MEDIA advertising agencies should adapt and be innovative as technology continues to threaten traditional media, Tatu advertising agency chairperson Nqobile Magwizi has said.
Magwizi made the call during Tatu’s 20th anniversary celebrations held last week.
He said the company had to constantly adapt for its survival when it stepped into a field dominated by long-established advertising agencies.
Magwizi, whose extensive experience spans business consultancy, strategic partnerships, and marketing, attributed the company’s achievements to a steadfast commitment to resilience, creativity, relationships and transformation.
“As we reflect on our 20-year journey, the rewards of showing up become abundantly clear,” Magwizi said. “They didn’t come easily, but they came because we had faith and stayed the course.”
Recalling the challenges and triumphs of the past two decades, Magwizi reflected on Tatu’s journey marked by a commitment to innovation.
Projects like Nyami Nyami, Zimbabwe’s first animated film, as well as flagship events like Miss Tourism World and the National Arts Merit Awards franchise, demonstrated Tatu’s drive to push boundaries and redefine what was possible in Zimbabwe’s advertising sector.
Tatu’s resilience, according to Magwizi, was another key element in its success.
- ‘Advertising agencies must adapt to survive’
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“Showing up was not always glamorous,” he remarked. “There were times when we spent more hours in bank queues than in boardrooms.
“A time when pivoting was not an option but a necessity for survival. Yet, we adapted, grew stronger, and weathered every storm.”
The company is working with more than 200 brands, employing over 500 staff, and offering countless students a launch pad for their careers, Magwizi said.
Tatu managing director Martin Matamisa expressed gratitude for their clients’ support.
“Today, we have many success stories to share, including the milestone we are gathered here to celebrate — 20 years of impactful leadership,” he said.
Tatu’s story began on October 5, 2004, when Carl Joshua Ncube, Chido Madzivanyika and Magwizi took a leap of faith, founding the company with a vision inspired by the Shona word “tatu,” meaning “three”.
