THINK CHICKEN AND you think dictators, right?

Er… maybe not so much.

But the folks behind the new Nando’s ad campaign have stirred up a little controversy with their new ad that features a number of dictators hanging out together.

The catch? All of them – except one – are dead, leaving just one dictator standing… so he can’t enjoy a Nando’s meal with his closest mates.

The Last Dictator Standing ad features an actor portraying Robert Mugabe setting a table for friends – before reminiscing about water fights with characters Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, fun in the sand with Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, playground time with South Africa’s PW Botha and tank-surfing with Uganda’s Idi Amin.

But when the dream ends, Mugabe is left alone at his huge dinner table, with only a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte for company.

Nando’s is a South African chain that has not shied away from controversy – another recent ad, this time in print, made reference to the so-called ‘Black Tuesday’ when the country passed a secrecy bill.

Nando’s has four branches in the Republic of Ireland – three in Dublin at Mary St, Andrew’s St, Dundrum Shopping Centre and Swords Pavilion, and one in Cork at the Mahon Point Shopping Centre.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More

It also has two restaurants in Belfast.

Watch the ad below, courtesy of the official Nando’s South Africa channel on Youtube: