In October 2008, Too Shy to Stop met with the three faces of Africa in Demand (AID), a televised and streaming Internet show that promotes a positive image of Africa through advocacy, entertainment, and education.

Bisi Fagbohun, AID founder, CEO, and co-host, says “We’re still a baby, but everything that’s happened has been positive. We’ve learned a lot about the business. Everything is a growth experience, and we’ve been growing well.”

Developments include a new staff and a redesigned website to be launched within the next few months.

Mavis Kubi is still a host and now serves as COO and VP of Business Administration, but former host NuNu Wako is no longer a part of the team. Fagbohun and Kubi have hired a production manager, a production assistant, and a marketing director who work part-time when they have scheduled shows. AID also has two writers: a political columnist and a fashion columnist.

“We are always looking for sponsors and investors,” says Fagbohun. “One misconception was that other people were taking on our financial burdens. Mavis and I take care of the finances. Chichi Arungwa is VP of Business Operations.”

While both Fagbohun and Kubi spend a lot of time at their computers, they do work other jobs to support themselves and pay the AID bills. Says Fagbohun, “We are a team. As long as I’m doing my part, I’m not letting my company down. Prioritizing and multi-tasking are my sane ways of working. When I start to nod off at the computer, then my work is done for the night.”

Fagbohun owns Beautiful Creations Entertainment and Talent Group, an event-planning company. She also works part-time as a certified personal trainer.

“It’s all about balance. I do something for all my companies every day. I make a to-do list and either add or remove things.”

Kubi works as a certified personal trainer and sports rehab specialist. “Fitness has always been my life. Sports rehab therapy gives me time and space. I have a strategy for dividing my time.”

All their work and effort will be obvious when they reveal their new look. One of the most exciting things that viewers can look forward to is the new AID set, which is located in Silver Spring, MD. Says Fagbohun, “I had a dream about the set. We built in from beginning to end, and it’s unique to us. I painted the table myself.”

“Bisi went into furniture stores, took pictures with her cell phone, and forwarded them to me. The set gives us an identity and brands us,” says Kubi. “What we always talked about was a look that’s intellectual, a professional approach to what we’re trying to do. If you’re not professional, you might move from A to B, but not to Z.”

Early last year, Fagbohun had the initial idea for Africa in Demand. Says Kubi, who shares an apartment with Fagbohun, “She came to my room very excited. Talk show. Four hosts. Africa on Demand. The name was already taken.”

“We thought about other names, and Africa in Demand seemed like the next best thing,” says Fagbohun. “I thought, great, let’s register the name right away. We are in demand.”

In June 2008, former host Wako created the Africa in Demand Facebook group, which now boasts nearly 1,800 members. The women spread the word about Fagbohun’s idea for an everything-Africa show by wearing Africa in Demand t-shirts and networking at social events in the Washington, DC area.

Though born and educated in the United States, Fagbohun lived in Nigeria for seven years. Kubi was raised in the United Kingdom and educated in the United States, but she was born in Ghana. The two young women look to their African heritage for motivation.

In addition, their fans support and inspire them. They have found great success through social networking tools like Facebook, where they build their network. Their Facebook group attracts many comments from interested viewers, and they use the popular social networking website to send thousands of messages at once.

“I’m not going to be a Twitterer. I love Facebook, and I think it’s been excellent for us. We’ve built a lot of relationships, and a comment like ‘keep it up’ helps a lot. We have over 4,000 people watching and following.”

The new website will be more interactive, and the show itself will include a viewer’s corner for audience feedback. Says Kubi, “People make requests all the time, and with the new website they can tell us what they want. When we launch our new website, our audience will know why we’ve been gone for so long.”