As Africa’s top 200 brands increased their combined value by 11% to $62.6-billion in 2026, the continent’s most valuable brand, South African telecommunications giant MTN, is facing mounting pressure from fellow telecommunications group Vodacom and banking group Standard Bank.

For the thirteenth consecutive year, MTN retained its position as Africa’s most valuable brand, with a stable brand value of $2.9- billion, according to brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance’s ‘Africa 200 2026’ report.

Vodacom remained close behind in second place, with its brand value rising by 9% to $2.8-billion, while Standard Bank recorded a 19% increase to $2.6-billion, securing third position.

The report attributes MTN’s continued leadership to continued momentum in its data and fintech businesses, alongside disciplined execution across its 16 markets.

“With a subscriber base reaching beyond 307-million, MTN has strengthened both scale and relevance. Its repositioning under ‘Today We Make Moves’ marks a clear shift from a connectivity provider to a broader enabler of progress, spanning financial inclusion, digital access and youth engagement,” Brand Finance noted.

Vodacom’s growth reflected a deliberate diversification strategy, combining geographic expansion into Egypt and Ethiopia with increased contributions from beyond-mobile services.

“The continued uptake of platforms such as VodaPay, M-Pesa, and Vodafone Cash highlights its evolution into a digital ecosystem player, while targeted campaigns and SME-focused solutions reinforce relevance in a price-sensitive and highly competitive market.”

Meanwhile, Standard Bank’s strong corporate and investment banking performance, coupled with growth in fee income and trading revenue, has supported record profitability.



Overall, strong performance was achieved across the banking, telecommunications and retail sectors. 

South African brands dominated the top 10 positions in this year’s ranking, reinforcing the country’s structural strength in scale-driven, service-led sectors.

First National Bank ranked fourth, with its brand value increasing by 19% to $2-billion, followed by Absa in fifth place, thanks to 11% brand value growth to $1.8-billion.

Checkers ranked sixth, with its brand value rising by 8% to $1.5- billion and Shoprite climbed three places from 2025 to seventh this year, with its brand value rising by 24% to $1.4-billion.

Wrapping up the top ten brands, Nedbank held the eighth place, with its brand value increasing by 16% to $1.4-billion; Capitec Bank ranked ninth, registering a 25% brand value rise to $1.3-billion; and Investec, in tenth place, achieved a brand value increase of 14% to $1.3-billion.

In 2026, 14 new African brands entered the Africa 200 2026 report, including several South African firms, namely Savanna ranking at 14, Valterra Platinum at 51, the South African National Roads Agency Limited at 84, and AVI at 191.

Brands from Egypt include ALEXBANK, in the position of 152, Ovio ranking at 149 and RAYA Auto coming in at 165, while brands from Tanzania included Mixx at 163 and Yas at 61.

Other brands entering the rankings were Morocco’s OCP Group at 30, Nigeria’s FCMB Group at 125, Algeria’s Gulf Bank Alegria at 196, and CIC Insurance Group and Jubilee Holdings, both from Kenya, at 195 and 200 respectively.