The Burkinabé Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert OUEDRAOGO, presided over the first edition of the ZAMA D'OR awards on October 9, 2026, in Ouagadougou. This ceremony marks a significant step in valuing communication and advertising professions in Burkina Faso. The event took place in the banquet hall of Ouaga 2000.
The ZAMA D'OR awards comprise six official prizes that recognize excellence in various categories. Simon Céphas Bamouni from the University of Norbert-Zongo was distinguished in institutional communication, while Aboudou Karim Bationo from OXY Conseil was rewarded in commercial communication. Adama Wend-yam Ouédraogo from OXY Conseil won for a television institutional spot, and Rhachida Moussa Maïga from CRAC was awarded for her public reportage.
The awards also honored outstanding work in written press and graphic creation. Sahkiru Dyne from AG Partners Burkina was recognized for an institutional poster, and Nazaire Erick Zongo from Omega Vision Communication won for a product poster. These categories showcase the diversity of skills in public communication, commercial advertising, audiovisual production, and visual creation.
The ceremony included honorary distinctions, with Joachim Baky and Moussa Joseph Ouédraogo, also known as CVD, receiving the ZAMA d'hommage. Désiré Comboigo and Malam Nignan were awarded the ZAMA d'honneur. By honoring these figures and Zama Publicité, a pioneer in Burkinabé advertising, the competition links the sector's history with the ambitions of the new generation.
Minister Pingdwendé emphasized the importance of communication as a space for responsibility and cultural sovereignty. He encouraged actors to make communication a tool for calming, uniting, and enlightening the population, especially in the context of security challenges and disinformation. He stressed the need to consider national languages, distant audiences, and the valorization of Burkinabé heritage.
The success of the ZAMA D'OR awards depends on its ability to become a lasting event, strengthening the credibility of its selection criteria, and promoting continuous improvement of professional practices. By celebrating excellence, innovation, and commitment, the competition can drive transformation in the sector and become a major event for more ambitious, responsible, and population-serving Burkinabé communication.
The first edition of the ZAMA D'OR awards highlights the vitality of Burkina Faso's national communication ecosystem. The diversity of categories and winners demonstrates the plurality of skills mobilized in the sector. As the competition moves forward, it aims to encourage better consideration of national languages, distant audiences, and the valorization of Burkinabé heritage, ultimately contributing to a more responsible and sovereign communication landscape.
Key points
- The ZAMA D'OR awards recognize excellence in communication and advertising in Burkina Faso.
- The competition aims to promote responsibility and cultural sovereignty in communication.
- The event honors both new talents and veteran figures in the Burkinabé communication sector.
