SOUTH AFRICA AT CANNES: Day 1 by Khensani Nobanda
Every day this week, we’ve asked one or two brilliant South Africans at Cannes to report back from the frontlines of Cannes Lions. First up, it’s Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, who’s kicking off our coverage with a high-energy run and some even higher creative takeouts.
By Khensani Nobanda | Day 1 at Cannes Lions 2025
Start with a run. Why? Because running clears my head and gives me the energy to take it all in.
Badge collected. It’s official – we’re here!
I’m not trying to cram every session into my day. I’m here for what moves me. A few standout takeouts:
Apple talk:
Creativity is still our human superpower.
AI can’t replicate emotion, nuance, or the ability to make people feel – joy, love, even a good cry. That’s the real magic.
Brazil talk:
Brazil is cleaning up at Cannes. Why? Because clients are driving the creative ambition. Message received. Challenge accepted.
And yes, go look at the work. You can’t raise the bar if you don’t know how high it can go. I saw our Nedbank shortlisted print ad – beautiful. We didn’t convert, but wow. This is Nedbank. I’m proud.
Evening wrapped with the IAA dinner – board member duties. Sat next to Paul Coxhill and made sure the SA and Africa story was heard. Any doubts about how serious we are? Let’s just say, the map of Africa on my back tells you everything. We’re not just at Cannes. We’re here to win. And work like Hansa and Vaseline proves we can.
Why do I love Cannes Lions?
Because it reminds us that this is a global game. And we’re playing to win on the global stage.
Here’s what you need to know about our Cannes Lions 2025 Partners LITTLEBIG:
LITTLEBIG is a team-focused, quality-obsessed production company that backs South African creativity where it counts: behind the scenes, on set, and on the world stage. They’ve been with us every step of the way to Cannes and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with them.
Read more about LITTLEBIG partnering with IDIDTHAT to bring you all the South Africans in Cannes news 2025
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