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[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern" z_index=""][vc_column][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/y2x9-swnEas"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Veli Ngubane, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Avatar Agency on transformation, passion and secret ingredients. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

12 March, 2021 /

Hope goes a long way The Avatar Agency Group is taking a bite of KFC after the group has been awarded the Add Hope account. The account will be serviced by Avatar Public Relations. Avatar will provide internal communications and through-the-line services for Add Hope, a movement that brings together staff, big business, ordinary citizens and civil society to address childhood hunger. Suhayl Limbada, Marketing Director at KFC South Africa, described the agency’s proposal as “innovative with a bold strategic direction.” “Add Hope continues to feed more than 150 000 children per day. In 2021, as KFC celebrates its 50th year in South Africa, we want to...

11 March, 2021 /

Although the incident that put the Black Lives Matter movement back in the headlines is one based in the U.S., the concept of racial inequality is something that is widely understood across the world, and especially in Africa. The colonial history of our nations can unfortunately still be felt and seen in everyday life, and even in some advertising. What movements like these remind all of us to do is to commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as part of the fabric of how our businesses and teams operate. We know that marketing has the power to both break or...

22 February, 2021 /

Two major events took place in the past 2 weeks. Here they are, in reverse order: 1. On Wednesday, the 3rd of February, Greyhound - the bus company that has been transporting people within South Africa, and cross border to and from neighbouring countries safely and reliably for the past 37 years - announced that it will be closing down on Valentine's Day - February the 14th. Announcement: Greyhound and Citiliner are closing operations. Services will run until 14 February 2021. Passengers with tickets booked for services after this date will be refunded. For assistance with refunds, contact Call Centre: 087 352...

07 February, 2021 /

The IAB South Africa is thrilled to announce the names of the newly-elected members of the Transformation Council. Under the leadership of the inimitable Veli Ngubane, founding partner and chief creative officer of the Avatar Agency Group, the IAB SA Transformation Council consists of 14 dynamic individuals who will work together with fellow industry bodies and partners to champion diversity and inclusivity in the industry with the aim of facilitating lasting change that empowers Black digital media and marketing professionals. Leading by example, this iteration of the council comprises over 50% female and almost 100% diversified members. Members will serve for two...

01 December, 2020 /

by Lufuno Makungo (@LMwonder) While I cringe at the title of this article, it’s a fair question. It’s like asking if there’s a viable market for Chinese advertising agencies in China. But the question is relevant here, given our political history and the current economic structure. The most-transformed sector in the county is the public sector, simply because we have the political power. Broad and interlinked, not narrow In talking transformation, we often narrow it down to only one thing — when the issues are broad and interlinked. In advertising, lack of transformation refers to the white-dominated industry but we fail to breakdown...

30 November, 2020 /

I was recently asked for an opinion on why black-owned agencies are so often excluded from lucrative requests for Proposals(RFPs). My response was fairly cryptic but the conversation made me realise that there will be some value in capturing some of these issues in an article to help buyers understand the specific issues that black-owned and operated agencies are typically challenged with. I would like to convey some of my own thoughts, as well as that of Lufuno Makungo. However, I do believe that this is a topic that should be explored in more depth, so I will keep on sharing updates as...

19 November, 2020 /

  It's season 2 of IG Talk with Veli Ngubane. This week, join Veli as he chats to Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank. Watch it here: https://bit.ly/32j64tI #UnitedInCreativity  ...

24 August, 2020 /

Even just thinking about this, it is tiring. I'm sure what you are about to read is just the tip of the iceberg, but here's a few list of things that explain why it is exhausting to be black in advertising: as a black creative, you essentially have two jobs. The first is doing the day-to-day job that you get paid for (as little and discouraging as it is), and the second job is managing your blackness. If you've ever worked two jobs at the same time, you know how taxing this is. Managing your blackness can mean that you...

24 August, 2020 /