2022
PRISA
Lifetime Achievement Award
Thebe Ikalafeng — Global African branding authority
A brand-led African renaissance.
A Hall of Fame global African branding authority, and THE leading advocate for a brand-led African renaissance — reframing the African narrative for over 30 years.
The recordHighlights
Appointed Chancellor of Sol Plaatje UniversityBrand Africa 100 — Africa’s Best Brands, published annually on Africa DayGQ Men of the Year “Industry Icon”, 2023Special Recognition for contributions to branding and Africa — 7th EMY Africa, GhanaEvery country in Africa — all 60Honorary Doctorates from the University of Johannesburg and UNISA
The record, in numbers.
- Years in branding
- 30+Years in brandingSustained contribution since 1992
- African countries
- 60African countriesEvery AU and disputed country
- Continents
- 7ContinentsNorth Pole to South Pole
- Countries travelled
- 120Countries travelledAcross the globe
- Honorary doctorates
- 2Honorary doctoratesUniversity of Johannesburg, UNISA
- Countries researched
- 28Countries researchedBrand Africa 100 fieldwork
Africa is not a risk to be managed. It is a brand to be built.
He has spent over thirty years making that case — and building the evidence for it.
- Founded
- Brand Leadership Group and Brand Africa
- Pioneered
- Brand Africa 100, the barometer of brands in Africa
- Since
- 1992, on graduating from Marquette University
Four bodies of work, one argument.
Brand Leadership Group
Branding advisory at the intersection of strategy, creativity and IP law.
Keynotes and lectures
Intel, the UNWTO, ICCA, Icograda, EY, DHL, Brand Finance and TEDx.
Brand Africa 100
Fieldwork across 28 countries — over 80% of Africa’s GDP and population.
Every country in Africa
All 60. Seven continents, 120 countries, Cape to Cairo, both poles.
Brand Africa
The pan-African movement for a brand-led African agenda. He founded it.
With it came Brand Africa 100 — the definitive annual barometer of brands on the continent, announced every year on Africa Day.
Visit brand.africaBrand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands
- Established
- 2011Established
- Countries surveyed
- 28Countries surveyed
- Of Africa’s GDP
- 80%Of Africa’s GDP
- Published on Africa Day
- 25 MayPublished on Africa Day
Research with Kantar and GeoPoll, published by African Business Magazine since 2013.
He has stood in every country in Africa.
All 60. Cape to Cairo, and both poles.
The authority on African brands was earned on the ground. Select any country to see where he has been.
Beyond the continent
- North Pole · Greenland
- South Pole · Antarctica
- North America · United States
- South America · Brazil
- Europe · Spain and the United Kingdom
- Asia · China
- Australia · Oceania
60 African countries. 7 continents.
Hover a country, or select a marker to read the story behind it.
In conversation.
He co-hosts Marketing.Media.Money on CNBC Africa with Gordon Müller — a standing conversation with the people shaping marketing, media and advertising on the continent.
Episode 1 · CNBC Africa
Media transparency in the advertising industry
The opening episode of the series examines transparency in the media and advertising supply chain.
Episode 5 · CNBC Africa
Attracting, training and retaining talent
A panel on the industry’s talent pipeline — awareness of careers in advertising, education and retention.
Honoured across the continent and beyond.
Selected accolades
2022
MIPAD
100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent
2021
Financial Mail AdFocus
Lifetime Achievement Award
2015
New African
100 Most Influential Africans
2015
MIPAD
100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent
2013
New African
100 Most Influential Africans
Appointed Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University
Sol Plaatje University appointed Thebe Ikalafeng as its Chancellor, the ceremonial head of the university.
2023
Industry Icon
Honoured as an “Industry Icon” at the GQ Men of the Year awards.
GQ Men of the Year
2023
Special Recognition for extraordinary contributions to branding and Africa
Received a Special Recognition award for extraordinary contributions to branding and Africa at the 7th EMY Africa in Ghana.
7th EMY AfricaGhana
2022
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement award for contributions to marketing, branding and communications.
Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa
2021
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement award for contributions to marketing, branding and communications.
Financial Mail AdFocus
—
Honorary Doctorate (PhD, Honoris Causa)
Conferred for exceptional contributions to the industry, branding and Africa.
University of Johannesburg
—
Honorary Doctorate (PhD, Honoris Causa)
Conferred for exceptional contributions to the industry, branding and Africa.
University of South Africa
1992
American Marketing Association award for marketing excellence
Awarded for marketing excellence upon graduation in 1992 in the United States.
Marquette UniversityUnited States
Invite him to your stage.
Keynotes and lectures on brand Africa, reputation and the African agenda — delivered from Davos to Kigali.