17 African figures join forces to inspire future generations: A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, Altmys International and its founder, Aïda Diouf, announce the launch of A Letter to My Younger Self.

Diouf, the Executive Director for Africa at the Camusat Group and a Young Global Leader in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 ranking, initiated this groundbreaking pan-African bilingual publishing project to inspire young women across the continent and its diaspora.

Driven by a deep desire to strengthen the confidence, boldness, and leadership of future generations, the initiative addresses the lack of visible female role models by offering sincere, intimate stories of success, struggle, and guidance.

Among the seventeen authors included in alphabetical order are

Aisha Ayensu representing Ghana’s fashion sector as the Founder of Christie Brown;

Aminata Kane representing Senegal in finance, serving as Senior Vice President of Visa for West and Central Africa;

Angela Wamola from Kenya’s telecommunications sector, the Director for Africa at the GSMA.

The innovation and fintech fields are represented by:

Claude Borna from Benin, CEO of Sèmè City,

and Coura Carine Sène from Senegal, Regional Director at Wave Mobile Money.

In literature and gastronomy, the collection features:

Cameroonian writer Djaïli Amadou Amal, winner of the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens for Les Impatientes,

and Georgiana Viou from Benin, a Michelin-starred chef in the 2023 guide.

The project also includes:

Germaine Acogny representing Senegalese dance, known as the pioneer of African contemporary dance and Founder of the École des Sables, alongside:

Hafsat Abiola from Nigeria’s civil society, an activist, founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, and President of Women in Africa Philanthropy.

The music and NGO sectors feature:

Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy from Rwanda, Managing Director of Spotify for Sub-Saharan Africa, and

Julienne Lusenge from the DRC, a women’s rights activist and recipient of the United Nations Human Rights Prize.

Also contributing to the book are:

Marie-Roger Biloa representing Cameroonian media, President of the Africa International Group and an influential figure in African journalism, and

Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun from Morocco’s agri-food sector, CEO of Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmes and the first woman to serve as president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM).

The fields of sports and contemporary art include:

Ons Jabeur from Tunisia, a tennis player, former world No. 2, and the first Arab and African woman to reach a Grand Slam final, along with:

Paula Nascimento from Angola, an architect and curator who is the first African curator of the Sharjah Biennial (2027).

Finally, the collection features Sefora Kodjo from Côte d’Ivoire’s investment sector, an entrepreneur and founder of the SEPHIS Foundation, and

Thandiwe Muriu representing Kenyan art, a photographer known for her Camo series which has been exhibited internationally.

Conceived as a high-impact movement, the initiative involves the free distribution of 10,000 copies across more than ten African countries through networks of schools, universities, libraries, and NGOs, followed by a freely accessible digital version. The book is scheduled for release in Moroccan bookstores in June 2026, coordinated by publishing partner La Croisée des Chemins, with on-the-ground activities rolling out across the continent starting in September 2026.

The project is supported by a dedicated leadership team, including World Bank external affairs head Nayé Anna Bathily acting as the project patron; Orange MEA corporate communications director Stella Fumey serving as brand and communications manager; and entrepreneurship consultant Lamba Ka serving as Head of Partnerships and Field Engagement.

For more information and author biographies, please visit www.alettertomyyoungerself.com.