If There Were No Foreigners, or Kenyans

The world was increasingly shocked by the goings-on on the continent as Africa’s ‘most stable’ economies almost literally came to a halt, with post election violence in Kenya early January and the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in May 2008.

Thousands flocked the streets of the capital, Johannesburg to protest the attacks against foreigners which  left an estimated 50 people dead, hundreds seriously injured and some 15,000 displaced. This incident, much like Kenya’s own post election violence will firmly be ingrained in the society.

In a new Nandos advert, the South African foodchain, which is also present in Kenya as Galitos, exploited the xenophobic mentality with an interesting display of just how pointless being prejudiced against foreigners is.

Nando’s ‘Diversity’ campaign is a brand that seeks to question Xenophobia and intolerance through the flame-grilled chicken offered on its menu. The advert explores the possibility of what would happen if everyone in the country who was not of pure origin disappeared. In a scene on the advert, you can see Kenyans represented by a couple of runners, and they also vanish in a puff of smoke.

Nando’s argues that they would all disappear as South Africa really belonged only to the Khoisan once. Check out the advert below:

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