TWO of Zimbabwe’s most dynamic cultural voices, media entrepreneur Kim Jayde and editor Usher Takudzwa Nyambi, were part of the inaugural Marketing Influence Culture (MIC) conference that took place on June 25 at Radisson RED in Johannesburg, South Africa.
As official representatives, the two brought with them a unique Zimbabwean perspective to the pan-African conversations that were presented.
MIC is a bold new conference built for Africa’s next wave of marketers, brand builders and cultural shapers.
The duo will join an impressive lineup of marketing leaders and creatives from leading global brands such as popular streaming platform Spotify, British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company Unilever, financial services group Nedbank and Japanese international advertising and public relations company Dentsu X.
It was created by dynamic South African-Indian global marketer Deshnie Govender under the umbrella of her podcast and platform Hype and Happening.
With an ethos rooted in access, authenticity and transformation, officials see the platform quickly becoming a destination for emerging and established professionals alike, offering coaching over keynotes and conversations over panels.
“This is not another gate kept gathering,” Govender said.
“MIC levels the playing field with a premium-yet-accessible model built around the belief that when everyone gets the playbook, everyone can win.”
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Jayde is a Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honoree, award-winning TV host and founder of KJ Productions.
Known for blending fashion and culture, she has produced hit shows like Kickin’ It with Kim Jayde and worked with global brands including Adidas, Hennessy and the NBA.
Widely celebrated as South Africa’s “Sneaker Queen,” Jayde continues to lead powerful brand campaigns while using her platform to champion social change.
Nyambi is a cultural consultant, speaker and contributing editor at Rolling Stone Africa, known for his sharp editorial eye and passion for storytelling, with work published in GQ, BBC 1Xtra, Trace, OkayAfrica and Hypebeast.
He is also the founder of Samora Central, a creative agency based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
He is a vocal advocate for education, youth development and the power of narrative in shaping African identity.
"The cultural and creative industries offer a powerful avenue for economic growth, job creation and innovation. It was exciting to join a dynamic panel of industry leaders and exploring how brands meaningfully collaborate with creatives to drive real impact,” Nyambi told Newsday Life & Style.
“I shared insights from my own experience and learned how both creatives and brands envision working with media to amplify their missions. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, understand the unique perspectives across sectors and spark meaningful partnerships.”
Read a statement released last week: “With backgrounds that blend media, strategy and culture, both Kim and Usher embody the ethos of MIC, where creativity meets commerce and cultural intelligence drives brand innovation.”
MIC will bring together an elite group of leaders across fast-moving consumer goods tech, advertising, marketing, media, finance and entertainment.
Some of the key discussion points include topics such as “Building with purpose: How brands contribute to job creation through purpose, possibility and progress”, that will be presented by award winning South African marketing and growth executive Katleho Mahloane.
The conference’s live debut is also backed by the Radisson Hotel Group.
“With over 70% of Africa’s population under the age of 30, the continent’s creative economy is bursting with potential and MIC aims to equip this generation with the tools and mentorship to lead,” the statement further read.
“From cultural nuance to global brand campaigns, MIC is reimagining how African marketers show up in the world. And with Zimbabwean visionaries like Kim Jayde and Usher Nyambi on stage, that future is already taking shape.”
