Would Nelson Mandela, the father of our nation, have spent 27 years in captivity if he (and others) had access to the same technology, social media platforms and tools as we do today?
This is the question that homegrown viral digital campaign, #MandelaStory, asks of local users.
Shortlisted for the global Mobile Marketing Association’s (MMA) Smarties Awards in the Social Impact / Not For Profit category, #MandelaStory goes up against WWF Norway’s “The Black Out Banner,” Greenpeace and Must Mobile “Greenpeace Arctic Defender, and VH1 and Foursquare’s “Save The Music Foursquare Campaign.”
Local agency shines
Created by Prezence Digital with official approval from the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, the campaign was released in honour of the global icon’s 94th birthday and is available both on desktop computers and on mobile phones by clicking through to www.mandelastory.com.
“We are incredibly proud to have our work, particularly this project which was so close to our hearts, shortlisted against some of the biggest global brands in the world,” says Prakash Patel, CEO of Prezence Digital.
“That #MandelaStory has been shortlisted along with two other South African campaigns, in other categories, goes to show thatSouth Africais truly world class,” Patel continues.
Celebrating advertising week
In a statement announcing the shortlist, the MMA noted that the shortlisted finalists were selected from, “outstanding campaigns across 19 categories with submissions from over 36 countries… from across the globe.”
The announcement of the final winners will take place at the Smarties Global Awards Gala on the 3rd of October capping off the inaugural two-day Mobile Marketing Conference and Expo inNew York City during Advertising Week.