It’s uncanny. You’ve all seen the Guinness ’surfer’ ad a thousand
times and yet you’ve never quite seen it through the eyes of a recent
correspondent to Campaign.
’I am a commercial artist from Nigeria and I am in your country to learn
more about my trade. But I am now confused. I see a commercial for
Guinness, the black beer, on television and I do not understand why the
man with the bad teeth is being chased by the angry horses. Who left
them in the water to drown? Was it him? In Lagos we have many water
buffalo but they do not swim so well. It is not very hygienic for people
to be swimming in water full of horse pupu (sic). Much money must be
spent on catching the horses and cleaning the beach because the maker
could not afford colour film.
’My own commercial for Mangola (’the totally artificial taste!’) also
cost many nira but it won a ’Brown Pencil’ from the State of Public
Information unit and for me a lifetime supply of the fruity
beverage.
’Of course, it is not as famous as Guinness but it also does not play
silly buggers with your innards.’
