Made in Africa: Honorary doctorate for Thebe Ikalafeng

One cannot discuss African branding without mentioning the name of Thebeeitsile Ikalafeng.

On 19 March, the University of Johannesburg awarded Thebeetsile (‘Thebe’) Ikalafeng a PhD Honoris Causa in Marketing Management for his remarkable contributions to the field of marketing and branding. His keynote presentation at the graduation ceremony urged graduates and guests to take on the responsibility to tell the story of Africa, because only Africa can save Africa. We were delighted to host the family and friends of Thebe, for dinner at the Johannesburg Country Club and in attendance was our VC Prof Mpedi, the Register Prof Bettine, Director of SCiiS Dr Stella Bvuma and HOD of the Department of Marketing Management Dr Isolde Ward just to name a few.

Akin to the Kimberley diamond rush in the 1860s and 1870s, Thebe embodies the spirit of his hometown of Kimberley: he, too, is a diamond discovered in the rough. The young Thebe caused a stir when he moved to Johannesburg to study accounting, later finding his passion for marketing by chance. Three decades on, he is a global African Hall of Fame marketer and branding authority.

Thebe’s journey to this pinnacle of recognition has been marked by a series of remarkable accomplishments. Armed with a BSc in Marketing and an MBA in Strategy and Marketing from Marquette University, USA, his career spans three decades. Notably, his roles at Colgate Palmolive and at Nike, where he was Chief Marketing Officer for the African continent, garnered over 75 industry awards globally.

Beyond his corporate endeavours, Thebe’s impact continues to be felt in initiatives such as Brand Leadership and the Brand Africa initiative, both with the aim to enhance Africa’s global image and competitiveness. His dedication to talent development led to the establishment of the Africa Brand Leadership Academy, reinforcing his commitment to African excellence.

The University of Johannesburg celebrates Thebeeitsile Ikalafeng’s extraordinary contributions to the field, and his unwavering dedication to Africa’s growth and development. We are honoured to honour you Thebe!