Creativity fiesta opens in South Africa

The 2016 week-long Loeries creative festival has opened in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The event, which began on Monday, August 15 and ends on August 21, is hosting advertising icon. Jimmy Smith, as one of the jury presidents.

Other members of the panel serving as jury presidents include Laura Jordan-Bambach, Susan Credle and Bridget Jung.

This year’s edition is geared at engaging and stimulating experience for marketing communications practitioners worldwide on their views on the values of creativity across Africa and the Middle East.

Credle, the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of FCB who was named as one of Advertising Age’s 100 most influential women in the sector and Business Insider’s most creative people in the industry among others, heads this year’s jury in the TV/radio category.

Nigeria’s leading brands publication, Marketing Edge, offers comprehensive coverage for the event.

The marketing magazine is represented by its publisher, John Ajayi and General Manager, Anietie Udoh.

Some Nigerian advertising practitioners believe that the nation would put up a good outing, stressing that Nigeria’s chances of winning the award were bright because most of the advertising campaigns done in the country were of international standard.

The professionals include past President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Kelechi Nwosu and the Managing Director, SO&U, Mr. Udeme Ufot.

DDB Lagos became the first Nigerian agency to win a Loeries Award in 2013 after being honoured with the silver category for its “Speechless” campaign for Girl Hub/Nike Foundation at the 35th edition held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The awards first took place in 1978 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was to later hold for many years at Sun City until 2004. In 2005, it moved to Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, and then to Cape Town in 2009.