African Expo Set for Launch in Southeast

Charlotte, North Carolina – May 18, 2010: A new concept in consumer sports expositions will be launched in Charlotte, North Carolina January 20-22, 2011 at the newly remodeled Blake Hotel in the heart of the city’s financial and cultural district. The African Sporting Exposition (ASE) is an immersion into the wonders of Africa featuring a "who's-who" collection of the finest photo, hunting and fishing safari outfitters direct from the African continent as well as purveyors of exclusive sporting equipment, optics, African wildlife art, clothing and everything for the African aficionado.

The inaugural African Sporting Exposition is produced and presented by Cody, Wyoming based Inyathi Productions, an event and show management company with nearly three decades of combined experience hosting and producing some of the most respected and successful sporting expositions and events in North America. The Inyathi Productions management team of Kelli Thornton and lead consultant, Gray N. Thornton, the former Executive Director of Dallas Safari Club and presently the President & CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation, is synonymous with Africa with more than twenty years experience working with and promoting the finest outfitters and associations on the African continent. Inyathi Productions President Kelli Thornton stated, “This is not your typical "big box" outdoor expo but rather an intimate one-on-one opportunity to meet with the best in the business and experience the essence of Africa with her finest. Whether you are dreaming of your first African adventure, or are a dark continent regular, the African Sporting Exposition is for you!” “Our mission is to bring Africa’s best to the southeast with our one-of-a-kind expo.” Thornton added.

The Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening open to the public event is the first of its kind in the southeast and offers an intimate private show format so attendees can meet Africa's premier and most respected outfitters face to face, ask questions and learn in a comfortable, exclusive atmosphere, and plan their dream safari. ASE exhibitors are the finest hunting, fishing and photo safari operators in Africa and all must be members in good standing of their respective country’s professional safari operator associations. The African Sporting Exposition will feature only the best safari operators from Cameroun to South Africa and from Tanzania to Zimbabwe.

In addition to safari operators and unique sporting equipment, the African Sporting Exposition will showcase premier wildlife artists from North America, Europe and Africa displaying the very best African wildlife art and will include a “Meet the Artist” cocktail reception Friday evening for exhibitors and reception registrants.

Inyathi Productions is dedicated to wildlife conservation and has pledged a minimum of 2% of the event gross revenues to African conservation initiatives.

The ASE host city, Charlotte, is the second largest banking and financial center in the USA - second only to New York City's Wall Street. Charlotte is also the center of NASCAR,™ one of the fastest emerging markets for sporting, hunting and angling sales. Charlotte is home to the NASCAR™ Hall of Fame Museum which opened its doors May 11, 2010 and is expected to contribute $60 million annually to the city. North Carolina ranks in the top 10 in the USA for the number of paid hunting license holders, with more than 427,000 hunting licenses sold annually and hunting related revenue of more than $10 million. More than 350,000 members reside in a 300 mile radius of Charlotte which hosted the largest to date NRA Annual meeting with more than 70,000 participants. Surrounding states of Tennessee and South Carolina add an additional 1.37 million hunters and anglers to the region and more than a $1.5 billion in hunting and angling related sales annually.
The African Sporting Exposition show hours are: Thursday: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Meet the Artist Cocktail Reception: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm and Saturday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Daily admission is only $25 with multi-day passes available.

For more information on the inaugural January 20-22, 2011 African Sporting Exposition, an exhibitor listing, admission pricing and registration or to become an exhibitor or sponsor, visit www.inyathiproductions.com or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Inyathi Productions
PO Box 2501, Cody, WY 82414 USA
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.inyathiproductions.com
Phone/Fax: +307-586-1808