Tag: South African Tourism

  • MasterChef Nigeria shocker: Fads’ Journey Ends in Dramatic Elimination

    MasterChef Nigeria shocker: Fads’ Journey Ends in Dramatic Elimination

    In the MasterChef Nigeria kitchen where time is the toughest judge ambition alone is never enough. This week, it was Fads whose bold vision fell short when it mattered most, bringing her journey in the competition to an end.

    After a high-pressure challenge, the judges called forward two home cooks whose dishes did not measure up to the standard set by their fellow contestants. Fads and Loye stood side by side, both facing the possibility of elimination. In the end, it was Fads who was asked to leave the MasterChef kitchen. Reflecting on her dish, Chef Stone noted: “I feel you had enough time to create something a bit more than this.”

    Following last week’s emotionally driven brief where contestants cooked dishes inspired by people who shaped their lives this episode shifted the spotlight to the judges themselves. Chef Stone and Chef Eros invited the home cooks into their world, sharing the personal journeys and culinary influences that define their cooking, before presenting dishes that brought those stories to life on the plate.

    The challenge? Reimagine these deeply personal dishes in just 90 minutes.

    But in true MasterChef Nigeria fashion, there was a twist: the judges’ dishes were randomly assigned. Contestants tasked with interpreting Chef Stone’s brief took on his Pan African Beef Wellington, while others had to rework Chef Eros’ bold and flavour-packed combination of Ewa Hummus, Agoyin Chutney and Agege Flatbread.

    Determined to impress, Fads approached her cook with confidence, knowing the high standard required — particularly from Chef Stone. At the halfway mark, she appeared on track, believing she would deliver two strong, MasterChef-worthy plates. However, at the tasting table, her beef and mushroom skewers and pistachio crepe failed to impress. Crucially, the sauces — intended to bring the dishes together — were missing, leaving the plates incomplete.

    Loye, who tackled Chef Eros’ dish, described his creation as “a flavour bomb in your mouth.” While the judges appreciated elements of his dish, they ultimately felt it did not reach the level required in the competition.

    On the other end of the spectrum, David and Demilade delivered standout performances that captured the judges’ attention.

    Demilade emerged as the winner of the challenge, earning a culinary trip to South Africa courtesy of South African Tourism. Inspired by Chef Eros’ dish, she delivered exceptional flavour and finesse. Her dessert — an apple, cranberry and chinchin crumble — drew high praise from both judges, who described it as restaurant-worthy and a clear winning dish.

    David, building on his momentum from last week’s Dish of the Week, once again impressed with a focused and intentional approach inspired by Chef Stone’s brief. “I won last week, but I won’t be happy if I don’t win today,” he said — a mindset that translated into another strong performance.

    Next week, the remaining seven contestants face a brand-new challenge — and a major surprise from the judges that could change the course of the competition.

    Produced by Primedia Group, MasterChef Nigeria is supported by a strong coalition of leading Nigerian brands, including headline sponsor Power Oil, alongside Indomie, Dano Milk, Malta Guinness, Sonia Tomato, Kiara Rice, Golden Penny Flour, Golden Penny Sugar, Golden Penny Garri, Golden Penny Semolina, Golden Penny Chocolate Spread, and Golden Penny Wheat.

    The show airs weekly on Sundays at 7 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Family with rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 6 pm on Africa Magic Showcase and Thursdays at 12 pm on Africa Magic Family.

  • African brands surge to 17% of the Top 100 brands in Africa

    African brands surge to 17% of the Top 100 brands in Africa

    …Dangote, GT Bank, Channels TV, DSTV and Coke lead the list of the most admired brands in Nigeria.

     Today Brand Africa unveiled the 12th annual Brand Africa 100:  Africa’s Best Brands 2022 rankings of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa at a live event at Eko Hotel & Suites in Nigeria. 

    Against a backdrop of internal focus as a consequence of an urgent rebuilding of economies devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the acceleration of AfCFTA’s goal of driving greater intra-African trade, after a 5-year decline, African brands have surged 4% to 17% from an all-time low of 13% in 2020 and 2021 in the 2022 Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands survey and ranking of the best brand in Africa.

    Nigerian brands, Dangote (#22), Glo (#32), Jumia (#42) and Nasco (#75) are among the 17 African brands that have heralded a 4% surge by African brands to 17% share of the Top 100 brands in Africa.

    Overall, South Africa’s MTN, has returned to the Top 10 as the highest-ranking African brand and traded places with Dangote as the #1 African brand recalled when prompted to consolidate its status as the #1 African brand.

    Dangote, the pre-eminent African brand founded in 1981 by Nigerian Aliko Dangote, emerged as the #1 brand that symbolises African pride in a question where Brand Africa sought to establish which brand in Africa is a flag carrier and embodiment of rising optimism and pride in Africa. South Africa, led by MTN, leads the African list, with Nigeria, led by Dangote, the overall #1 brand, at 28%, and Kenya with flag carrier, Kenya Airways, at 8% and Ethiopia, with its flag carrier brand, Ethiopian Airline at 4%.

    Non-African brands, led by overall pace-setter Nike for the 5th consecutive year, continue to dominate with a share of 83% of the most admired brands in Africa.  Coca Cola, which has been in the Top 5 for 10 consecutive years, is the #1 overall most admired brand in Nigeria.

    In a separate list of the Top 25 most admired financial services brands, African brands, led by Nigeria’s GT Bank for the third consecutive year, dominate the rankings with 68% of the share to 32% for non-African brands.

    DStv, has consolidated its position as the #1 African media brand for the second year running, while Channels TV led as the #1 Nigerian media brand, in a category that is fast going digital and mobile.

    Recognising that while the rebound in African brands is notable, the results will not be sustainable without committed and inspirational leadership, in 2022, Brand Africa recognised those leaders who are the catalyst for growth for Made in Africa brands both in corporate and in those who have championed and supported the development of great local brands in supporting industries. GT Bank’s Group CEO, Segun Agbaje and Nigerian doyenne of marketing, founder and chairman of Troyka Group, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo were awarded the inaugural Africa Brand Leadership Excellence awards for inspiring brand-led excellence that drives the growth of made in Africa brands.

    “As we emerge out of the pandemic and Africa seeks to assert itself, the results are very inspiring and bode well for an African renaissance led by competitive world-class African brands,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership.

    “With increased number of countries and greater sample size this year, more than ever, and especially so during the pandemic, mobile proved to be  the effective tool for us to reach and access respondents across the continent,” said Bernard Okasi, Director of Research, GeoPoll, which has been the lead data collection partner since 2015.

    Karin Du Chenne, Chief Growth Officer, Africa Middle East for Kantar, which has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010 says, “despite volumes of brands analysed as a results of increased sample size in terms of respondents and countries, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of brands and trends that are transforming the continent.”

    Now in its 12th year, every year on or around Africa Day, 25 May, Brand Africa releases the results of the survey on the most admired brands in Africa based on a survey across 29 countries that represent as much as 85% of the continent’s GDP and population.  The 2022 survey was conducted between March and April 2022 and yielded over 80,000 brand mentions and over 3,500 unique brands.

    The Brand Africa 100 results will be published in the June issue African Business magazine which on sale globally in June 2022 and will be available online to subscribers on www.africanbusinessmagazine.com.

    The 2022 Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands were organised by Brand Africa partners in Nigeria, AT3 Resources and Open Squares Africa, and supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria, South African Tourism, NQR, Africa Media Agency and BCW Africa.

    For Information on the Brand Africa agenda, initiatives and partners and specifically the Brand Africa 100:  Africa’s Best Brands Rankings visit www.brand.africa and follow the results on #BrandAfrica100 and #AfricasBestBrands2022.