French-language theatre has a new name to follow. Cameroonian playwright Hermine Yollo has won the 2026 RFI Theatre Prize for "Ima Maryam : le jugement de Marie".
The prize was awarded on 27 September in Limoges, during Les Zébrures d'automne, a festival devoted to French-language writing and creation for the stage.
The play looks at the condition of women and at religious representations, addressing violence against women and religious dogma.
The jury, chaired by Guinean author and director Hakim Bah, chose it from 142 texts submitted from 11 countries, after shortlisting 13 finalists in July.
Born in Douala in 1981, Hermine Yollo is an actress, director, translator and writer. She has led the NGOTI company since 2009, and her work explores the place of women, power, memory and the mechanisms of silence.
