Simon Barber is US Country Manager for the International Marketing Council of South Africa, based in Washington DC. He was previously Washington correspondent for Business Day and the Sunday Times.
Do you have what it takes to create a sizzling ad — print, web banner, video — that captures the essence of South Africa, the energy, humanity, humour, creativity and resilience of our people, the richness of our cultures, our music, our art, the astounding beauty of our landscape and the astonishing bounty of [...]
When Cabindan separatists shot up Togo’s soccer team en route to the African Cup of Nations in Angola last month, killing two, South Africans flinched. They did so not only because of the horror of the attack itself but in sure anticipation of the commentary that was bound to follow about what it all [...]
South Africa doesn’t have the population or the GDP of the so-called BRIC’s — Brazil, Russia, India and China — so it’s a bit cheeky of us to argue we’re in the same league, right? Well, don’t tell that to the Financial Times Johannesburg correspondent Richard Lapper.
Jeffrey Hoffman, a former play-by-play baseball announcer now working as a web developer, blogs about sports for the Huffington Post, to which, on or about January 14, he uploaded an item predicting chaos and mayhem at the forthcoming South Africa-hosted FIFA World Cup. He probably wishes he hadn’t.
From Maine to California, South African Tourism has America doing the diski, the official dance of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The troupers strutting their stuff in this video are from the San Diego Chapter of the APTA (Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa).
South Africa’s DNA on display on the Day of Reconciliation — the spirit of Invictus lives.
When it comes to creating amazing ads, South Africa has some of the best talent anywhere. Check out this promotion for the M-Net television channel. The company that made it is Orijin, located in the Johannesburg area. Its work is getting noticed.
From 360 Cities, some really stunning virtual reality images of the stadium and the rest of Cape Town.
This arrived in BSAblog’s mailbox, proposed as a candidate for official 2010 theme song, with the following note:
“The Beautiful Game!” written by Jolanta Durno & Eric Begala is a rich collaboration of artists from the entire spectrum of our Rainbow Nation and is inspired by our beautiful country -Alive with Possibility! The song uses soccer [...]
A South African returns after six years in Silicon Valley “to find a place where you can get your hands dirty and help build a nation with limitless potential”.
Dwight “Superman” Howard, star centre for the Orlando Magic of America’s National Basket Association visited South Africa earlier this year under the aegis of Basketball Without Borders. In addition to making the video above, he blogged movingly about it here. “Rich at heart and rich in spirit” is how he describes the new friends he [...]
If the response to the trailer for Clint Eastwood’s new movie “Invictus” is any indication, this version of John Carlin’s wonderful book, Playing the Enemy, looks set to be a blockbuster with Oscar written all over it.
Oliver Holt, sports columnist for the UK’s Daily Mirror, returns to South Africa to look at preparations for the 2010 World Cup and likes what he sees.
Rudy Maxa is one of American’s best known travel writers and broadcasters. Among other things he does a show for public television called Rudy Maxa’s World.
If you’re still having trouble believing South Africa is alive with possibility, meet Fatima Jakoet, poet, MBA, forensic scientist, pilot of 737’s. She stells her story here. You’ll probably want to stick around and read the rest of her blog, as well. And where you’re done there, she has another.
“South Africa is hosting this event for a reason – because it deserves to, and because FIFA knows it will be a success. It´s time for the rest of the world to agree” — Korea Times
Two takes on the new Mbombela Stadium being readied for the FIFA World Cup in Nelspruit. The bead version does it for me. You can almost hear the roar of the crowd.
Engage directly with CEO’s and top execs who are playing a major role in the African telecommunications story. The discussion will be via a video link-up, courtesy of Cisco, between Johannesburg, Washington and New York.
“A glance at this year’s tables measuring the ease of doing business and prepared by the International Finance Corporation – the business arm of the World Bank – highlights South Africa’s advantages” — The Financial Times, 30/09/09
Team South Africa descended on Washington in force this week in the form of entrepreneurs, designers and creators assembled by the city of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
CNBC Business calls SA “a world economic powerhouse” and finds its companies well-placed to weather the global recession.
Forget about casual Friday. It’s time to celebrate Football Friday. Every Friday between now and the World Cup, be part of Team South Africa by coming to work in a football jersey
District 9, the brilliant SA-made satire/sci-fi pic was the the number one movie in the US this past weekend, showcasing a lot of local talent.
On Monday, communicators from all over SA will come together to talk about how we can make to most of the upcoming FIFA World Cup to tell SA’s story.
“Looking at the world map today, it isn’t easy to find countries with financial and economic policies that have been as sound as South Africa’s” — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking to business leaders Johannesburg.
UK TV personality Mark Durden-Smith drives a jeep called Jeffrey from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and a good time is had by all. He’s a bit manic to begin with, but grows on you. The weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating, but the Knysna oysters look sublime.
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