The first edition of the SkyAwards, dedicated to interior architecture, art, design, and crafts, concluded on June 21, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon. After three days rich in art and culture from June 19 to 21, the event, organized with the support of the Cameroonian Ministry of SMEs, Social Economy, and Crafts (MINPMEESA), was launched to crown the continent’s best creative talents.
On June 21, 2025, in a festive atmosphere at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon, the SkyAwards closing ceremony was held, marking the end of the very first edition of the event. Brightened by the presence of many creators from all over the continent, this ceremony brought together professionals, artisans, designers, institutions and stars of sport and culture. The SkyAwards awards recognized exceptional African talents in several categories: Best Interior Architecture Project, Modern Artisan, Urban Design and Street Art, Digital Innovation and especially the Builder of Emergence Award which was awarded to President Paul Biya in recognition of these works.
We have 4 prizes from Cameroon, and other foreign prizes, from Comoros, Burkina Faso, Ghana, so I think that there is this pan-African range, which is a reflection of the quality of the works that were presented and then we still have an event that was truly honored by the very high patronage of His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon who was kind enough to give his international, pan-African label and especially the label of maturity.
Léonie Bwemba, Promoter of the Sky Awards
The Outstanding Excellence Award, presented by partner institutions to those who have brilliantly contributed to the promotion of craftsmanship, was awarded to David Arthur Waffo Gotcha, who is receiving a training trip to Turkey and an internship in Morocco to hone his craft as a sculptor. Cameroon’s Minister of SMEs, Achille Bassilekin III, also praised the winners for their ambitious efforts, stating that « This show gives artisans the means to make a full living from their talent. » For the president of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria, this event serves as a showcase for African architecture and design.
It’s worth noting that this first edition of the SkyAwards marks a major milestone in the promotion of craftsmanship and interior design in Africa. The event also seals the formal recognition of African talent and lays the foundations for a more structured, sustainable, and internationally oriented creative ecosystem.