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Thebe Ikalafeng is a Hall of Fame global African authority in branding and THE leading advocate for a brand-led African renaissance. Described by New African Magazine as the “the foremost branding and reputation authority in Africa” in recognising him as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Africans’; named one of the‘100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent’ by MIPAD on the occasion of the United Nations ‘International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development,’ and one of the ‘100 Most Reputable Africans’ “who continually improve lives in Africa and around the world” by Reputation Poll International, he has had a profound, sustained and distinguished contribution to branding in Africa and in shaping a positive narrative for the continent in a career that spans over 30 years building brands across Africa working in over25 countries in Africa. He is the founder of the seminal ‘Brand Africa100: Africa’s Best Brands’ initiative widely referenced as the definitive barometer of African brands. 

He has been to every country in Africa and every continent in the world from Cape to Cairo, and Greenland in the North Pole to Antarctica in the South Pole; trekked the rare silver back gorillas on the Virunga mountains in Rwanda and Uganda; rode the 52 hour historic TAZARA train that links Tanzania and Botswana; trekked the 116km King Moshoeshoe I walk in Lesotho; summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Sinai and jumped the 216m high Bloukrans Bridge bungee, among his many breath-taking travels and adventures globally.  Ikalafeng holds BSc. MBA and LLM (Intellectual Property Law) degrees and is a Chartered Marketer (SA).  He has been recognized with Lifetime Achievement awards by Financial Mail AdFocus and the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa.  A consummate contemporary pan-African, “Thebe is Africa” as Tedx Ghana put it


Ikalafeng’s signature topics reflect his passion for thought leadership in Africa and building brands and reputations of places, people, products or institutions:

  • Africa Inside: Building Great Brands and Businesses in Africa
  • Africa, the Good News: Peace, Prosperity and Unity.
  • Brand You: For Inspired Performance [Personal Branding]
  • Brand, the Beloved Country [Nation Branding]
  • Customer Experience: The New Competitive Differentiator [Branded Customer Service]
  • Made In Africa – Inspiration for Design, Brands and Culture
  • Celebrity Branding: Lights, Camera, Action [Celebrity Branding]
  • Intellectual Property for African Competitiveness and Wealth Creation.

Ikalafeng’s signature topics reflect his passion for thought leadership in Africa and building brands and reputations of places, people, products or institutions:

  • Africa Inside: Building Great Brands and Businesses in Africa
  • Africa, the Good News: Peace, Prosperity and Unity.
  • Brand You: For Inspired Performance [Personal Branding]
  • Brand, the Beloved Country [Nation Branding]
  • Customer Experience: The New Competitive Differentiator [Branded Customer Service]
  • Made In Africa – Inspiration for Design, Brands and Culture
  • Celebrity Branding: Lights, Camera, Action [Celebrity Branding]
  • Intellectual Property for African Competitiveness and Wealth Creation

New African Magazine - One of the 100 Most Influential AfricansFinancial Mail Ad Focus Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021. Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022. 100 Most Influential African, New African Magazine 2013, 2015 100 Most Reputable Africans, Reputation Poll, 2023
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