This year’s Cannes Lions should be a very exciting one for the continent of Africa. Twenty African creatives have made it to the Cannes Lions 2025 jury lineup. They include Xolisa Dyeshana, Chief Creative Officer at Joe Public, who will lead the Audio & Radio jury, and Andisa Ntsubane, Managing Executive for Brand, Marketing, and Communications at Vodacom Group Africa emerging as the first African on the Titanium jury.
Most representatives are from the agency side, but there are several client representatives on the jury.
The Titanium Lions celebrate game-changing creativity with work that breaks new ground in branded communications with provocative, boundary-busting, envy-inspiring work that marks a new direction for the industry and moves it forward.
Ntsuibane, who is also this year’s Lions Scholarship jury president, is no stranger to Cannes, having sat on the Creative B2B jury last year.
According to him, “For me, the two things that make this Jury extraordinary are that it recognises the boldest, most game-changing, boundary-busting, never-done-before work that makes the global creative industry stop in its tracks and set a new direction, moving forward.
“Secondly, it is the only jury that requires shortlisted candidates to give live presentations with an audience that includes a Q&A from the jury. This one-of-a-kind jury represents a huge opportunity to shape the future of the global creative industry.”
When the Titanium jury was named, Simon Cook, CEO, Lions said, “The Dan Wieden Titanium Lions represent the pinnacle of creative excellence and innovation, rewarding work that shifts perspectives, challenges the status quo, and, as Dan Wieden put it, ‘makes the industry stop in its tracks and reconsider the way forward’.
“The 2025 Jury consists of world-class creative leaders, each with a track record of redefining the industry through their work. Their collective expertise and global outlook will ensure the most innovative and impactful ideas rise to the top.”
African jury members
South Africa has the most jury members, with 9 jury members, with Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya all represented.
• Brand Experience & Activation jury: Andrea Quaye, marketing director at Heineken Beverages, South Africa
• Creative B2B jury: Thembeka Ngugi is the senior vice president of marketing at NTT DATA Middle East and Africa
• Creative Business Transformation jury: Gugu Mthembu, chief marketing officer Telkom South Africa, South Africa
• Creative Effectiveness jury: Tebogo Skwambane, SA country leader, WPP Africa, South Africa
• Creative Strategy jury: Pete Case, CEO and creative chairman, Ogilvy SA, South Africa
• Digital Craft jury: Waithera Kabiru, digital hub lead Africa, Diageo Plc, Africa
• Direct jury: Carl Willoughby, chief creative officer of TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Entertainment jury: Kagiso Lediga, story merchant, Diprente Global, South Africa
• Entertainment Lions for Gaming jury: Sidick Bakayoko, founder and CEO, Paradise Game, Ivory Coast
• Entertainment Lions for Sport jury: Vaughan Croeser, VP marketing, The South African Breweries, South Africa
• Film jury: Neo Mashigo, chief creative officer, The Up&Up Group (Affiliated to the global M&C Saatchi Group), South Africa
• Film craft jury: Nwakaego Boyo, founder and managing director, Temple Productions / Temple Media, Nigeria
• Glass: The Lion for Change jury: Yaa Boateng, chief creative officer and managing director, The Storytellers, Ghana
• Luxury jury: Thebe Magugu, founder and creative director, Thebe Magugu, South Africa
• Media jury: Muyiwa Aleshinloye, head of media, Publicis West Africa, West Africa
• Outdoor jury: Kagiso Musi, group managing director of Meta Media, South Africa
• Print & Publishing jury: Yash Deb, co-founder and creative partner, The Bar Africa, Kenya
• Sustainable Development Goals jury: Serah Mwikali Katusya, CEO and executive director, Belva Digital, Kenya