When featured as the YourLuxury Africa July 2023 cover star, Thebe Ikalafeng recounted many of his African adventures and explorations. Having set foot on every country on the continent, he had no shortage of anecdotes to share. Now, in his newly released and already best-selling memoir, The Traveller – Crossing Borders and Connecting Africa, he gives additional insight into his explorations and enigma.
Professionally, Thebe is celebrated as a marketing and branding guru. He served as the Executive Director of Marketing for Nike Africa, founded the multi-disciplinary branding advisory firm The Brand Leadership Group, and sits on multiple boards. Yet, this is just one facet of his life and work. Thebe’s enduring passions – art, sports, and culture – are fundamental to his personal and professional output, even if he doesn’t work exclusively in these industries.
With his memoir, Thebe wanted to reveal a “fuller picture” of himself. He has tens of thousands of followers across social media, contributes thought leadership pieces and has been conferred with two honorary doctorates. There may be many public accolades to his name, but in writing this memoir, Thebe wanted to challenge the notion that these are the sum of his identity. “People know me, but they don’t know me,” he reflects. “People see me, but they don’t see me. I’m everywhere, but I’m nowhere. So, I wanted to reveal parts that explain how and why I do things, what inspires my thinking, and what has inspired my journey. I figured that people will be curious about a guy coming from Kimberley who has stayed in his own path.”
The road that Thebe has chosen has been full of breathtaking experiences such as visiting Antarctica, tracking gorillas in East Africa, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro twice, and braving the 216m-high Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump. It’s also been marked by wide-ranging interests and connections, as evidenced by the line-up of speakers and performers at his book launch, where Dr John Kani gave a hilarious and insightful speech into his friendship with Thebe, and Simphiwe Dana gave a rousing musical performance. The guests in attendance included notable individuals such as businessman Lazurus Zim, former mayor of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba, visual artist Trevor Stuurman, entrepreneur Carol Bouwer and actor Tony Kgoroge.
While he knew he had a social circle that was both deep and wide, the process of writing a memoir showed a clearer picture in which “reflection led to appreciation”. The book launch attendance was a testament to this as additional chairs had to be brought out when more people kept streaming in. “I’m friends with 18-year-olds and 80-year-olds,” notes Thebe. “I straddle different worlds and age groups with ease because I haven’t pigeonholed myself.” Indeed, Thebe moves through life like an eagle, exploring varied spaces with grace and enthusiasm.
