Rhinos, Jingles, and AI: The Evolution of Zim Advertising
With core disciplines in Integrated Advertising, Direct Marketing, Digital and Retail, we are a full service advertising agency that builds brands. Our creative advertising strategy is targets. At Shift Engage we believe in creating more insightful Zimbabwe work, work that engages and activates people in their everyday life, work that adds real value to the Zimbabwean brands and the consumer, which delivers better marketing results for all our clients.
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18 Sep Rhinos, Jingles, and AI: The Evolution of Zim Advertising

Posted at 14:03h in Trends by

Ah, the good ol’ days of Zim advertising —the days when Oliver Mtukudzi’s voice on the Olivine jingle could make you drop whatever you were doing to sing along, and that Toughees kid had us all wishing we could have a pet Rhino instead of a boring walk to school. Pure nostalgia, right? But let’s be real—we didn’t give a second thought to the genius behind those iconic moments. We were busy glued to the screen, humming along, eyes wide with envy and excitement.

Now, here’s the kicker: did you ever stop to wonder, “Who the hell came up with this stuff?” Nope, we were all too focused on the shiny, fun surface to think about the creative sweat that made it happen. But once you’re in the game, you can’t help but see the strings pulling the puppets. Fast forward to now, and the curtain’s been pulled back, you’re asking, “Who decided on this location? Did Tuku write those lyrics himself? And how many hours did the team argue over that perfect shot?” Welcome to creative advertising, baby! It’s not just fun and games—it’s brainpower, hustle, and yeah, a few late-night meltdowns.

But here’s where things get wild: the game has changed. We’ve gone from TV and radio to a full-on digital explosion. Social media? AI? AR? VR?! The tools are endless. But are we actually using them? Or are we still clinging to the comfort of the past like it’s a warm security blanket?

Listen, the future of Zim advertising is an open road, but too many brands are stuck driving with the handbrake on. Afraid to go all out, to push boundaries, to get weird. Imagine the insane stuff we could create with all the tech and platforms at our disposal. Those old-school Zimbabwean ads? Yeah, they’re legends, but they didn’t get there by playing it safe.

So, here’s the tough love: if you’re running a business or managing a brand, ask yourself—are you embracing the future, or just recycling the past? Zim’s advertising is ready for a revolution. Are you?

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