Wave, a fintech company, has received the African Disrupter Award at the AFIS Awards 2026, held on November 3 in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the Africa Financial Summit. The award recognizes Wave's contribution to expanding access to financial services through its low-cost mobile money model. This award is one of six prizes given at the AFIS Awards 2026.
The African Disrupter category rewards companies whose innovations challenge established market models and produce a measurable impact. Wave is present in 11 African countries and claims to have over 25 million active monthly users. The company's regional director and head of public affairs, Coura Tine Sene, stated that making financial services affordable and simple can change the possibilities for millions of people and businesses.
Wave's Senegalese general manager, El Hadji Malick Gueye, participated in discussions on financial supervision. The company was a Diamond sponsor of the summit, which focused on financing the African economy. Coura Tine Sene participated in a panel on Women In, discussing the use of alternative data to improve access to credit for women entrepreneurs.
Awa Gueye, Wave's public policy manager, participated in a session on stablecoins. El Hadji Malick Gueye took part in a roundtable discussion organized by Polytechs on payment traceability, coordinated supervision, and financial stability. This award comes as the mobile money sector is evolving in the UEMOA, with new BCEAO rules and the deployment of interoperability via PI-SPI.
The new BCEAO rules, which came into effect on November 2, and the deployment of interoperability via PI-SPI, strengthen competition between operators on service quality. Wave's award is a recognition of its impact on the financial sector. The company's innovation has made financial services more accessible and affordable for millions of people.
The Africa Financial Summit, now in its sixth edition, brings together industry leaders to discuss financing the African economy. Wave's participation in the summit and its award demonstrate its commitment to expanding access to financial services in Africa. The company's low-cost mobile money model has disrupted traditional financial services and provided new opportunities for millions of people.
The AFIS Awards 2026 recognized six laureates, including Wave, Mary Vilakazi, CEO of FirstRand, and Soraya M. Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda. Wave's award is a testament to its innovative approach to mobile money and its impact on the financial sector in Africa.
Key points
- Wave's low-cost mobile money model has expanded access to financial services for millions of people in Africa.
