Superbrands East Africa Honours 61 Market Leaders, Spotlights Brand Custodians at 9th Tribute Awards

Superbrands East Africa marked a major milestone at its 9th Tribute Awards held on January 29, 2026, at the Sankara Hotel, Nairobi. The ceremony celebrated brand excellence across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, reinforcing Superbrands’ position as the definitive authority on quality and consumer trust in East Africa.

Volume 9 of the programme, delivered in partnership with Mastercard, recognised 61 companies for sustained market leadership, resilience and relevance in an increasingly competitive environment. In a historic first, Superbrands also honoured 75 brand custodians—the strategists and executives shaping the region’s most successful brands—bringing the people behind the logos firmly into the spotlight.

Celebrating Regional Champions

The 9th Edition showcased a diverse slate of winners whose brands continue to earn deep consumer loyalty. In Kenya, Naivas Supermarkets, Chandaria Industries, Equity Bank, Safisha and Festive Bread received Superbrands status. Tanzania’s honourees included ITV, The Guardian, GSM, Amsons Group, Azam, Hisense, Tanfoam Arusha and Whitedent, while Uganda’s Tembo Steel was recognised for its strong market presence.

The night’s top accolade, the MVP Sports Category, went to Tanzania’s Simba SC Football Club. The award was received by CEO Zubeda Hassan Sakuru, with the club lauded for its international success and recent ranking among Africa’s Top Five football clubs by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Two Decades of Brand Evolution

Reflecting on Superbrands’ journey since its launch in 2007, Project Director Jawad Jaffer highlighted the programme’s steady evolution alongside changing consumer habits and technology. He pointed to the introduction of consumer research in 2010, which allows thousands of consumers to vote for the brands they trust most, and the digitisation of over 42,000 brand profiles on the Superbrands website.

Jaffer also noted the growth of Superbrands TV, which has amassed more than 15 million views on YouTube, and the recent introduction of brand portfolio valuation—an initiative designed to help companies better understand and quantify their true market value.

The CEO Leadership Playbook for Africa

A high-energy panel discussion brought together leading voices to examine what leadership in Africa looks like in 2026. Moderated by Shreya Karia of SHK Consulting, the session featured Dr. Vimal Shah (Bidco Africa), Tom Sitati (Architect and Brand Strategist), Vikas Mehta (Former CEO, Ogilvy Africa) and Zubeda Sakuru (Simba SC).

Dr. Shah urged African leaders to shed donor-dependency narratives and tap into the continent’s inherent leadership strengths, arguing that Africa’s human-centred leadership style is its greatest asset. Sitati spoke of a growing sense of pride and aspiration across the continent, while Sakuru highlighted sport as a unifying force that transcends borders and politics. Mehta underscored empathy as a critical ingredient for building brands that resonate across diverse African markets.

Innovation and Continental Pride

The evening also saw the unveiling of the Volume 9 hard-cover book, featuring a striking aerial photograph of Mount Kilimanjaro by the late, legendary photographer Mohamed Amin. Speaking at the event, Salim Amin of the Mohamed Amin Foundation shared the story behind the image, recalling the daring approach his father took to capture photographs that went on to define how Africa tells its own story.

As the curtains closed on the 9th Tribute Awards, Superbrands East Africa reaffirmed its role not just as a marker of brand excellence, but as a platform celebrating leadership, innovation and the growing confidence of African brands on the regional and global stage.

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