About

The West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) is an initiative by the Media Foundation for West Africa to promote media excellence in the sub-region.

The conference brings together experts in various media, governance, and democracy-related fields for discussion on media development and good governance challenges across the African continent.

The Awards, on the other hand, are to reward and inspire journalism excellence in West Africa as well as honour West African journalists who have produced compelling works which have had significant impact on society.

WAMECA 2025 will focus on the theme: “Journalism and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Africa”. Scheduled to convene key media professionals, policymakers, journalists and editors, digital rights organisations, technology experts, and civil society organisations, this year’s WAMECA aims to highlight the critical intersection of digital infrastructure, media, governance, and development on the continent.

In 2023, WAMECA focused on Media and Democracy in Africa. Participants deliberated on democratic recession in Africa and came out with actionable recommendations to mobilise a continent-wide response to the rollback.

The 2022 conference centred on Media and Women Empowerment in Africa. Participants discussed how the media across the continent can enhance the visibility of women and girls, amplify their voices, encourage women’s participation in governance, and highlight women’s leadership in various fields.

In 2021, guests and participants at the event exchanged perspectives on the emerging topic of “Misinformation, Digital Media Regulation and Journalism in Africa.” The theme arose from the increasing number of laws in Africa aimed at enhancing state control over citizens’ use of the internet, online communication channels, and digital media platforms, including social media.

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world and strained an already fragile media landscape on the continent, WAMECA concentrated discussions on “The Future of Journalism.”

In its previous year (2019), WAMECA centred its attention on the theme: “Social Media, Fake News, and Elections in Africa.”