FCB Joburg's Creates Hilarious Rap to Convince South Africans to Use Card over Cash

Absa hopes to boost card usage over cash with a new campaign created by FCB Joburg that utilises television, radio, out-of-home, digital, social and internal communications.

‘Swiiish’, features a protagonist who enters the lives of people paying with cash to question their foolhardy behaviour at various points-of-sale.

The spot takes its strategic direction from the platform ‘Anything cash can do, your Absa card can do better’.

But, rather than fall back on the ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’, a ditty made famous (at least in the westernised, English-speaking world by the 1950s musical “Annie Get Your Gun”), the creative treatment is quintessential modern South African – as it should well be

Not only does the campaign use a very colloquial piece of music specifically created to resonate with South Africans living in our dynamic and culturally diverse society, it includes some great characterisation and a hand movement that could well make its way into popular culture.

“The strength of this campaign is twofold. Firstly, it’s messaging is straightforward and easy to understand. Second, it is strongly rooted in South African insights and truths, thereby appealing to Absa’s diverse but truly local market,” said Manager for Integrated Marketing Campaigns, Bertus van der Walt.

Created by Executive Creative Director Gareth Paul, with creative direction by Loyiso Twala and Greg Russell, art direction from Thandeka Gilbert and copywriting from Boniso Modise, Siyabonga Moloi and Sifiso Ndhlovu, the campaign broke on September 26.

The TVC premiered for the first time on October 15, and the campaign will continue to roll-out through mid-December.

“With 65% of all transactions in South Africa still done in cash, Absa wanted to get their customers to pay with their card more often than with cash,” said Paul. “The reasons for a consumer to adopt this behaviour are simple and logical – you earn rewards when you swipe, it’s faster when you Tap and Pay, it’s safer than carrying cash, you can track your spend on the Absa app, and it’s more convenient.

“But, if not delivered in an engaging manner, even the best of reasons could be a turn-off. South Africans are not boring people, so we gave them an energetic and engaging musical that’s 100% Mzansi with the assistance of Tigerfight and Bomb Production.

"At FCB Africa, we pride ourselves on consistently delivering work that touches the hearts and souls of ordinary South Africans while helping our clients to achieve their business objectives. I’m certain ‘Swiiish’ will meet the grade,” he said.