INTELLIGENCE / THE CULTURAL-SIGNAL INDEX · THE 2026 CLASS

Who actually authored the influence.

A proprietary, authorship-weighted read of brand and cultural work — scored across idea, authorship, execution and consequence. Editorial judgement, evidence-led, and ranked.

68
BRANDS RANKED
69
WORKS SCORED
100
TOP SCORE
81
INDEX AVERAGE

MOVERS · SINCE 2026-07-07

What moved.

SHARE THIS UPDATE

Since 2026-07-07, 1 brand climbed and 5 entered the Index — Flutterwave led, up 1 to 85/100.

▲ CLIMBERS

Flutterwave▲ 1 → 85

NEW ENTRIES

Capitec BankNEW · 100Ethiopian AirlinesNEW · 95Dangote Petroleum RefineryNEW · 92Nando'sNEW · 90Checkers Sixty60 (Shoprite Holdings)NEW · 90

THE RANKING

Every scored brand, ranked.

FILTER68 shown

68 BRANDS · TRACKING SINCE 2026-06-23

  1. 1

    Capitec Bank

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW100SIGNAL
  2. 2

    Letsile Tebogo × De Beers / Botswana

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —97SIGNAL
  3. 3

    The Black Book (Editi Effiong) / Nollywood on Netflix

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —97SIGNAL
  4. 4

    Tems

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —95SIGNAL
  5. 5

    Paystack

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —95SIGNAL
  6. 6

    Ethiopian Airlines

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW95SIGNAL
  7. 7

    Achraf Hakimi / Morocco national team

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —95SIGNAL
  8. 8

    Kava (Inkblot Studios + Filmhouse Group)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —94SIGNAL
  9. 9

    The Met Gala 2025 — “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —93SIGNAL
  10. 10

    Burna Boy × FIFA ('Dai Dai', with Shakira)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —93SIGNAL
  11. 11

    Dangote Petroleum Refinery

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW92SIGNAL
  12. 12

    DR Congo (Léopards) × JMAKxPARIS

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE DEVELOPING

    —92SIGNAL
  13. 13

    Nando's

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW90SIGNAL
  14. 14

    Checkers Sixty60 (Shoprite Holdings)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW90SIGNAL
  15. 15

    Thebe Magugu

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —90SIGNAL
  16. 16

    Moniepoint

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —90SIGNAL
  17. 17

    Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games / IOC

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —90SIGNAL
  18. 18

    Wizkid × Asake — REAL, Vol. 1

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —90SIGNAL
  19. 19

    Tyla × the World Cup Stage

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE DEVELOPING

    —90SIGNAL
  20. 20

    Nike × Air Afrique

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —88SIGNAL
  21. 21

    Bathu

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —87SIGNAL
  22. 22

    Tongoro

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —87SIGNAL
  23. 23

    Maison Château Rouge

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —87SIGNAL
  24. 24

    Chicken Licken

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW87SIGNAL
  25. 25

    MaXhosa Africa

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW87SIGNAL
  26. 26

    Uncle Waffles

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —87SIGNAL
  27. 27

    Iamisigo (Bubu Ogisi)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —87SIGNAL
  28. 28

    Chicken Licken (agency: Joe Public)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —87SIGNAL
  29. 29

    Flutterwave

    2 WORKS · AUTHORSHIP 4.5/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    185SIGNAL
  30. 30

    The Polygamist (Stained Glass TV / Netflix)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —85SIGNAL
  31. 31

    TymeBank

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —83SIGNAL
  32. 32

    Mamelodi Sundowns

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW83SIGNAL
  33. 33

    Faith Kipyegon / Kenyan distance running

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —83SIGNAL
  34. 34

    Tyla × Pandora (and Nike, Chanel, H&M)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —83SIGNAL
  35. 35

    FIFA World Cup Stage × Rema

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE DEVELOPING

    —83SIGNAL
  36. 36

    Boyedoe (David Kusi Boye-Doe)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 5/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —82SIGNAL
  37. 37

    Spiro

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —81SIGNAL
  38. 38

    Ayra Starr (× Maybelline / New Balance / Pepsi)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —80SIGNAL
  39. 39

    AfroPlus Fest 2026

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —80SIGNAL
  40. 40

    Sarkodie × Shatta Wale (EVERLASTING)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE DEVELOPING

    —80SIGNAL
  41. 41

    Kenneth Ize

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW77SIGNAL
  42. 42

    Tyla

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW76SIGNAL
  43. 43

    Three Ships Whisky (James Sedgwick Distillery)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —76SIGNAL
  44. 44

    Inverroche × Pernod Ricard

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —76SIGNAL
  45. 45

    Carry1st

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW75SIGNAL
  46. 46

    Uncover

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —75SIGNAL
  47. 47

    OPay

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW74SIGNAL
  48. 48

    Mavin Global

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW73SIGNAL
  49. 49

    Trace

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW73SIGNAL
  50. 50

    The Hollywoodbets Durban July 2026

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —73SIGNAL
  51. 51

    NBA Africa / Basketball Africa League

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —73SIGNAL
  52. 52

    Visa

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —71SIGNAL
  53. 53

    MTN Group

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW70SIGNAL
  54. 54

    Kaizer Chiefs × Carling Black Label

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —70SIGNAL
  55. 55

    Indomie

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —69SIGNAL
  56. 56

    Nigeria — 'Detty December' / Naija Season

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —69SIGNAL
  57. 57

    Rema × Diesel

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —68SIGNAL
  58. 58

    Billiato (Family Tree / Cassper Nyovest)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 4/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW67SIGNAL
  59. 59

    Basketball Africa League

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —66SIGNAL
  60. 60

    Canal+ × MultiChoice (the end of Showmax)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —66SIGNAL
  61. 61

    Spotify x Afro Nation (The Malachite Group)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —66SIGNAL
  62. 62

    South African Rugby Union (Springboks)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 3/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW65SIGNAL
  63. 63

    Adidas

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —64SIGNAL
  64. 64

    Coca-Cola

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —64SIGNAL
  65. 65

    Puma

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    —61SIGNAL
  66. 66

    Budweiser (AB InBev)

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE MODERATE

    —61SIGNAL
  67. 67

    Showmax

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW58SIGNAL
  68. 68

    Jumia Technologies AG

    1 WORK · AUTHORSHIP 2/5 · EVIDENCE STRONG

    NEW58SIGNAL
OPEN DATA FEEDJSONCSVMETHODOLOGYAPI DOCS

METHODOLOGY

How the score is built — and what it is not.

The Cultural-Signal Score is an authorship-weighted composite of four editorial dimensions, each scored 1–5 and expressed out of 100. It is interpretive editorial judgement — a defensible, evidence-led reading — not a measured market metric.

IDEA25%

Originality and cultural force of the idea.

AUTHORSHIP35%

Who shaped it — African creative leadership vs localisation.

EXECUTION15%

Craft, narrative and product detail.

CONSEQUENCE25%

What it actually moved — culture and commerce.

AUTHORSHIP carries the heaviest weight: it is the question MonoKromatik exists to ask — who shaped the idea, who got access, who captured value. Every score is set and signed by a named analyst, Sibu Shangase — an AI-assisted draft → analyst-approval workflow, never autonomous.

READ THE FULL METHODOLOGY

THE FULL REPORT

The scores are free. The Index is the product.

Take the complete ranking, every per-axis breakdown, the methodology and the evidence behind each score — or license the data for your team.

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