 14 Jun 2010 |
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Thoughts on the vuvuzela I've been avidly following most of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches since kick-off last Friday and it's great to see Africa's teams holding out against some of the world's finest footballers. If you too have been glued to your seat in front of the telly, you may have noticed a distinct hum around the stadiums that sounds very similar to a swarm of bees protecting their hive. Do not adjust your TV set; it's only the home-grown weapon of the host nation: the infamous vuvuzela.
The very word 'vuvuzela' either warms locals with patriotic pride or makes them cringe in annoyance. Love 'em or hate 'em, the vuvuzela has certainly made its mark on the event by adding a bit of the local flavour to proceedings... (she said while singing along to Shoshaloza at a local pub watching Bafana Bafana take on Mexico.) It would be near blasphemous to show up at a league game in South Africa without one! Personally I enjoy blowing my vuvuzela, and believe me, once you get the hang of it, it becomes addictive. It isn't the easiest thing to master and it amazes me how some can continue blowing it for 90-odd minutes without tiring out. I found a very frank blog entry via Facebook that is pro-vuvu, but the comments are also interesting in that they provide a balanced perspective. I suggest we embrace the vuvuzela as part of the football fanfare! *duck* Just to clear up any misconceptions, the catch-word coined by MTN in its 2010 campaign, 'Ayoba', is not an African word or term. This I confirmed with a Xhosa-speaking friend of mine. Check out the Wiki definition. Well done to West Africa's Ghana on claiming the first African victory! You made us proud! Keep it Ayoba, Sindy Peters, Africa editor Responses to this column welcomed in our online editor's column archive. Send all your Africa marketing news to africanews@bizcommunity.com. Top stories
Marketing
Following deliberations over the weekend, the Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation informed the board of the organisation that it had not selected a winner. The Ibrahim Prize aims to recognise and celebrate excellence in African leadership. Read more >> |
JOHANNESBURG: World Cup celebrations got off to a sizzling start in South Africa ahead of today's kick-off as thousands rocked the Orlando Stadium in Soweto last night, Thursday, 10 June 2010. 
It stars some of the fittest athletes on the planet but health experts say the World Cup's positive lifestyle message is undermined by the choice of junk food giants to sponsor the tournament. 
FIFA released a press statement yesterday evening, Thursday, 10 June 2010, informing the world that its president, Joseph S Blatter, has joined Twitter. 
PRETORIA: At least 20 African leaders have confirmed their attendance for the first World Cup to be held on the continent. They started arriving in the country yesterday, 10 June 2010. 
JOHANNESBURG: Google Maps on Tuesday, 8 June 2010, launched its first Street View feature in Africa. Detailed images of seven of South Africa's new football stadiums and 27 towns and cities around the country were collected over the last few months using the Google Street View Trikes. 
Johannesburg: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has once again reiterated that the legacy of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa should not only be about the infrastructure that has been built in the country but that the tournament should leave a lasting sense of pride among Africans. 
Communications agency, The Firehouse Group, has signed the Arik Air International account; the partnership begins in June 2010. Arik Air International is a Nigerian commercial airline that has been operating daily flights to Lagos from Johannesburg since launching the route on 1 June 2009. "The Firehouse Group will run Arik Air International's South African communications. Combining the group's specialties - public relations and advertising - we're looking forward to create a seamlessly integrated campaign that communicates the essence of Arik Air International," says Sandy Greaves Campbell, CEO for the Firehouse Group.
The extended entry deadline for The 2010 Loerie Awards is next week Monday, 14 June. Eligible work must have flighted between 1 June 2009 and 14 June 2010, and should be submitted by this date. The awards are open to the whole of Africa and the Middle East across all areas of brand communication. 
... signs football in Nigeria to support final push to kick polio out of Africa as Rotary clubs in Nigeria and across the continent unite as ball's four-month journey comes to a close in Egypt. 
WASHINGTON, DC: The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) announced late last week the two winners of the first round of the Africa Rural Connect (ARC) 2010 ideas competition. ARC is an online program of NPCA that aims to foster collaborative thinking to generate ideas to help solve rural Africa's challenges. 
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers' (WAN-IFRA) report on global press freedom, presented on Monday, 7 June 2010, to its board in a meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany, shows press freedom under attack in many countries on every continent. 
MTN Nigeria says it has signed loan agreements to the value of US$2.15 billion with 17 banks to enable the company to further expand its network. 
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's Zain telecom said on Tuesday (8 June 2010) it has completed the sale of its operations in 15 African nations to India's Bharti Airtel for US$10.7 billion (€9 billion) and received most of the cash. 
The annual World Young Reader Prizes, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), has added three new categories this year; 'Connecting with Mobile', 'Using Research' and 'Enduring Excellence'. 
Lonrho Plc's agriculture division on Monday, 7 June 2010, announced that it has purchased 51% of Oceanfresh Seafoods for a cash consideration payment of R3.8 million for the equity. The money is to be reinvested in the business. 
All Africa Poker TV, sponsored by Piggs Peak Casino Swaziland, has secured a deal with the Poker Channel Europe, providing European poker action on local screens. | Company news |
2010 FIFA World Cup
SOUTH AFRICAWorld Cup stories that go beyond sports reporting - Africa Media Online
Thousands of journalists have descended on South Africa for the World Cup, but the question is how many will dig deeper to provide stories that go beyond mere sports or superficial events coverage? The 126 African journalists of the Twenty Ten project are tasked with telling Africa's stories more fully and with unique perspective. Read more >>| Galleries |
SOUTH AFRICA
Feel It, It Is Here!
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|  Specialising in Media Sales, Advertising and Marketing placements www.opendoor.co.za |
| New events to diarise |
- Social media marketing 2010 Social Media Marketing 2010 - London, 17 June
- How to create advertising guaranteed to sell ZA Group - Johannesburg, 17 June
- Applying social media to business challenges Quirk eMarketing - Distance-based, 28 June
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