The modern marketplace is louder than ever. Brands publish constantly, algorithms churn endlessly, and audiences are exposed to more messaging in a single day than previous generations encountered in a month. Yet despite this unprecedented volume, something essential is missing: emotional connection. The real challenge facing brands in 2026 is not visibility. It’s meaning. Consumers…
The total brand value of the world’s top 100 technology brands has surged to $3.7tn in 2026, up 15% from $3.2tn in 2025, driven largely by US-based giants, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Seven of the 10 most valuable brands in the Brand Finance Global 500…
New Energy Vehicle (NEV) newcomer iCAUR is preparing a massive entry into the South African market this May, launching with an immediate national footprint of 20 dealerships. A subsidiary of China’s Chery Group, iCAUR is positioning itself as a bold, lifestyle-oriented alternative to traditional electric vehicles. The brand aims to provide a comprehensive sales and…
Rohan Shah Interview with Rohan ShanFOUNDER, UMWERO TERROIR SPIRITS Lives in: Kigali, Rwanda Rohan Shah trained as a development economist at Harvard University, but his weekends were defined by a different pursuit: bartending. After obtaining his degree, he worked with small-scale farmers in Africa and India for a non-profit organisation. However, when Covid-19 struck, he…
In a landscape crowded with products, promises and polished marketing, one thing is clear: brands with purpose earn trust faster, last longer and grow deeper than those without it. Whether you are a business competing for market share or an NGO competing for attention and funding, brand purpose has become the new currency of credibility….
Elon Musk. Dado Ruvic/Reuters Elon Musk’s X sued a start-up on Tuesday after it sought to cancel X’s Twitter trademarks so it can “bring Twitter back” as a new social media platform. X said in the lawsuit in Delaware federal court that its Twitter brand is still “alive and well” and “not ripe for the…
Affiong Williams, CEO of Nigeria-based dried fruit snacks producer ReelFruit This article is an excerpt from our latest book ‘How we made it in Africa II: Real stories of entrepreneurs turning opportunity into profit‘ Affiong Williams, founder and CEO of Nigerian dried fruit and snacks company ReelFruit, has long viewed international markets as a major…
A fledgling social media platform has asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel trademarks for Twitter so it can take them for itself, contending that billionaire Elon Musk’s X Corp has abandoned them. The Virginia-based start-up, Operation Bluebird, said in its 2 December petition that it wants to be allowed to use “Twitter”…
When it comes to marketing and communications the single biggest mistake business owners make is focusing all their time and attention on driving tactics and campaigns, while giving little attention to their brand strategy. “Think of your brand strategy like a GPS for your business,” says Janine Lloyd, award-winning brand strategist, founder of LloydBrand, and…
South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Summit has delivered a powerful boost to the country’s global image, tourism appetite and national pride, with Brand South Africa and government saying the event has already shifted perceptions and strengthened confidence in the nation as a world-class destination. Brand South Africa CEO, Neville Matjie, said the global…
