The Africa Next Awards, created to celebrate African excellence on the international stage, will be held on September 5, 2026 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The ceremony, which highlights inspiring career paths, will honor 80 winners across ten categories this year.
Ange Fabien Guéi, an iconic figure of the Ivorian diaspora, embodies this dynamism. After a career in the agro‑industrial sector, he took the helm of NCI Television, a rapidly expanding pan‑African channel. His trajectory reflects an ability to innovate and adapt—qualities essential for African entrepreneurs.
Ange Fabien Guéi will be recognized at the Africa Next Awards 2026 on September 3 in Paris. The ceremony will take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet, a landmark venue in the French capital. One hundred laureates will be celebrated during this edition, spanning eight fields of distinction. Guéi is the chief executive of NCI Television, a pan‑African broadcaster. His professional journey began in the coffee‑cocoa sector before turning to media. The Africa Next Awards aim to place African excellence on a prestigious global stage.
Guéi’s path illustrates a strong trend within the African diaspora: the capacity to transcend traditional industries and embrace innovative fields. His move from coffee‑cocoa—a cornerstone of Côte d’Ivoire’s economy—to media, a sector undergoing rapid transformation, shows how skills acquired in one domain can be successfully redeployed elsewhere.
This award also underscores the growing importance of pan‑African media in promoting African narratives. Under his leadership, NCI Television is becoming a key player in bringing Africa’s voice to the international arena, while providing economic and cultural opportunities for talent across the continent.
For Cameroon and French‑speaking Africa, this recognition sends a powerful signal to diaspora entrepreneurs. It highlights the possibility of daring professional transitions while remaining rooted in the continent’s economic realities. Guéi thus becomes a role model for young Africans, demonstrating that non‑linear careers can lead to excellence when built on solid skills and a clear vision.
By honoring Ange Fabien Guéi, the Africa Next Awards 2026 are not just celebrating an individual but a broader dynamic: an Africa that innovates, reinvents itself, and asserts its presence on the world stage. His story reminds us that diaspora successes are not exceptions but examples to follow in building a future where African excellence is the norm.
