Orange (www.Orange.com) is set to launch the third season of its flagship program Y’Africa, airing weekly from mid-April on 15 national TV channels across Africa. This new season will focus on the journeys of 28 emerging sports talents from 12 countries. Directed by Dan Assayag and produced by Fame Productions, Season 3 consists of 7 episodes, each lasting 52 minutes.
The Y’Africa initiative was introduced by Orange in February 2020. The first two seasons were highly successful, not only on the 15 African terrestrial TV channels where it aired but also on social media, amassing 80 million views. The previous seasons showcased the diversity and richness of African culture by featuring 63 artists. Season 3 shifts its focus to 28 elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes and champions, symbolizing the continent’s aspirations.
Y’Africa, inspired by the exceptional talent found across Africa, celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of modern Africa and its people. The program’s name, “Y’Africa,” is derived from “Africa Ya lelo,” or “Africa today” in Lingala, reflecting this connection.
Breathtaking visuals, extraordinary narratives
Season 3 of Y’Africa involved 18 months of filming in various locations worldwide, including South Africa, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Spain, the USA, Ethiopia, France, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia. Among the 28 athletes featured are 13 Olympic champions, world champions, or record holders, such as:
Tigst ASSEFA (Ethiopia), World Marathon Women’s Record Holder
Hugues Fabrice ZANGO (Burkina Faso), 2023 Triple Jump World Champion
Cheick Sallah Junior CISSÉ (Ivory Coast), 2023 World Champion, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Taekwondo Olympics
Tamirat TOLA (Ethiopia), 2022 World Marathon Champion
Amane BERISO SHANKULE (Ethiopia), 2023 World Marathon Champion
Amos KIPRUTO (Kenya), bronze medalist at the 2019 World Marathon Championships
Sabastian KIMARU SAWE (Kenya), 2023 Road Half Marathon World Champion
Khadija EL MARDI (Morocco), World Heavyweight Champion in Amateur Boxing 2023
Nicolas Pieter DU PREEZ (South Africa), gold medalist at the Beijing 2020 Paralympic Games in Road Cycling
Djamel SEDJATI (Algeria), 2022 World Vice-Champion in the 800 Meters
Kaylia NEMOUR (Algeria), 2023 Vice-World Champion, Uneven Bars
Soumaya BOUSAID (Tunisia), bronze medalist at the Beijing 2020 Para-JOs in the 1500 Meters T13
Oussama MELLOULI (Tunisia), gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics in the 10 Kilometer Open Water
Y’Africa Season 3 showcases 21 Olympic disciplines, ranging from traditional favorites like athletics, swimming, boxing, gymnastics, fencing, and judo, to more exhilarating ones like BMX, skateboarding, and surfing. In addition to acclaimed athletes, the series also highlights emerging athletes working towards top international competitions through dedication and commitment, despite not yet achieving a title. Their journeys, training, and stories are truly inspiring.
Season 3 also saw the launch of the Y’Africa Facebook page last summer (https://apo-opa.co/4d04OPE). With over 350,000 followers to date, this platform serves as a vital tool for promoting African talent.
Jérôme Hénique, CEO of Orange Africa and Middle East: “Season 3 of Y’Africa represents a new milestone in our mission to showcase the abundance and diversity of African talent. This series provides a unique platform to honor our ambitious and resolute youth. I am proud that the Orange Group continues to play a significant role in spotlighting these inspiring stories.”
Caroline Guillaumin, Executive Director of Communications at Orange: “In this Olympic year, we have chosen to spotlight the sporting talents of the African continent. After two seasons dedicated to artists, Y’Africa returns with an extraordinary series of athlete portraits, featuring men and women champions and their aspirations, all revolving around the theme of pushing boundaries. Through this initiative launched in 2020, we aim to share the vitality of the African continent with a wider audience. It also serves as another avenue for enhancing the Orange brand through meaningful engagement with audiences.”
Dan Assayag, Director: “I have marveled at the beauty, grace, agility, and strength of athletes when they reach their full potential. I have come to understand that motivation means nothing without discipline. I have observed that elite athletes possess an exceptional work ethic. I have also seen their capacity to endure pain. I have learned that Olympic sports exist in a world of their own. And in their own unique ways, they have shown me what it means to represent your country as an African. For all these reasons, Season 3 of Y’Africa holds a special place in my heart.”
Watch the first episode of the new season: https://apo-opa.co/49KN1ci
Password: Y’africa
For additional information on Season 3 of Y’Africa, visit Orange.com
Find biographies of the athletes, photos, a trailer, and the program’s broadcast schedule in different countries here: (https://apo-opa.co/3Jp4axr)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa.
Press contacts:
Elodie Filopon
ef@35ouest.com
+225 07 89 031 724
Ibtissame Nafii
ibtissame.nafii@orange.com
+33 6 37 38 60 50
About Orange:
Orange is a leading global telecommunications company, with a revenue of 44.1 billion euros in 2023 and 137,000 employees as of December 31, 2023, including 73,000 in France. The group catered to 298 million customers by December 31, 2023, including 254 million mobile customers and 25 million fixed broadband customers. Orange operates in 26 countries and is a prominent player in telecommunications services for multinational companies under the Orange Business brand. In February 2023, the group unveiled its Lead the Future strategic plan, focused on a new business model, guided by responsibility and efficiency. Lead the Future leverages high-quality networks to strengthen Orange’s service leadership.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ORAN).
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