Nominee: Prisca Marceleney
Category: Actress of the Year
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Edition: West African Citizens Awards 2026
An Artist Whose Creativity Extends Beyond the Screen
Some actors build their careers by bringing characters to life. Others gradually expand their creative responsibilities, becoming storytellers who contribute not only to how stories are performed but also to how they are written, developed and brought to audiences.
Prisca Marceleney belongs to the latter group.
An Ivorian actress, screenwriter, film producer and author, Marceleney has developed a multidisciplinary career across theatre, television, cinema and literature. Her professional journey reflects a sustained interest in storytelling and an understanding of the creative process that extends beyond performance.
Born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as Marceleney Ida Prisca Baguiria, she developed an early interest in cinema and the performing arts. What began as a passion for storytelling eventually became a professional pursuit shaped by formal training, practical experience and a willingness to explore different areas of audiovisual production.
From her early theatrical training under the guidance of Sidiki Bakaba to her work in television and film, and later her involvement in screenwriting and production, Marceleney has built a career that connects several important dimensions of the Ivorian creative industry.
Her nomination for Actress of the Year at the West African Citizens Awards 2026 recognises her contribution to acting and the wider body of creative work she has developed throughout her career.
The Foundation: Theatre, Training and Artistic Discipline
Marceleney’s professional journey was shaped significantly by her early exposure to theatre.
After completing secondary education, she responded to a casting opportunity at Abidjan’s Palais de la Culture, where renowned Ivorian filmmaker and theatre practitioner Sidiki Bakaba was seeking young people interested in cinema.
Her successful selection introduced her to the Actor Studio of Abidjan, where she received intensive training under Bakaba’s mentorship.
In an interview with African Shapers, Marceleney described this period as an important foundation for her development. The training exposed her to theatrical performance, acting fundamentals and the discipline required to interpret characters convincingly.
Her education continued at the National Higher Institute of Arts and Cultural Action (INSAAC), specifically its School of Theatre and Dance. She completed four years of study and obtained a higher diploma in theatre and dance, followed by further studies in cultural animation, earning a specialised postgraduate diploma.
This academic and practical foundation helped establish the principles that would inform her subsequent work: understanding characters, interpreting scripts, working with other performers and appreciating the different responsibilities involved in bringing a production to life.
For Marceleney, acting became more than the ability to deliver lines. It became a discipline involving observation, interpretation and the ability to communicate human experiences through performance.
Finding Her Place in Ivorian Television and Cinema
Following her theatrical training, Marceleney pursued opportunities in television and film.
One of her early screen appearances was in the television production Sida dans la cité, which followed a casting process involving young actors from the Actor Studio and other performers.
She subsequently became associated with several Ivorian audiovisual productions, including Henri Duparc’s television series Moussa Taximan, in which she played Aïda.
Her film and television credits include:
- Caramel (2005), in which she played the title character.
- Coup de force conjugal (2007), where she portrayed Émeraude.
- Les Frères Kadogo (2007).
- Le Choix de Marianne (2009), in which she played Marianne.
- Extreme Obsession (2010), where she portrayed Florence.
- L’Histoire d’une vie (2010–2012), in which she played Jade.
- Le Mec idéal (2011).
- L’Amour en bonus (2014).
- Sans regret (2015).
- Les Bonnes Intentions (2018).
- Numéro 10 (2019).
These projects reflect her involvement in different formats and genres, from television productions to feature films and short-form cinema.
Her work has also been connected to the wider development of Ivorian audiovisual storytelling, an industry in which local filmmakers and performers continue to create narratives rooted in the experiences, relationships and social realities of their audiences.
Beyond Acting: Becoming a Screenwriter and Producer
One of the defining developments in Marceleney’s career was her decision to expand from acting into screenwriting and production.
Having spent time observing how television and film projects were developed and managed, she became interested in taking a more active role in the creation of stories.
In her interview with African Shapers, she explained that her curiosity about the production process encouraged her to explore writing and producing, eventually leading to the development of her own creative projects.
An important early undertaking was La Villa d’à côté, a sitcom built around four young women with different personalities, backgrounds and principles who share an apartment.
The series explored the possibilities of coexistence, social cohesion and unity through humour and everyday situations.
Marceleney co-wrote the project with Fidèle Koffi. Its first season consisted of 13 episodes, each approximately 20 to 25 minutes long.
The production was developed through personal financing alongside support from the SIC fund of Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Culture and assistance from the Moroccan Cinematographic Center with post-production.
The experience demonstrated the practical challenges involved in producing independent audiovisual content, including financing, technical personnel, transportation, catering and production management.
It also marked an important step in Marceleney’s evolution from an actress working within other people’s productions to a creative professional actively developing her own projects.
Babi Pictures: Building a Creative Production Platform
Marceleney’s interest in producing eventually led to the establishment of Babi Pictures, her production company based in Abidjan.
Through the company, she has been involved in developing and producing audiovisual projects, creating opportunities to participate in the creative process at a different level.
One of the company’s projects was L’Amour en bonus, a romantic comedy directed by Jacques Trabi, Marceleney’s husband and a filmmaker in his own right.
Babi Pictures subsequently became involved in other productions, including Sans regret, directed by Trabi, and later projects that expanded the company’s presence in Ivorian film and television.
The production company represents an important dimension of Marceleney’s professional identity. It provides a platform through which her experience as an actress, writer and producer can converge.
Her involvement in production also reflects an understanding of the work required to move a creative idea from a script to a completed screen project.
For an artist whose career began with acting, this transition represents a broader engagement with the development of African stories and the creative structures that make their production possible.
Dr Wlika: Exploring African Realities Through Medical Drama
Among Marceleney’s more recent and significant projects is Dr Wlika, a television series that brings together medical drama, social questions and African cultural realities.
Developed through a collaboration involving Babi Pictures, Plan A and Canal+, the series explores the world of medicine through stories that engage with the experiences and challenges of African society.
Marceleney has explained that her interest in medical dramas, including international productions such as Grey’s Anatomy, The Resident and New Amsterdam, influenced her desire to develop a medical series with a distinctly African perspective.
However, her intention was not simply to reproduce an existing international format. She wanted to explore questions relevant to African audiences and build a story around the realities of healthcare, human relationships and cultural beliefs.
A particularly distinctive dimension of the series is its exploration of the relationship between modern scientific medicine and traditional healing practices.
Rather than presenting the subject as a simplistic contest between two systems, Marceleney has described her intention as creating space for dialogue and reflection.
The project required research and conversations with people from different backgrounds, including a medical doctor and a traditional practitioner, as she developed the story’s thematic foundation.
In her November 2025 interview with FratMat, she discussed the series and the ideas behind its approach to medicine, tradition and contemporary African society.
Dr Wlika demonstrates Marceleney’s continued interest in using audiovisual storytelling to examine subjects that extend beyond entertainment.
It also illustrates the combination of creative writing, production experience and artistic curiosity that has become a defining feature of her career.
An Author Exploring Memory, Identity and Heritage
Marceleney’s creative interests also extend into literature.
She co-authored the book Bob Guié, un homme bien with Bob Guié, exploring themes connected to personal memory, family history, identity and the transmission of heritage.
The project represents another expression of her interest in storytelling, this time through the written word rather than performance or screen production.
Her movement between acting, screenwriting, film production and literature demonstrates an artistic practice that is not restricted to one medium.
Each discipline offers a different way to communicate ideas and experiences, and Marceleney’s work reflects an ongoing engagement with these different forms of expression.
A Creative Partnership and Shared Film Vision
Marceleney’s professional journey has also involved creative collaboration with filmmaker Jacques Trabi.
Their partnership has extended into several audiovisual projects, including productions connected to Babi Pictures.
Trabi directed Sans regret and has been involved in other film and television projects, while Marceleney has contributed through acting, writing and production.
Their collaboration on Dr Wlika and other productions illustrates how creative partnerships can bring together different professional strengths in the development of audiovisual stories.
Rather than limiting herself to one role within these collaborations, Marceleney has continued to contribute through multiple aspects of the creative process.
Recognition Beyond Individual Productions
Marceleney’s work has continued to attract attention within the African film industry.
In 2026, she was listed among the nominees for the 11th edition of the Sotigui Awards, where she received recognition in the West African acting category for her performance in Anthôman or Pour l’honneur, directed by Jacques Trabi.
This recognition adds another dimension to her professional journey, placing her acting work within a wider continental conversation about African screen performance.
It also reflects the range of her contributions to film, from her earlier work in television and cinema to her more recent involvement in productions that explore contemporary African experiences.
Why Prisca Marceleney Deserves Recognition
The contribution of an actor cannot be measured only by the number of productions in which they appear. It also involves the ability to interpret stories, bring characters to life and contribute to the cultural conversations that emerge through film and television.
Marceleney’s career offers several dimensions through which her contribution can be understood.
Her theatrical training established a foundation in performance. Her television and film appearances provided opportunities to interpret different characters and participate in the development of Ivorian screen productions.
Her transition into writing and production expanded her role within the creative industry, while projects such as La Villa d’à côté and Dr Wlika demonstrate her interest in developing stories that engage with social realities and African experiences.
Her literary work further illustrates a commitment to storytelling across different creative forms.
What makes her professional journey particularly noteworthy is the connection between these different responsibilities. She has not confined her creative ambitions to acting alone; she has continued to explore the processes through which stories are imagined, written, produced and shared.
Her nomination for Actress of the Year at the West African Citizens Awards 2026 provides an opportunity to recognise her acting career while acknowledging the broader creative contributions that have shaped her place in the Ivorian audiovisual landscape.
A WAFRIC Awards 2026 Nominee
Prisca Marceleney is nominated for Actress of the Year – Côte d’Ivoire at the West African Citizens Awards 2026.
Her nomination forms part of WAFRIC Awards’ commitment to celebrating the creativity, dedication and professional contributions of West Africans across different countries and industries.
Under the 2026 edition theme, “Recognizing the Unseen. Celebrating the Exceptional,” the awards celebrate individuals whose work contributes to the cultural and creative development of the region.
Through acting, screenwriting, production and literature, Marceleney continues to contribute to the telling of Ivorian and African stories.
Support Prisca Marceleney. Celebrate her contribution to African cinema. Make your vote count.
YOUR VOTE. THEIR IMPACT.
Vote through the official WAFRIC Awards 2026 public voting page:
https://wafricawards.com.ng/official-public-voting/
Read the voting procedures and criteria:
https://wafricawards.com.ng/wafric-awards-2026-voting-procedures-and-criteria/
Voting closes November 15, 2026.
Research and References
- FratMat – Prisca Marceleney: Comédienne, scénariste, productrice et autrice – Detailed profile covering her background, artistic training, career, writing and production work.
- African Shapers – Prisca Marceleney: “Dr Wlika is an African medical series rooted in our realities” – In-depth interview discussing her journey, training, early projects, Babi Pictures and Dr Wlika.
- Africultures – Prisca Marceleney – Professional profile and selected filmography.
- Ciném’Afrique – Prisca Marceleney – Biographical details, training and screen credits.
- Académie des Sotigui – Prisca Marceleney – Her 2026 Sotigui Awards nomination for Anthôman or Pour l’honneur.
- AlloCiné – Prisca Marceleney – Film and television professional listing.