John Hunt has been named on the “TRUE Africa 100″, a list of “innovators, opinion-formers, game-changers, pioneers, dreamers and mavericks” who are “shaping the Africa of tomorrow”. Hunt chatted to TRUE Africa about his life and work.

Hunt is the co-founder of legendary advertising company TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris, which worked closely on Nelson Mandela’s first ANC election campaign. In 2003 he became the creative director of TBWA Worldwide. But he will be more familiar to Books LIVE readers as the author of The Art of the Idea: And How It Can Change Your Life, and his debut novel, The Space Between the Space Between, which was published this year.

In the interview, Hunt chats about how to conquer the African market, his African of the year – public protector Thuli Madonsela – and where he thinks South Africa is heading:

You delve into contemporary South Africa in your latest book The Space Between the Space Between. Where do you see the country heading?

I think South Africa is at a delicate crossroads. Sometimes I feel we’re such a young democracy, we’re not too sure what to do with it. It’s exciting and massively interesting that we’re a work in progress but I feel the country lacks a clear vision of what it wants to be. The heady days of Mandela are long gone and those big shoes have been filled by tiny feet.

I believe if the country doesn’t find its direction over the next five years we will have done our children a huge disservice. This country has incredible potential. It’s full of smart and generous people but it’s not aligned, so not enough is achieved.

• Complete article: True Africa

Related stories:

• Author Q&A: 10 Questions with John Hunt
• “Kind of Blue”: An Excerpt from John Hunt’s Debut Novel The Space Between the Space Between

Book details

• The Space Between the Space Between by John Hunt
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  EAN: 9781415207390
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• The Art of the Idea: And How It Can Change Your Life by John Hunt
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  EAN: 9781770220676
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Happy Ntshingila entered the world of marketing by accident, and now he is the author of Black Jerusalem, an advertising memoir. He spoke to Ziphezinhle Msimango about his clothing addiction, his favourite building in Joburg and knocking on Nelson Mandela’s door:

I am … free, tough, friendly and happy.

Where were you born? Soweto.

Where do you live? Hyde Park.

How did you get into your career? By accident. I wanted to be a journalist and ended up getting a job in marketing.

• Read the complete article in the Sunday Times

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• Black Jerusalem by Happy Ntshingila
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  EAN: 9781415200964
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Happy Ntshingila makes news not just as an author, but as as spokesman: the chief marketing and communication executive for Absa says the bank has added it’s support to the Consumer Protection Act which comes into effect in June 2010.

Happy Ntshingila, Absa ‘s chief marketing and communication executive, said his organisation had joined hands with the NCF to set up an annual conference that educated consumers about their rights when concluding business transactions.

He said that as part of Absa’s strategy, the bank had “adopted the Financial Services Authority regulations around Treating Customers Fairly 2007, and we see the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act as further building on the same foundation”.

• Read the complete article at All Africa

Book details

• Black Jerusalem by Happy Ntshingila
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  EAN: 9781415200698
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The members of SA’s International Marketing Council Board (IMC) were recently announced by President Jacob Zuma. The body is responsible for marketing South Africa to the rest of the world – particularly ahead of the FIFA World Cup next year. Amongst the members elected to this prestigious board is Happy Ntshingila, author of Black Jerusalem. One of the founders of the HerdBuoys advertising agency, Ntshingila is no stranger to advertising:

Pretoria – Chief of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee Danny Jordaan is among the new members of the International Marketing Council Board (IMC) announced by President Jacob Zuma.

The IMC is, among other things, responsible for the marketing of Brand SA.

Other members include Sandile Zungu, Happy Ntshingila, Group Executive for Marketing and Communication at ABSA, Anitha Soni, Deputy Chairperson of the Tourism BEE Charter Council, Judy Nxasana, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of Mbhekani Health and Wellbeing and Welcome Msomi, an internationally acclaimed playwright, choreographer and director.

• Read the complete article at Bua News

Book details

• Black Jerusalem by Happy Ntshingila
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  EAN: 9781415200964
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Fred Khumalo hugely enjoyed Happy Ntshingila’s memoir Black Jerusalem, which recalls the key moments in the establishment and growth of Herdbuoys, the world-beating advertising agency. He enjoyed an especially good guffaw at Ntshingila and Co’s gaffes involving a certain King of the Zulus:

Lesson number one: don’t mess with the king of the Zulus, if you are a South African who aspires to some power and influence in business and society.

Many businessmen, trying to penetrate the black market and who forgot to treat the king with due courtesy and respect, have over the years burnt their fingers.

Remember when the lottery authorities launched their marketing campaign under the slogan Tata machance, tata mamillions?

The king and his subjects objected loudly to grammatical errors in what was sold as a Zulu slogan. The correct slogan should have been thatha ama-chance (which in itself is not pure Zulu).

Anyway, the Lotto administrators had to quietly resort to a new advertising jingle.

The book I’ve just finished reading, Black Jerusalem, by advertising guru Happy Ntshingila, amplifies the influence that the king has over such matters of public discourse.

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Please join us for these exciting RHS events at the 2009 Cape Town Book Fair.

SATURDAY 13 JUNE

Ways of Staying: A country that will not be forsaken
12:00-12:45
F6 – DALRO Forum

A discussion with Kevin Bloom, André Brink & Max du Preez chaired by Prof Leon de Kock. (In collaboration with Pan Macmillan)

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Happy Ntshingila, Absa’s executive director of group marketing, communications and corporate affairs, and author of Black Jerusalem – a book that charts the rise of Herdbuoys, the advertising agency he founded – talks about some of the things that make him reach for his wallet:

Favourite things: Golf clubs, Johnny Black, my iPod and my wheels.

Best thing about shopping: Going crazy on the card and exceeding the budget.

Worst thing about shopping: Queues, finding parking and trying on clothes.

I always pay … with my card.

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Happy Ntshingila was joined by his colleagues, family, friends and book lovers at the launch of his advertising-agency memoir, Black Jerusalem, at the Melrose Arch Exclusive books last week.

Ntshingila reminisced with the audience about the 18-year journey he and his partners embarked upon when starting a black-owned advertising agency, Herdbuoys.

Likening the experiences to a running race, he explained how the business grew from a small outfit to an industry giant. “Not so long ago I started running. When I started I finished my first 5km and it was tough. I then became better and started running 10km. It was then that other runners encouraged me to run in marathons.”
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Umuzi and Exclusive Books Homebru are pleased to invite you to the launch of Happy Ntshingila’s memoir of life in the ad industry trenches, Black Jerusalem.
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