Communication as a gateway for Afro-descendant brands
From associations to entrepreneurship
French-Senegalese Fatou Tayinah Sall has always had a keen interest in communications. Far from being a late career choice, her passion has manifested itself since secondary school through her involvement with associations, particularly in the fields of education and culture.
This activist streak was quickly professionalized through internships and graduate studies in communications. However, the switch to entrepreneurship came from an observation: the lack of visibility of Afro-descendant and African talent on the French media scene.
It was from this need that a strong commitment was born to highlight the leaders and brands that are building the future, by offering them the professionalism and platform they deserve.
People Myth & Brand Myth
Fatou Tayinah Sall has structured her business around two entities to meet a global need:
- Myth People, the “Personal Branding” of leaders
Focused on the individual, this branch works on the leader’s personal brand. For Fatou Tayinah Sall, the development of a company is inseparable from the personal development of its founder. The aim is to help entrepreneurs overcome blockages and assert a presence that will naturally carry their brand.
A sensitive point: Fatou underlines the difficulty, especially for women from the African diaspora, of putting themselves forward, often for fear of the outside eye. She insists on the importance of an authentic personal strategy for rapid business development.
- Mythe Brand, the strategic partner for brands
Mythe Brand focuses on supporting brands, mostly Afro-descendant and African (fashion, cosmetics, food, etc.).
Its missions are global:
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- Image Strategy: Definition of brand identity, values and positioning.
- Digital Marketing: Management of social networks (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook), creation of high-quality visual content, newsletters and website management.
- International Business Development: Organization of pop-ups, concept stores, networking and creation of business opportunities.
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The agency’s uniqueness lies in its unique positioning, which is to give priority to brands from the diaspora and the continent that lack visibility opportunities.
Codes for the international scene
What are the keys for an African brand wishing to break through on the international scene? Fatou Tayinah Sall insists on three fundamental pillars:
Artistic consistency
To be able to dialogue with the international media (like Debonair Afrique and others), the bare minimum is to have impeccable media:
- High-definition (HD) photos and videos.
- A coherent artistic style.
- A professional press book or lookbook.
Storytelling and authenticity
Every brand, whether in fashion, cosmetics or food, needs to have a story. Today’s consumers don’t just want to buy a product, they want to understand its raison d’être, its social impact and the story of its creator.
Visibility and credibility
Gaining credibility requires concrete, visible action: having your creations worn by artists or influencers, or having your products tested. For Fatou Sall, a brand without customer feedback or experience doesn’t have the credibility to reach the media or buyers.
An international agency
With offices in Paris and Dakar, Meet People and Meet Brand work as a global intermediary, able to manage the logistical and administrative complexities between the two continents.
In particular, the agency played a key role in facilitating the presence of Senegalese brands at major events in Paris:
- Pop-up Africa at Galeries Lafayette.
- The Made in Senegal Pavilion at the Natural Hair Academy.
For these projects, the agency has mobilized institutional (such as the Agence de Développement de l’Artisanat du Sénégal, ADPS) and private partners, to offer subsidies and logistical facilities to the brands.
Fatou Tayinah Sall’s guiding principle remains unchanged: to support, train and connect talent so that it can shine, and make African cultural and creative industries real drivers of global economic development.
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