Edna-Chelsea Babongui: A Multitalented Gabonese Leader Shaping Global Conversations

Edna-Chelsea Babongui is an exceptional Gabonese woman whose diverse talents and achievements span across journalism, gender advocacy, international relations, and cultural promotion. Known for her dynamic and multidisciplinary profile, she stands out as a powerful voice for gender equality and African excellence on the global stage.

As an expert in gender engineering, Edna-Chelsea graduated from the UNESCO Chair “Water, Women and Decision-Making” in Côte d’Ivoire. Her expertise has positioned her at the heart of influential international initiatives. She serves as a member of the selection committee of the Flow Film Festival and Market in Florida, United States an event dedicated to promoting gender equality in the film industry.

Her engagement with global institutions is equally remarkable. During the 4th Civil Society Organizations Forum of the UNESCO 2005 Convention, she was a member of the working group focused on CSO engagement. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with UNESCO headquarters in Paris in 2023, contributing to important discussions on cultural diversity and policy.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, Edna-Chelsea partnered with Bantu Media, conducting interviews with key figures in the African hip-hop scene, particularly in Togo and Senegal. This project highlighted her commitment to amplifying African cultural voices.

With over a decade of experience in journalism and communication, Edna-Chelsea currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Lioness, Le Magazine des Reines, a bilingual, digital monthly women’s magazine. Her professional journey includes work in print and broadcast media in Gabon and the United Kingdom. She has contributed to private press outlets, national radio and television in Gabon, and the pan-African channel CANAF54 based in London.

A specialist in influence and lobbying, she has built an extensive international network spanning cities such as Libreville, Abidjan, Bangui, N’Djamena, Brazzaville, Dakar, Conakry, New Delhi, and beyond including ASEAN countries, Paris, London, Bilbao, Madrid, Brussels, the Caribbean, and the United States. She also serves as President of the Gabon-India Business Council within the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI).

Earlier in her career, she was Head of Public Relations for the Tunisia-Gabon Forum held in Libreville in 2014. This economic initiative, organized by the Gabonese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received support from Attijariwafa Bank and the Gabonese government.

In 2021, as President of Leyilab, she sponsored the “Model Women” competition in Guinea, a leadership coaching program aimed at empowering young Guinean women. The initiative was supported by the Guinean government.

Edna-Chelsea is also the creator of the Afro-Active Photos campaign, an initiative designed to spotlight African and Afro-European talents, both men and women, in collaboration with Leyilab.

On December 13, 2024, as a member of the Network of Active Women of Central Africa (REFAC), she supported founder Jeanne Danielle Nlate during an online session of the United Nations Security Council. Invited by the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, she contributed to discussions on the status of women in the region, particularly in the context of upcoming elections.

Since October 2025, she has been a member of the Global Academic Council of Est Fab at MIT in the United States, further strengthening her international academic and strategic influence.

In 2026, Edna-Chelsea Babongui reached another milestone by founding the ACI Film Festival. The first edition is set to take place in India at Geeta University in Panipat, Haryana, marking a new chapter in her commitment to cultural exchange and global collaboration.

A visionary leader, Edna-Chelsea Babongui continues to bridge continents, industries, and communities championing women’s empowerment, cultural diversity, and African innovation worldwide.