An engaging, insightful and charismatic African storyteller, Ikalafeng has spoken at consequential Africa-focused forums across Africa and the rest of the world, including Intel in the USA, Brand Finance Forum in the United Kingdom, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in China, Icograda Design Week in Spain, Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association in Dubai, DHL; the EY Strategic Growth Forum Africa in South Africa, UNWTO in Spain, Tel Aviv Cities Summit in Israel, and TedXGhana. His speeches, lectures and seminars reflect a fresh perspective, deep knowledge and thought leadership on the continent, and branding, tourism, intellectual property and leadership in Africa.
Whether you're hosting a major event or you just need a fresh perspective, Ikalafeng will inspire the audience with ideas that energize, excite and empower
To engage Ikalafeng for an inspired and insightful keynote address or consultation on branding and intellectual property in Africa, contact info@ikalafeng.com
Keynote Topics
Africa
• Re-imagining Africa – A brand-led African renaissance.
•
Made in Africa – A global inspiration for Design, Brands and Culture.
•
Africa, the Good News: Peace, Prosperity and Partnerships.
Travel
• I am Africa | Crossing Borders, Dodging Bullets and Connecting Africa.
Branding
• Building Brands in a Digital Age (in Africa and Beyond)
• Branded Customer Experience - The New Competitive Differentiator
• Public Sector Excellence – A brand-led approach to deliver and differentiate public goods and services
• Place Branding – A brand-led approach to drive investment, tourism and citizenship
Leadership
• Brand YOU – Aligning personal and professional brand for authentic leadership and inspired Performance
• Leadership Branding – How will you lead?
Selected Speaking Engagements and Lectures
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Date
Occassion
Format
Topic
Location
See More
2024
Honorary Doctorate, PhD (Honoris Causa), University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
2024
Honorary Doctorate, PhD (Honoris Causa), University of South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
2023
EMY Africa – Special Recognition Award for ‘exceptional contributions to marketing, branding and Africa.’
Accra, Ghana
2023
Most Reputable Africans, Reputation International
United Kingdom
2022
50 African Titans, Networking Group
UAE Africa
2022
PRISM Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa
South Africa
2022
Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
2021
Lifetime Achievement Award, Financial Mail
South Africa
2021
100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent – United Nations ‘International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.’
New York, United States of America
2021
Lifetime Achievement Award, Financial Mail AdFocus
Johannesburg, South Africa
2016
Honorary Member, Golden Key International Honour Society, University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
2015
Most Influential Africans, New African Magazine
United Kingdom
2013
Most Influential Africans, New African Magazine
United Kingdom
2009
Brand Leadership, Asia Brand Congress
Mumbai, India
2006
Mail & Guardian 100 Young South Africans
Johannesburg, South Africa
2001
Gold Medal, Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) Roll of Honour
South Africa
1993
Marquette University / American Marketing Association Award for Aptitude in Marketing
Milwaukee, United States of America
17 – 19 Feb 2023
City & Safari Business Leadership Retreat
Facilitator
How will you lead? Aligning your personal and professional brands for inspired performance.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
29 Sep 2022
Nedbank IMC Conference
Keynote
Africa | Relevant or Relegated?
Johannesburg, South Africa
4 Oct 2021
Brand Africa RoundTable – Lesotho
Keynote
Nation Branding
Maseru, Lesotho
25 May 2021
Nike EMEA Africa Day 2021
Keynote
I am Africa
Global, Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Francophone and Central Africa
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – North Africa and Morocco
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – West Africa and Nigeria
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Namibia
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Botswana
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Southern Africa and Lesotho
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
25 May 2021
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Global, East Africa and Uganda
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual
17 Feb 2021
Africa No Filter
Panelist
A Conversation About Who is Telling Africa’s Story
Virtual
10 Mar 2021
Proudly SA Buy Local Summit
Keynote
Buy Africa. Build Africa.
Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Mar 2021
TedxAccra 2021
Keynote
Not Yet Uhuru – Why Africa isn’t where it ought to be and what we need to do to get it there.
Accra, Virtual
27 Nov 2020
Microsoft Africa
Keynote
Building Great Brands in Africa
Johannesburg
19 Nov
2020
MAZ Super brands Awards
Keynote
Superbrands
Virtual
23 Sept 2020
Durban Business Fair
Keynote
Buy Africa. Build Africa.
Ethekwini, South Africa
3 Sep 2020
BCW Europe and Africa
Keynote
Africa, the Opportunity Continent.
Virtual, Africa
18 Aug
2020
PhotoWaka
Panel
World Photography
Day
Virtual
13 Aug
2020
Standard Bank – Panel Discussion
Facilitator
Virtual
5 Aug 2020
Marketing Association of South Africa
In Conversation with Thebe Ikalafeng
Presentation
Building Socially Responsible Brands
Virtual, South Africa
29 Jul 2020
Association of Media Agencies of South Africa (AMASA)
Keynote
Purpose-Driven Marketing
Virtual, South Africa
10 Jul 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Ivory Coast and Francophone Africa
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Ivory Coast and Francophone Africa
Virtual, Africa
26 Jun 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Uganda and East Africa
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Uganda and East Africa
Virtual, Africa
24 Jun 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Benin
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Benin
Virtual, Africa
18 Jun 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Nigeria and West Africa
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Nigeria and West Africa
Virtual, Africa
11 Jun 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Botswana
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Botswana
Virtual, Africa
29 May 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Namibia and Southern Africa
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Namibia and Southern Africa
Virtual, Africa
25 May 2020
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands
Keynote
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Virtual, Africa
18 Jan 2020
The Quantum WEG in collaboration with Edelweiss Marketing
Keynote
African Brands Revolt: The rise of African Brands Challenging Global Brands in Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
28 Oct 2019
Brand South Africa Nation Brand Forum
Keynote
Nation Branding
Sandton, South Africa
30 Sep 2019
Metropolitan Namibia Maestros Series
Keynote
Leadership Branding: How will you lead?
Windhoek, Namibia
13 Sep 2019
Chartered Institute of Marketing Malawi
Keynote
I am Africa
Lilongwe, Malawi
23 Aug 2019
Global Africa Forum on Communications
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Kigali, Rwanda
19 Aug 2019
Lagos Leather Fair
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Lagos, Nigeria
16 Aug 2019
Chartered Institute of Marketing in Malawi (CIM)
Keynote
I am Africa: Crossing Borders, Dodging Bullets and Connecting Africa
Lilongwe, Malawi
11 Jul 2019
Advertising and Communication Association’s Apex Next Level Thinking Masterclass
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
27 Jun 2019
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – Uganda
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Uganda
Kampala, Uganda
25 Jun 2019
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands – East Africa and Kenya
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021 – Uganda
Nairobi, Kenya
24 May 2019
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Johannesburg, South Africa
2 May 2019
Africa Travel Indaba
Keynote
I am Africa: Crossing Borders, Dodging Bullets and Connecting Africa
Ethekwini, South Africa
6 Aug 2019
Think Sales Summit
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Johannesburg, South Africa
25 Jul 2019
World Tourism Conference
Keynote
I am Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Mar 2019
Proudly SA Buy Local Summit
Keynote
African Brands Revolt
Sandton, South Africa
31 Jan 2019
Ministry of Tourism
Keynote
Nation Branding – Tourism, Investment and Citizenship
Asmara, Eritrea
19 Jan 2019
eSwatini Nation Branding
Prime Minister’s Roundtable
Keynote
Nation Branding
Mbabane, eSwatini
8 Dec 2018
Africa Summit
Keynote
Made in Africa
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
5 Dec 2018
Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN)
13th edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF)
Keynote
African
Brands Revolution: Why Global Brands Dominate Africa
Lagos, Nigeria
28 May 2018
International Advertising Association Africa
Leadership Conference – Africa Rising Reloaded
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Accra, Ghana
25 May 2018
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Presentation
Africa’s Best Brands 2021
Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Jan 2018
Unwto 9th Edition Investor
Panellist
Brand Africa: Fostering Tourism Development and Investment Opportunities
MADRID, SPAIN
23 Feb 2018
African Digital Summit 2018
Keynote
Brand Leadership in the Digital Age
Casablanca, Morocco
19 Oct 2017
Business of Design
Keynote
Creativity in an African Age
Johannesburg, South Africa
6 Oct 2017
Chartered Institute of Marketing Malawi
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Lilongwe, Malawi
28 Sep 2017
Hlanganani World Tourism Expo
Keynote
Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
15 Sep 2017
First national bank botswana Conference
Keynote
Leading in a Digital Age
Gaborone, Botswana
31 Aug 2017
41st Annual World Tourism Conference hosted by Africa Travel Association
Panellist
Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential
Kigali, Rwanda
8 Jun 2017
Afrobytes
Panellist
How innovation is changing the African narrative
Paris, France
10 Nov 2017
Zambia Institute of Marketing
Building Markets Beyond Borders
Livingstone, Zambia
16 Mar 2017
3rd IAB Digital Summit
Keynote
Made in Africa
Sandton, South Africa
2 Dec 2016
African Digital Summit 2016
Keynote
Digital Disruption in an African Age
Casablanca, Morocco
26 Sep 2016
Tel Aviv Cities Summit 2016
Keynote
Re-imagining Brand Africa – A new global opportunity and destination
Tel Aviv, Israel
23 Sep
2016
Africapreneurs Breakfast Seminar
Keynote
Using responsibility & sustainability to build strong brands: European vs African perspectives.
Stockholm, Sweden
4 Aug 2016
Team Namibia
Keynote
Inspiring a brand-led African renaissance
Windhoek, Namibia
20 Apr 2016
TMMO 2016 Branding Masterclass
Panel
Nation Branding
Gaborone, Botswana
22 Apr 2016
PR Over Coffee Conference
Keynote
Africa Inside: Building Business, Brands and Relationships in Africa
Kampala, Uganda
11 Mar 2016
New African Woman Forum
Facilitator
The rise of the African consumer: African brands and Opportunities in the fast-growing retail industry
London, UK
21 Feb 2016
Africa 2016 Investment Forum
Facilitator
Brands and the African Consumer Succeeding in the African Marketplace
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
5 Feb 2016
Brand Finance Global Forum
Keynote
Building Valuable African Brands
London, UK
12 Nov 2015
African Media Leaders Forum
Panellist
Media and Development: Shaping Conversations in Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
5 Nov 2015
City Nation Place Conference
Keynote
Africa, the Good News: Peace, Prosperity & Unity
London, UK
22 Oct 2015
Brand Africa GALA
Presentation
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands
Sandton, South Africa
17 Oct 2015
Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute
UNISA
Keynote
Owning the African Renaissance
Pretoria, South Africa
4 Nov 2015
The African Ministerial Conference
Panellist
IP for Competitiveness and Wealth Creation – Product and Services Branding
Dakkar, Senegal
21 Sep 2015
African Leadership Forum
Panellist
African leadership, sustainable growth and global influence.
New York, USA
17 Nov 2015
World Conference on Public Relations in Emerging Economies
Keynote
Branding Role of Emerging Economies
Nairobi, Kenya
17 Aug 2015
UNWTO Regional Seminar
Panellist
Challenges and Opportunities of Brand Africa and its impact on tourism
Accra, Ghana
6 Mar 2015
Total Africa Conference
Keynote
Africa – New Global Inspiration Design, Culture and Brands
Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Jan 2015
Social Media Africa Awards
Keynote
Perspectives on Social Media, Brands and the Quest for Relevance
Lagos, Nigeria
21 Nov 2014
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands Nairobi Securities Exchange
Presentation
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands
Nairobi, Kenya
18 Nov 2014
Retail Congress Africa
Keynote
Africa – New Global Inspiration Design, Culture and Brands
Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Nov 2014
Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) Annual Conference
Keynote
Africa – New Global Inspiration Design, Culture and Brands
Dubai, UAE
23 May 2014
New York FORUM Africa
Keynote
Made in Africa: Inspiration for transforming Africa’s competitiveness and prosperity
Libreville, Gabon
11 June 2014
Henley Africa Breakfast Talk
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Johannesburg, South Africa
20 May 2014
Africa Branding Masterclass
Facilitator
Building Global Brands in Africa
Lusaka, Zambia
10 Apr 2014
Buy Zimbabwe Summit
Keynote
Rebuilding Competitiveness in Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe
21 Dec 2013
The International H.O.P.E. Week
Keynote
Entrepreneurship – Catalyst for African Growth
Kigali, Rwanda
9 Dec 2013
Society for Incentive Travel Executive (SITE)
Keynote
Made in Africa
Orlando, USA
4 Nov 2013
ICCA Congress
Keynote
Made in Africa: Why the world should start paying attention to African brands and marketing
Shanghai, China
21 Sep 2013
Africa Leadership Forum
Keynote
Africa Goes Global
New York, USA
20 Sep 2013
African Business Awards
Presentation
Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands
New York,
USA
15 Nov 2013
Yale University – the New Discussion
Keynote
African Entrepreneurship
Virtual
23 Mar 2013
Music Exchange
Keynote
Celebrity Branding
Cape Town, South Africa
12 Sep 2012
Africa India Partnership Summit
Keynote
Building Global African Brands
Mauritius
24 Jul 2012
Intel
Keynote
Building Global Brands in Africa
Santa Clara, USA
23 Jul 2012
Destiny FORUM
Keynote
Africa – A global Inspiration Design, Culture and Brands
Sandton, South Africa
12 Jul 2012
The Ideas Expo Botswana
Keynote
Africa – A global Inspiration Design, Culture and Brands
Gaborone, Botswana
2 May 2012
SA Business Club
Keynote
Africa, the next Global Opportunity
London, UK
27 Apr 2012
BBC Africa Debate
Panellist
Is Africa’s Global Image Justified or Prejudiced?
Kampala, Uganda
13 Mar 2012
DHL Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention
Keynote
Leadership Branding
Sandton, South Africa
21 Nov 2011
Institute of People Management Convention
Keynote
Building a Leadership Brand
Windhoek, Namibia
11 Nov 2011
African Media Leaders Forum
Facilitator
What’s the future for traditional media?
Tunis, Tunisia
22 Oct 2011
Africa Jobs Are Calling
Keynote
Africa, the new global opportunity for building businesses, brands and careers.
Montreal, Canada
16 Jun 2011
Afri-Tech
Keynote
Building Great African Brands In The Digital Age
Nairobi, Kenya
28 June 2011
World Marketing Forum
Keynote
Building Great African Brands
Accra, Ghana
4 May 2011
Zimbabwe IT Forum
Keynote
Nationalizing Pride and Growing the Economy
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
1 Apr 2011
Ngoma Awards
Keynote
Africa: The New Global Inspiration for Design, Branding and Culture.
Harare, Zimbabwe
1 Dec 2010
Ghana Identity Summit
Panellist
Nation Branding for Developing Markets
Accra, Ghana
10 Nov 2010
Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ)
Marketers Convention
Keynote
Building Great African Brands & Equity: Inspiration and Lessons from leading African Brands
Nyanga, Zimbabwe
1 Sep 2010
Ghana Identity Summit
Keynote
Nation Branding for Developing Markets
Accra, Ghana
18 Aug 2010
Africa Brand Conference (ABC)
Keynote
Building Global African Brands
London, UK
21 Jun 2010
Icograda Design Week
Keynote
Africa: The New Global Inspiration for Design, Branding and Culture.
Madrid, Spain
7 Mar
2009
Essence Women’s Summit
Keynote
Brand You
Maputo, Mozambique
10 Jul 2008
Belbin Conference Cambridge University
Keynote
The Evolving Brand of African Leadership
Cambridge, UK
24 Nov 2008
Uganda Real Estate Awards
Keynote
Customer Service – The new Competitive Advantage
Kampala, Uganda
16 Nov 2007
Third Edition of Broad.cat
Keynote
Television in the age of the Consumer
Barcelona, Spain
24 Feb 2006
9th Design INDABA
Panellist
Brand, the Beloved Country
Cape Town, South Africa
23 Nov 2005
Top Brands Conference
Keynote
Evolving South African brands into pan-African brands
Johannesburg, South Africa
24 – 27 May 2005
Brand Sense Global Conference with Martin Lindstrom
Keynote
The Power of Senses in Building Brands: A South African Context
Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa
21 May 2002
Financial Mail Ad Focus Conference 2002
Presentation with Graham Warsop
Finding Our Voice. South African Creativity and its Relevance.
Sandton,South Africa
Guest Lectures
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Date
Occassion
Format
Topic
Location
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16 July 2024
Unisa – Personal Branding
Guest Lecture
Personal Branding
Johannesburg
20 Oct 2021
Gibs Business School
Lecture
How will you lead? Aligning your personal and professional brands for inspired performance.
Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Oct 2020
Gibs Business School
Lecture
I am Africa: Crossing Borders, Dodging Bullets, Connecting Africa.
Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Feb – 6 Mar 2020
MANCOSA University Lecture Roadshow
Keynote
Leadership Branding: How will you lead?
Polokwane, Pretoria, Sandton and Ethekwini, South Africa
11 Sep 2017
Gibs Business School
Panel
The Problem with Kotler’s 4 Ps in Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Oct 2016
University of Johannesburg
Lecture
Building Great Brands in Africa a
Johannesburg, South Africa
5 May 2016
2016 Golden Ceremony University of Johannesburg
Investiture Lecture
Inspiring the Africa We Want
Johannesburg, South Africa
5 May 2016
University of South Africa
Lecture
Building Great Brands and Businesses in Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
6 Apr 2016
Vega School of Brand Leadership
Lecture
Made in Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Mar 2013
Africa National Brand Forum at GIBS Business School
Lecture
Africa’s New Gold: The Nation Brand
Johannesburg, South Africa
23 Mar 2011
University of KwaZulu Natal Public Lecture
Lecture
Delivering on the promise of African Scholarship
Ethekwini, South Africa
17 Sep
2009
Central University of Technology
Prestige Lecture Series
Lecture
Building Valuable and Inspired Higher Education Brands
Bloemfontein, South Africa
19 Mar 2009
Wits Business School Distinguished Lecture Series
Lecture
Evolving African Leadership and its Impact on the Brand Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
28 Oct 2004
Woolworths Corporate Governance Programme Wits Business School
Lecture
Brand and Reputation Management
Cape Town, South Africa
Jan – Jun 2004
Wits University | Faculty of Commerce
Lectures
Marketing 2A:
Consumer Behaviour
Consumer Behaviour
Johannesburg,
South Africa
South Africa
