CANNES DAILY DIARY: Day 1 with Nkgabiseng Motau
South Africa’s Cannes Daily Diary, brought to you by IDIDTHAT and VRtuosus. Following South Africa’s creative virtuosos at Cannes Lions 2026.
In this edition of our South Africans in Cannes Diary, Think Creative Africa co-founder and CCO Nkgabiseng Motau takes us through a day of melting in the Cannes heat, chasing inspiration across the Croisette, and finding unexpected encouragement from Susan Credle, this year’s Lion of St. Mark recipient. Along the way, she reflects on the power of human creativity, African representation and the moments that make Cannes unforgettable.
By Nkgabiseng Motau | Day 1: Melting, Moving and Finding the Light
Africans should be able to handle the heat, right?
Well, someone please explain why I am absolutely melting in the Cannes sunshine.
Locals are calling it one of the hottest Cannes Lions festivals in years and, honestly, every journey between venues feels like an endurance sport. The Palais. The beach. A partner event. Back to the Palais. Repeat. The determination required to experience everything this festival has to offer is almost as impressive as the work being celebrated.
Knowing I had a full day ahead, I started with what can only be described as a strategic hotel breakfast. I loaded up on everything I could because I knew I wanted to see as much as possible and I wasn’t about to let hunger slow me down.
My first stop was a session with Marcel Marcondes. In a week filled with conversations about generative AI, automation and the future of creativity, his perspective felt refreshingly human.
One of my biggest takeaways was that this remains a people business. “This is a human business.”
As technology continues to transform how work gets made, people still crave things they can feel, experience and taste. Marcel spoke not only about making great work for people, but about making it with great people. What struck me most was that he took the time to acknowledge and thank his agency partners by name. At a time when relationships can sometimes feel secondary to efficiency, there was something powerful about seeing a global marketing leader publicly celebrate the people behind the work. It was a reminder that creativity has always been, and perhaps always will be, a profoundly human act.
From there I zipped across town to watch the Glass Lion shortlist presentations being judged live. What a brave group of people. Creating award worthy work is one thing. Standing on a Cannes stage and presenting it in front of a room full of industry leaders is something else entirely. The courage, conviction and vulnerability required to do that is remarkable. The presentation I caught felt like a reminder that great creative work often starts with people willing to stand up and advocate for something they believe matters.
Then came the highlight of my day. Possibly my year. The Open Chair fireside chat with Susan Credle, this year’s Lion of St. Mark recipient. What a woman.
Susan Credle and Nkgabiseng Motau.
Open Chair legends with the legendary Susan Credle.
For those of us building independent agencies such as Think Creative Africa, Boundless and many others, she shared a thought that landed deeply.
“Sometimes the forest must burn to allow the new saplings to grow. You are the new saplings. Find the light.”
I haven’t stopped thinking about those words. In an industry experiencing enormous change, it was exactly the encouragement many of us needed to hear.
From there I practically ran to make it to The Up & Up Group presentation. And what a treat it was.They represented African creativity, ingenuity and problem solving beautifully. But they also gave me something I never thought I would experience in Cannes. As a Ndebele girl, seeing Ndebele art represented inside the Palais was incredible.Thousands of kilometres from home, in one of the world’s biggest creative forums, there was a piece of my culture on display. It was a reminder that African creativity does not need to imitate anyone else’s story. Our stories, our aesthetics and our ways of seeing the world belong on these stages.
The day concluded with the evening awards ceremony, including the Print & Publishing category, which I had the privilege of judging. It was a wonderful celebration of creativity.
Simon Cook even surprised everyone by speaking French while awarding the creative country award to France.
More importantly, I left feeling incredibly proud and inspired by the standard of work being recognised. Congratulations to all the winners.
Day one left me sunburnt, slightly dehydrated, completely exhausted and deeply energised all at once.If this is how Cannes begins, I can only imagine what the rest of the week has in store.
The day concluded with the evening awards ceremony, including the Print & Publishing category, which I had the privilege of judging. It was a wonderful celebration of creativity.
Simon Cook even surprised everyone by speaking French while awarding the creative country award to France.
More importantly, I left feeling incredibly proud and inspired by the standard of work being recognised. Congratulations to all the winners.
Day one left me sunburnt, slightly dehydrated, completely exhausted and deeply energised all at once.If this is how Cannes begins, I can only imagine what the rest of the week has in store.
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