Brand recognition is more than just an award ceremony; it is a statement about the nation, what it stands for, and its identity.

These were the words of the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, speaking during the 21st Namibia's Best Brands recognition awards across various categories in Brand Africa.

"It's very important for us as a country to actually have Namibian brands not only recognised in Namibia but also on the continent and also in the world, because as much as brands contribute to a country, countries also contribute to creating brands. And in doing so, brands can actually put a country on the map to increase our competitiveness in trade."

Brand Africa, Africa's Best Brands initiative, a regional distribution company that was launched in 2011, aims to measure the progress Africa is making in building strong homegrown brands. 

NamRA's Commissioner, Sam Shivute, was recognised for leadership, while the brands are: One Economy Foundation, MTC, Old Mutual, FNB, and Woermann Supermarkets.

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation was recognised as the number one most admired Namibian media brand, which marked its second time walking away with the title. 

The founder of Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng, said the core idea is that brands are not just products; they shape a country's image and identity and shape their competitiveness. 

"So the goal is to try and measure and understand and to celebrate those brands that are contributing towards a great Namibia and a great Africa. What prompted you to this specific event? When we started in 2010-2011, we realised that people coming into the country are coming to buy brands. But the brands that are coming to buy here, or consume rather, are not made in Africa."