Winners of 2022 Afro Pepites Show announced

The top prize (Golden Pepite) went to Juste Parfait, a satirist from the Republic of Congo, while Beninese sculptor and painter Marcel Kpoho earned the Second Pepite. Francesco Nchikala, a multi-instrumentalist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was awarded the Third Pepite.

Learn more about the winners here.

Now in its 12th edition, the talent search programme is supported by African Dream (Le Rêve Africain), an association dedicated to promoting arts based in France. It is open to all African artists including musicians, painters, dancers, photographers, fashion designers, sculptors, storytellers, humourists and poets.

Artists in the Caribbean countries, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia whose work is inspired by Africa can also participate in the competition.

Every year, 12 projects are shortlisted for the top three prizes based on their originality, quality and/or commitment of the artists. The winners are determined by web users and a six-member committee.

The 2022 show received 153 projects which were whittled down to 12.

Successful artists benefit from the following:

• Access to the Afro Pepites Show network of more than 12 200 contacts of organisers, managers, producers, media, publishers, distributors, and booking agencies, as well as 25 000 subscribers and fans of African culture.
• Afro Pepites Show social networks reach with more than 50 000 Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn followers.
• Afro Pepites Show’s expertise including management, production, distribution and booking.

“We have widened our networks and are calling on artists to take advantage of this,” the organisers said. “We now have more culture professionals on the network who will spot and highlight new talents. Our internet user base is also growing and ready to discover new cultural trends.”

Calls for submissions for the 13th edition of the competition will be opened on 1 March 2023.

Previous winners include Elom 20ce, Takeifa band member Mah Kouyaté, Sahad, Stev'n-T and Coton d’Afrik & The Sailors, among others.