Dear sisters, dear brothers, dear community,
We’re here. 365 days of audacity, passion, and commitment that have transformed the African media landscape. L’Africaine wasn’t just born a year ago – it emerged as a force, a necessity, an inevitability. Together, we sowed the seeds of a dream that is now bearing fruit.
Who would have thought that in twelve months, we would become this lush garden where talents bloom, this significant crossroads where the destinies of thousands of African women converge? From the boardrooms of Lagos and Burundi to the colorful markets of Dakar and Ghana, from the research labs of Cape Town to the artistic scenes of Nairobi or Lomé, and across Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Gambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Guinea, Madagascar, and more, we’ve woven a tapestry of inspiration where each thread tells a unique story, where each color represents our infinite diversity.
Our mission is clear: to shatter glass ceilings, deconstruct stereotypes, celebrate excellence and beauty. But above all, to create this sacred space where every African woman, whether she’s in the heart of the Sahel or in the metropolises of the diaspora, can recognize herself, connect, inspire, and uplift herself.
The numbers speak for themselves: over 500 articles published, dozens of inspiring portraits and interviews, reports on over twenty countries, no less than 5 awareness campaigns initiated, a radio column available on 8 radio stations in Benin and online, and a digital community of over 20,000 members. But beyond the statistics, it’s the concrete transformations that make our hearts beat faster: the entrepreneurs who have found wider exposure thanks to our articles, the artists whose careers we have propelled, the citizen initiatives that we have helped grow, the knowledge about women and their daily lives that has transformed lives, the platforms that have triggered a click in many minds…
L’Africaine, that’s you. It’s that young startup founder from Kigali who is revolutionizing tech. It’s that farmer from Mali who feeds her community. It’s that diaspora chef who is shining a light on African culinary art internationally. It’s each of you who, day after day, reinvents the codes and pushes the boundaries of the possible.
Today, we’re not just celebrating an anniversary. We’re celebrating the dawn of a new media era, where the African woman is no longer a subject but a driving force. An era where our stories are no longer written for us but by us. An era where every story counts, where every voice carries, where every dream can become reality.
The adventure is just beginning. Our vision for 2025 is brimming with ambition: to become the essential go-to media for African women from all walks of life, while remaining this warm place of sisterhood and sharing that characterizes us. We are preparing major innovations: putting images to our stories, offering support to entrepreneurs, being at the heart of major pan-African events that will celebrate our diversity and excellence.
To our current partners who believed in this audacious vision from day one: your trust honors us and commits us. To those who are still hesitant to join us: history is in motion, and your place is by our side. Together, we will build a world where every African woman can fully flourish and realize all her dreams.
Because L’Africaine is more than just a media outlet. It’s a movement. A revolution. A renaissance. It’s the heartbeat of millions of African women who dare to dream big and act even bigger.
And this is only the beginning of our shared story.
With pride, love, and dedication,
Pélagie Blewussi
Director of L’Africaine