Narrate delivers strategic communications advice for brands and businesses shaping Africa. We uncover insights and drive impact among those who matter most to your business or brand, by shaping authentic narratives that fuel reputation.
Through our partnership with the Maharishi Invincibility Institute - a proven leader in youth education and empowerment, and a shareholder in Narrate via its Black Female Education Trust.
Who we are
Narrate is an independent strategic communications consultancy based in Johannesburg, built over 25 years as part of the international Instinctif Partners franchise. In 2025 we led a local management buyout, creating an independent consultancy rooted in Africa, its people and its passions. We pair senior judgement with proprietary intelligence, sitting deliberately between the global reputation advisers and the strategy consultancies. We bring the counsel of the former with the analytical rigour of the latter. Narrate delivers for clients through a core team of practice and sector experts based in South Africa and Europe, with a network of in-market partners across the continent.
What we do
Narrate advises businesses and brands in the moments that define reputation — from leadership transitions to rebrands, capital markets days and crises. In each, we shape the narrative and counsel the people steering the change.
Connecting stakeholders, building trust and creating brand value - communications that enhance reputation and stand up to scrutiny.
Counsel for the critical corporate situations - delivered with speed, sensitivity and senior support, before and when it matters.
Strategy-led, design-inspired and brand-driven content that cuts through the noise and builds genuine connection - informed by data, executed with craft.
Engaging the stakeholders who shape your licence to operate, and communicating the commitments that matter - with strategic rigour and integrity.
Trusted advisers to C-suites and leadership teams, helping companies articulate a compelling investment case and build the narrative that drives shareholder value.
The proprietary insight capability beneath it all - perception audits, peer analysis and reputation-risk monitoring that ground every recommendation in evidence.
How we work
We run every engagement as a structured journey - so progress is visible, the senior team stays close, and value compounds over time.
We start with evidence. Drawing on Narrate Intelligence, we map how you are perceived, how your peers are positioned, and where the real opportunities and risks lie - before a word is written.
We build the strategy, narrative and creative with intent. Every message, channel and asset is designed to serve a clear objective and to hold up under scrutiny.
We deliver - and stay close. Senior advice guides the moments that matter, while disciplined programme management keeps the work on track and measurable.
Narrate Intelligence
Narrate Intelligence is our proprietary insight capability, the AI engine behind the advice we give. It turns noisy market data into a clear picture a senior adviser can act on: how you and your peers are perceived, where sentiment is shifting, and where reputation risk and opportunity sit.
It is what allows a focused team to out-analyse far larger firms — distilling a year of coverage and conversation into a perception map in a fraction of the time. We use it to inform every engagement, but never let the data speak in place of judgement.
Our work
PRCA
Growing Africa's largest digital learning platform, German Government sponsored.
Turning proprietary data into an ownable market platform.
Reshaping trade policy to protect South Africa's cement industry.
Launching AXIAN's first Sustainability Report across seven pan-African markets.
A national awards show translated to digital.
Closing the gap between value and perception.
An R804-million investment on the national stage.
Annual reports that bring a decade of community impact to life.
Selected work. Click any tile to read the full case study.
Africa's largest free digital-learning platform - scaled.
An integrated campaign across five African markets drove 200,000+ platform registrations in six months, generated coverage on 659 news platforms, and grew atingi's Facebook community by over 313% - establishing it as the continent's leading free learning platform. Our "Breaking Barriers, Building Futures" campaign earned a PRISM Silver Award.
Turning proprietary data into an ownable market platform.
We built the Bryte Travel Index - "The Age of Everywhere" - into South Africa's definitive annual travel trends platform, reaching 1.9 million+ readers, viewers and listeners at launch and delivering a 100% increase in Bryte's December media exposure. Now in its fourth edition, a trusted reference point for media and travel professionals.
Evidence-based public affairs - from industry threat to policy influence.
When dumped cement imports from Vietnam, China and Pakistan threatened South Africa's local cement industry, PPC needed more than lobbying - it needed a credible, evidence-based campaign capable of moving policymakers. We designed and led a focused public affairs programme anchored in independent socioeconomic impact research commissioned from GIBS, giving the industry's case the factual weight needed to engage decision-makers, business leaders and the media.
A targeted stakeholder engagement programme secured public advocacy from Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), drew Proudly SA into engagement with the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), and brought Western Cape government officials to PPC-hosted events. Opinion pieces, interviews and press releases generated front-page national coverage. The GIBS report launch, a business breakfast and a community forum built broader understanding and support - elevating PPC's position within trade and policy discussions and reinforcing the case for fair market conditions and the protection of local industry and employment.
Turning transparency into market leadership.
We managed AXIAN's inaugural Sustainability Report launch - shaping it as both a credible ESG disclosure and a strategic communication asset. An interactive press release and executive interview programme reinforced AXIAN's position as a responsible digital-inclusion leader across its seven pan-African operating markets.
An entire awards show translated to digital - without losing the glamour.
When COVID forced South Africa's most prestigious film and television awards online, we built a campaign that trended for 48+ hours - generating R5.5 million in PR value, 682,000 tweet impressions and a 19% increase in award entries. Instagram followers grew 5.5% overnight.
Closing the gap between value and perception.
A JSE-listed property REIT trading at a persistent discount to NAV. We built a refreshed investor narrative, ran a dual-city analyst roadshow and generated 135 media mentions in eight months — all of which led to a measurable share price recovery, with all 14 perception-survey participants confirming a clear understanding of the investment case.
An R804-million investment - on the national stage.
For the launch of Hesto Harnesses' new KZN facility - creating 4,000 jobs for youth and women - we positioned the event as a national investment showcase. President Ramaphosa attended; SABC and CNBC Africa broadcast live; coverage ran across every major national platform and was amplified by the Presidency's own channels.
Turning a decade of community impact into compelling annual stories
A multi-year partnership producing the Tiger Brands Foundation's Annual Reports - from strategy and interviews through to design and print. We conducted in-depth interviews with all contributors to capture first-hand insights, combining authentic narratives with creative visual design to showcase the Foundation's initiatives and impact across South Africa's communities. The 2023 report theme - "Fuelling the Future: Partnering for Change" - wove together stories of youth, nutrition, and economic inclusion.
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