Nigeria's Blanche Aigle Communications Makes Cannes Lions 2026 Shortlist

Blanche Aigle Communications Lands International Recognition

Blanche Aigle Communications, a Lagos-based public relations and communications consultancy, has secured international recognition after its Gino World Jollof Festival campaign was shortlisted for the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The agency announced the recognition in a statement on Monday, saying its campaign featuring celebrity chef Hilda Baci was shortlisted in the Brand Experience & Activation category at Cannes Lions after advancing from 158 shortlisted entries selected from 1,551 submissions worldwide.

The campaign was also named a finalist in the Diamond Geographic Category for Africa at the 2026 SABRE Awards EMEA, where a jury of communications industry leaders evaluated more than 2,000 entries. According to the agency, the campaign was developed in partnership with Gino and Ms Baci to celebrate Nigerian cuisine through an integrated communications strategy that combines public relations, experiential marketing, influencer engagement, event execution, and storytelling.

Founded in Lagos, Blanche Aigle Communications provides strategic communications and public relations services across sectors, including technology, finance, lifestyle, corporate communications, and fast-moving consumer goods. The recognition adds to the growing international visibility of campaigns originating from Nigeria and reflects the increasing competitiveness of African communications agencies on the global stage.

The agency's Founder and Lead Consultant, Nene Bejide, described the dual recognition as validation of the impact of culturally rooted storytelling. "Being recognised by both Cannes Lions and the SABRE Awards is a testament to the power of culturally relevant storytelling and integrated communications. The Gino World Jollof Festival demonstrated what is possible when strategy, creativity, execution, and authentic cultural insight come together to create experiences that resonate deeply with audiences."

The campaign's success has been attributed to its culturally rooted storytelling and integrated communications strategy, which resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. As Nene Bejide noted, "the power of culturally relevant storytelling and integrated communications has been demonstrated through this campaign, and we are proud to be recognised by two of the most respected global honours in the communications industry."

““Being recognised by both Cannes Lions and the SABRE Awards is a testament to the power of culturally relevant storytelling and integrated communications.””

— Nene Bejide, Founder and Lead Consultant, Blanche Aigle Communications

Blanche Aigle Communications' achievement is a testament to the growing international visibility of campaigns originating from Nigeria and reflects the increasing competitiveness of African communications agencies on the global stage. As the communications industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other African agencies leverage their cultural roots to create impactful campaigns.