Tuesday, April 27, 2010

TV: Pepsi "Oh, Africa!" ad

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is right around the corner and the marketing departments of all the major sponsors are in high gear. Come June we will no doubt be inundated with many ads featuring the sport and athletes of soccer. Pepsi, for example, has released a fantastic advertisement that exemplifies the spirit of the game, the excitement of the entire continent for hosting the event, and the unifying power the game has.

In the ad, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Kaká, Frank Lampard, Andrei Arshavin, and Didier Drogba, find hand-painted jerseys with their names on them at an African village market. They attempt to purchase a Pepsi from another stand only to be told they would have to play the vendors for the beverage. The footballers ask the kids, "Do you know who we are?" to which the challengers respond with the same question. They then ask where the field is which is when the magic and creatively of the ad really begins.

With a soundtrack featuring the song "Oh, Africa!" by Senegalese-American R&B artist, Akon, the spot makes you want to board a plane for the dusty savanna and get your own pick-up game started. I can only hope for more creative and uplifting advertising campaigns in the next couple months!

Sergio del Limonar

1 comment:

  1. lebogang molokoMay 14, 2010 2:37 AM

    weeeeeeeeeeeee oh africa guys it rocks i cant stop listeing to it together we made it aweeeeeeeee

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