SA: After Cannes, Khuli Chana is ready to ‘take over the world’

Formerly known as the International Advertising Festival, the event is designed to honour the best creative projects across the globe. Released on YouTube on 5 October 2016, ‘One Source’ won a bronze, two silvers and a gold in the entertainment categories against more than 43 000 entries from around the world.

Khuli Chana, who was in France last week for the awards ceremony, took to Facebook to thank God and his sponsors. “I am so blessed, all glory to Modimo [God]. Thank you for surrounding me with greats minds, Native VML and the absolute [sic] team. We won a bronze, two silvers and a gold; this is out of something like 43 000 entries from all over the world, this is crazy,” he wrote.

Khuli Chana shared the stage with US musician Wyclef Jean during the awards ceremony, and apparently the ex-Fugees member helped the South African get his name out there. “I bagged so many global contacts after the show because he [Wyclef] put me on [introduced me on stage]. This is why we do what we do, to make people's lives better. If u ain't doing anything to change anybody's life, then really what's the point,” he wrote on Facebook.

Khuli Chana’s victory in Cannes comes after the rapper’s video was nominated in the Music Video of the Year category at the controversial 2017 Metro FM Awards. However, The Lost In Time hitmaker didn’t win the award and lost out to Du Boiz’s ‘Dope Dreams’.

Speaking to a South African publication, Khuli Chana urged local artists to broaden their scope. “We need to stop creating for local and think global,” he said. “I met some interesting creatives from all over the world and I’m truly inspired by how they think. I’m ready to make that transition and take over the world.”

‘One Source’ was directed by Sunu, a Zimbabwean artist who works for South African production company Egg Films. “For a long time, South African creatives looked overseas for inspiration,” Sunu said. “In contrast, ‘One Source’ is a celebration of the creative revolution taking place across the continent as we embrace who we are as Africans. All credit to Native VML, Absolut and Pernod Ricard for seeing the opportunity in showcasing Africa in a completely different light on a global stage.”

Egg Films producer Kerry Hosford expressed his excitement about the rapper’s success in Cannes. “This was a collaboration of truly talented people. We’re immensely grateful to have been able to work with a brave agency and client who allowed us to make work that stands out, at a time when so many brands in SA are playing it safe.”