WeeklySA_AdminCONVERSATIONS: South African author Khaya Dlanga joins leading creatives from Kenya and Nigeria in Glenmorangie’s biggest Africa-focused campaign yet, celebrating the shared values of craftsmanship, patience and storytelling…
By Priscilla Malinga
South African author and cultural commentator Khaya Dlanga has joined Kenyan actress Kate Kamau and Nigerian musician and creative executive Darey Art Alade in Glenmorangie’s most ambitious Africa-focused campaign to date, celebrating the power of character, craftsmanship and storytelling.
The campaign is built around a philosophy that has guided the Scottish whisky maker for more than 180 years: that true character is developed over time through patience, dedication and authenticity.
According to Caspar MacRae, President and CEO of The Glenmorangie Company, the same principles that shape the brand’s award-winning single malt whiskies also shape the lives and voices of exceptional storytellers.
Dlanga, one of South Africa’s best-known authors and commentators, said the experience resonated deeply with his own approach to storytelling.
“I’ve always been curious about people and the stories they carry, so I found myself just as drawn to the conversation as the whisky,” he said. “Behind every tradition were people who cared deeply about preserving something meaningful. It was a reminder that real character is built over time.”
Kamau and Art Alade, who will headline the campaign launches in Kenya and Nigeria respectively, also reflected on the experience of visiting Glenmorangie’s historic distillery in Tain, in the Scottish Highlands. Kamau said the visit showed her that storytelling extends beyond words.
“You feel it in the people, the landscapes and the quiet pride behind every part of the distillery,” she said. “Wherever we come from, the stories we choose to preserve become part of who we are.”
For Art Alade, the journey highlighted the similarities between whisky-making and the creative arts.
“As an artist and creative executive, that philosophy felt very familiar. Whether you are making music, directing a production, building a platform or crafting whisky, character is shaped over time. The most meaningful work cannot be rushed,” he said.
The three creatives were invited to Glenmorangie’s historic distillery, where they explored the people, traditions and landscapes that have shaped the brand for nearly two centuries. Through unscripted conversations with the distillery team, the campaign captures a cultural exchange that blends Scottish heritage with contemporary African perspectives.
MacRae said hosting the three storytellers brought fresh energy and curiosity to the distillery.
“When we welcomed Kate, Darey and Khaya to Tain, they brought a real sense of humour and curiosity to their conversations with our team, who enjoyed sharing the stories behind our single malts and the Highland traditions that shape them,” he said.
The campaign launches as African creatives continue to exert growing influence across global literature, music, film, fashion and design.
Derek Ruediger, Glenmorangie’s International Marketing and Commercial Director, said the initiative reflects that momentum.
“Africa’s creatives are defining the next era of storytelling.
By inviting African voices to take centre stage, we hope to bring greater relevance and fresh perspectives to our brand for audiences across the continent,” he said.
