"So Proud": Mall of Africa’s HAIR-itage Campaign Wins Gold, Drawing Pride from Mzansi

• Mall of Africa announced its first gold win at the prestigious Solal Awards held in Budapest, Hungary
• The Midrand shopping centre took home the award for its HAIR-itage Pop-Up campaign, competing against entries from 18 countries
• South Africans online celebrated the win, calling it a proud moment for African creativity on the world stage

Mall of Africa has taken home its first gold award at the Solal Awards, beating out more than 127 entries from across the globe. The Midrand shopping centre made the announcement on 19 October 2026, sharing the exciting news with its followers on Instagram.

The ceremony took place on 13 October in Budapest, Hungary, drawing participation from 56 companies across 18 countries. Mall of Africa walked away with the gold for its HAIR-itage Pop-Up campaign, a creative initiative that clearly struck a chord with international judges.

The Solal Awards are widely respected in the retail, leisure and destination sectors for recognising outstanding marketing campaigns. Winning gold in such a competitive field puts Mall of Africa firmly on the global map.

Read also

"Education is a flex": SA medical students celebrate being 6 weeks away from becoming doctors

African creativity recognised on the world stage

In their Instagram post, the mall described the achievement as "a significant milestone," adding that the recognition "celebrates the creativity, innovation and impact" of the campaign. They signed off with a sentiment that captured the mood perfectly:

"Inspired by Africa. Recognised by the world."

Mall of Africa, which opened in 2016 in Waterfall City, Midrand, spans approximately 131,000 square metres of retail space. It is one of South Africa's largest shopping destinations, offering a blend of local and international brands alongside dining, entertainment and wellness experiences.

The mall was not the only South African centre to shine at the awards. Eastgate Shopping Centre, Sandton City and Fourways Mall also received recognition on the night, marking a strong showing for South African retail marketing internationally.

View the Instagram post below:

Mzansi celebrates the win

South Africans flooded the comments on @_themallofafrica's Instagram page to share their pride:

Read also

Black American woman in tears at African Union says she is testimony of ancestors

@ilovezacom wrote:

"Congratulations 🎉 👏"

@mtheynmcbubbles shared:

"Congratulations and well deserving to my favorite mall ✨✨"

@prxanca said:

"👏👏👏 Congratulations my favorites 💘💘💘"

@leratoseku wrote:

"So So So Proud 🥹 🙌🏽! Congratulations Mall of Africa 🤌🏽💃🏽"

More Briefly News stories on malls

• See inside the new Pantry at Fourways Mall in Johannesburg, where a bakery, ice cream bar, imported groceries, home décor and restaurant have shoppers buzzing.
• A TikToker breaks down growing union calls to ban Shein and Temu in SA. COSATU endorsed the campaign to protect local businesses, but not everyone agrees.
• Admyt and Parket are rolling out ticketless parking at more shopping centres across South Africa, allowing motorists to skip parking tickets and payment queues.

Source: Briefly News