Michel Gohou receives an Excellence Award at the Africa Next Awards 2026 in Paris

The official event website confirms that this first Parisian edition brought together 100 laureates from 35 countries. Several media outlets reporting on Michel Gohou’s award indicate that it honors several decades of work in humor, cinema, and African entertainment.

For the actor, the venue adds a special significance to this recognition. In a message shared after the ceremony, Michel Gohou recalled that the Folies Bergère holds an important place in his history, as he had performed one of his first major shows there.

The artist presented this award as the result of years of perseverance and dedication to his craft. He dedicated the prize to his wife, his family, the Ivorian community, his audience, as well as the collaborators and partners who have supported him throughout his career.

A recognition in a place full of memories

The return to the Folies Bergère thus took on the appearance of a full circle for Michel Gohou. Where an important chapter of his stage career had been written, the comedian returned years later to be honored before an audience gathered around prominent African figures in culture, entrepreneurship, and activism.

The Africa Next Awards present themselves as a recognition platform aimed at highlighting African and diaspora personalities for their impact, influence, and contribution across various fields. The inaugural 2026 edition was organized around eight categories of distinction.

Michel Gohou, a familiar figure to the Ivorian and African public, emphasized after the ceremony the central place that the affection of the public holds in his journey. This Parisian award now adds to the many tokens of recognition he has received throughout his career.