in Africa.
What did I find?
Hundreds of social networks from Africa offering interesting features and products. However, these two sites got my attention - Nigeria’s Naijapals and South Africa’s Blueworld - so much that it got me wondering which one of them is Africa’s Facebook. My curiousity led me to contacting the guys behind these sites and I’m going to share with you the information they shared my way.
But first, what are they?
Naijapals.com is Nigeria’s leading social networking site with a cool green interface that reflects Nigeria’s national colours of green/white/green. I personally describe the site as Nigeria’s Hi5.
Blueworld.co.za is South Africa’s leading and most vibrant online social community with a nice blue interface that relaxes your mood whenever you visit the site. The site has already been described as SA’s own Facebook by the TimesTechno, as seen in the photo below.
Unique Features
Naijapals provides interesting unique features such as Interactive fight (debate) park, Browser companion, Free Classified advertising (blackboard), Confessions (rantings of our daily life), African gift shop (login required), Nudges (kiss, hug, brick e.t.c), Nigerian Movies, Intelligent ‘updates’ report (Naijapals desktop) (Login required), Pals finder. (Login required), Share (+) tool. All Naijapals pages.
Blueworld has exciting features such as profile engine, blogging platform, video sharing platform, photo sharing and tagging platform, classifieds, microblogging, chatrooms, user groups, upcoming events platform with RSVP technology, music social network - band profiles, content voting (up.down) on all user generated content, profile customizing - users can choose between 7 themes to change the look and feel of their profile and have the ability to customize their profile header by uploading and cropping (tool provided) any image. See Example
Recently, Blueworld launched a Facebook application called “HOT SPOTS“, which allows you to place a featured nightclub on your Facebook profile. You can also check out who else is attending your favourite hot spots so you can meet up and party! Each nightclub also has their own profile of which you can become a fan, rate and comment on their wall.
Other interesting links include:
http://www.blueworld.co.za/bands
http://www.blueworld.co.za/html/usersite.aspx
http://www.blueworld.co.za/groups/groupsite.aspx
http://www.blueworld.co.za/html/gallery_listing.aspx
http://www.blueworld.co.za/photos/albumsite.aspx
Blueworld also builds groups into super groups around specific topics or bands which is part of their revenue model. Such brands include:
- Seventeen Magazine
- Hockey club (non commercial)
- Springbok supports club
- Girls of the Playboy Mansion
Statistics
Naijapals has 150 000 members, of which 110 000 users come back at least once a month. The site had about 7 million page views; about 140 000 unique visitors and 420 000 visits in October 2008, according to their Google Anaytics.
On the other hand, Blueworld’s total registered base is about 125 000 members. Unique visitors (as at last October 2008) is 81 000, with total visitors of over 150 000 and page views of about 1.3 million, according to Google analytics screenshots (audited stats) sent my way.
Traffic
Naijapals gets the most traffic from Nigeria (with a small % from the US) and is ranked 39th out of the Alexa Top 100 sites by country. On the other hand, 95% of Blueworld’s traffic comes from South Africa, with a tiny % from the US and Kenya. Blueworld is not on Alexa’s Top 100 sites by country.
What’s More?
Blueworld is part of a social networking technology company called BWCOM (bwcom.co.za) which was acquired by 24.com and owns niche social networks Zoopedup.com and Gaypeers.com and also partnered with 24.com to build speakerbox.co.za
Blueworld has three founders, namely Charl Norman, (interviewed here), Bradley Voges and Brendt Brooks.
Naijapals is yet to be mentioned in the press and there has been no acquisition to date. Also the founders would not like to be mentioned. Hmm, I wonder why!
My take on these sites?
While it’s really hard to say which site has more competitive advantage, I’d like to say that both sites have a lot of significance in Africa’s social networking space. In fact, while other social utility sites in Africa offer interesting features, Blueworld and Naijapals offer the best online community for meeting people and having fun.
In my opinion, Blueworld could be described as the Facebook of Africa, particularly because the site has a whole bunch of vibrant groups (like Facebook does) and could also be seen as the Myspace of Africa since the site’s interface and design has the Myspace feel.
On the other hand, Naijapals could be described as the Hi5 of Africa, as the site has a way of bringing friends together to interact in a vibrant community.
Do you use any of these sites? What is your opinion about them?
See also:
Nice writeup
Please update your Blueworld scree shot pic
I think by it’s name “Naijapals” is a site that is focus more on Nigerian then all of Africa, so I believe Blueworld could be the facebook of Africa.
Yea, Id have to say blueworld is the facebook of Africa
Just a few observations..Blueworld for one runs on its own code base. I played around with a lot of social network/dating scripts in my former life and I pretty 100% sure that Naijapals is powered by PHPIzabi (An open source script).
I also recognize most of their add on features. So in my view, and not to start a flame war on what and who is African
, Naijapals is not an African creation in terms of code. Branding wise, they seem to have it going on and maybe they will go on to develop the own modules to port into the Izabi framework.
Other than that..Hurrah, for the African startup scene
Am a professional developer and i think leaving out sentiments from this, both sites are rockers, but i will go with Naijapals, because i think it rules when it comes to content. Its more like an orkut styled site [ gifts and so on]
On the other hand, blueworld is obviously south africanish, everything is about SA, and ofcourse i dont see myself fitting into it.
Design-wise i think Naijapals does it better, its design is crips and solid, with technology i think blueworld.
Its a tough one i would say.
Good luck to you all anyway
I wouldnt compare us as a Facebook of Africa
Facebook is a tool to manage your friends
Blueworld has similar tools but our community is open and we encourage users to interact and meet new people
I would say we have a bit of Myspace and Youtube flava as well mixed in with our own unique African style (:
Congrats to Naijapals - they have got great traction
@Charl - So let’s say Blueworld is a blend of Facebook, Myspace and Youtube, right? In terms of universality, Blueworld can hardly be the Facebook of Africa, as 95% of the traffic comes from SA. But as regards tools, Blueworld and Facebook are similar, as you noted.
P.S: I’ve updated screenshot, sorry about the oversight;-)
@Mezu and James - For design, I think Blueworld is best. For marketing and branding, Naijapals looks better. What are thoughts about audience reach?
@Richard and Tyran - Thanks for your comments:-)
lalallalallalalalallalalalallalalalalallalalallalalalalal
naija pal is the best
I don’t know where you got those blueworld numbers. 125 000 registered members? All you have do is log in and search their members page to see that they only have 23 000 members. That’s about 100 000 less than you’ve stated. I suggest you correct your article to make it more credible and correct this misconception.
@Greg - See my comment - “My curiosity led me to contacting the guys behind these sites and I’m going to share with you the information they shared my way”.
My guess is that the 125, 000 registered members might not actually be active members, so perhaps like you said, 23, 000 members are using the site actively. I don’t really know, Charl could explain better…
@Loy - Greg is a troll - here to cause trouble - hence why he didn’t link his user name
We have 125 000 users and adding thousands more every month
http://www.blueworld.co.za/profiles/profile.aspx?user=blueworld
Have a look at our mascots profile you can see there he has 50 000 + friends ..
Our search results obviously don’t pull out our full user base - it would be pointless showing 125k results .. there’s various algorithms in our search that decide what user profiles are pulled out
We are a MIH company and all our communication with the press is double checked for accuracy. You can inquire this..
@Charl - Yeah, you’re absolutely correct! I should have spammed his comment. It’s a shame he didn’t have the balls to use a link.
First of all i think am totally fed up of all you guys from “naija” and SA thinking you represent africa. Give me a break! Africa has many many more countries than your two countries! How the hell do you say something like the “facebook of Africa”? Which Africa? Nigeria Africa or south Africa??? My friend I come from East Africa and i have never ever heard of these two sites and yet am an internet buff! We have our very own popular social networks in our own countries that i bet you never knew about!
These two sites are very country specific that its not even funny. Naija pals is simply a Nigeria dating website. Period. Blue world is also a South African social network website at best. Period. Stop throwing the word “Africa” around. Have you seen any social networking sites from countries like Egypt? Believe me they are very many but i guess since they are not in “naija” or SA, they cant compete for the “Facebook of Africa” competition???
To be honest this whole social networking business is so beaten up and tired that am fed up of even seeing it already. I mean what can these sites offer that facebook is not already offering me? Am sure facebook has more Nigerians than even naijapals itself! Its just so hilarious dude!
i am not a troll. but blueworld knows the truth.
Nice write-up loy, Naijapals does not really aspire to be a facebook-like site, as there wont be need for a different facebook for Africa, since theres one global one that is already succesful.
Naijapals seeks to implement its solutions in ways it feels it best addresses real-life problems that would be usable by any African person, regardless of their level of techiness or even age (in order words not a complicated UI that can easily confuse people_.
Speaking about mezu’s comment, with all respect i will like to let you know that Naijapals dont currently run off phpizabi, and its not unusual to see people placing such claims - it was once used yes, but Naijapals is not used to disclosing such important information anyhow.
Loy keep up your work and stay blessed.
@Swakaba - Appreciate your comments…you have voiced serious concerns. However, we can look at this from different perspectives:
1. NP and BW are very popular in their respective countries as in FB in the U.S
2. BW has similar tools with FB. NP has good marketing and branding like FB.
Just so that you know, the article is not suggesting that NP or BW would win the “Facebook of Africa Competition”, but I think they could be nominated.
True, there are other emerging social networks in East Africa and North Africa. But, the goal of this article is to compare a leading Nigerian social network and that of a South African. Thus, the essence of using FB is to create a buzz and I think we did:-)
Having said that, if you know of any popular social network in East Africa or North Africa, please let us know.
@Naijapaller - Thanks for dropping by and for providing useful info and stats for the article. Njoy;-)
Loy, Thank u for your reply. I now understand what you were trying to say. In other words you were asking that “which website in Africa is closest to Facebook” right? Well if thats what you were asking then fair enough.
For any thing Pan African to work, it must have relevancy to any single person in any of all the different African countries if they were to log on. But i guess if you are using scripts like PHP izabi you cant customize your website to that level? So my point is, stop throwing the word Africa around in your topic titles until someone can really bring a pan African solution. In the meantime you can write a title like “Which is the best social networking site in Africa”.
Swakaba - It’s ok. I’ve noted your suggestion. Will keep that in mind:-)
Naijapals.com is a newoking website…though the name of the site originate from the great nation’s name NIGERIA..but that DOES not mean only Nigerian’s are there….
its true that 90% of Naijapals are Nigerian’s but we still have other Africans,Europeans,Asians and Americans there.
You guys don’t need to doubt it Naijapals is da bomb!!!!!
Visit ma profile at http://www.naijapals.com/osituga
im a user of naijapals.com..
its tagged Nigerians and friends..
it is the most interactive site Ive been in!( have accounts on facebook, myspace and tagged)
Ive made real good friends on this site..
members are not only from Nigeria or of Nigerian origin..
we have members from Zambia, Canada, Italy, united states, united kingdom, Australia and even India..
i think the site doesn’t just cater to Africans but everybody.
Niajapals rocks!lol and they are not trying to be the NEXT facebook of Africa. Their features are very cool, and one dont get bored easily. Neva heard of Blueworld but all the same naijapals are not only for Nigerians but for any country interested in making friends.
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