6th Grand Prix Francophilie des Médias underway in Yaounde.

Held under the theme: “Architecture”, this edition brings together 43 finalists from over 11 countries worldwide.

The opening ceremony was presided over by the Secretary General of Ministry of Communication, Prof Félix Zogo. He was joined by Technical Adviser No. 1 at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Armand Abanda Maye, alongside other dignitaries. 

Organisers disclosed that awards will recognise excellence in cultural reporting across four domains: print, radio, television, and photojournalism, each featuring junior and senior categories. All submissions must align with the event’s theme. 

An Iraqi finalist, Farah Adnan, praised the initiative. “The Grand Prix Francophilie des Médias offers a platform to showcase our countries. As a photojournalist from Iraq visiting Cameroon for the first time, this is a tremendous opportunity to unveil Iraq’s architectural beauty to the world,” she stated. 

Founding President of the Grand Prix Francophilie des Médias and chair of the Network of Cultural Journalists in Cameroon, Laurentine Assiga, explained the competition’s mission.

Assiga stated that: “Journalists often shift from core reporting principles. This event challenges cultural journalists to explore original topics while deepening their understanding of architectural terminology”.

Assiga further noted that: “This edition also addresses climate change in architecture, examining sustainable materials suited to specific environments. A people’s architecture defines their identity. In Cameroon, for instance, Pygmies are known for their huts and the Mousgoum for their cone-shaped mud houses”.

In his keynote address, Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication, Prof Félix Zogo, endorsed the initiative, urging participants to make good use of the opportunity.

He added that: “Beyond this theme, I encourage cultural journalists to continue enlightening the public and promoting our heritage globally, countering misleading social media narratives. You will always have government support”.

Weeklong activities include workshops on architecture, B2B networking sessions and a photo exhibition at the event’s village at the National Museum's esplanade. The competition culminates in an awards gala at the Yaoundé Conference Centre on July 27, with France as the guest country of honour.

By Albert Njebusi, Journalism student on internship 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3513 of Thursday July 24, 2025