She dreamed of a military career, but Évelyne Mandiouba, a graduate of the 33rd ^class of CESTI, ultimately chose a different battleground: that of journalism. On the D-Media sets, this strong-willed woman, editorial coordinator, born in Saint-Louis, commands respect with her professionalism, rigor, and poise, all inherited from an ambition and discipline whose values she has embraced.

In the media landscape dominated by talk shows and other programs, Evelyne Mandiouba has made her mark as a news anchor for Sen TV and Zik FM. Her signature segment: the 7:45 PM news. While commentators at Sen TV and Zik FM analyze current events, the newsroom coordinator embodies the voice of the journalists. Class, elegance, and a natural flow... Evelyne exudes innate confidence. Yet, this woman wasn't destined to hold a microphone. But today, she belongs to the select group of women who embody female leadership in the media.

In the bright living room of her Dakar home, Évelyne Mandiouba receives visitors dressed casually. Her tone is measured, her voice calm, but behind her smile lie the traces of a life built on strength of character. "I'm originally from the South, even though I don't know Casamance. It's not my fault; my father lost his parents when he was two," she says with disarming simplicity.

Born in Saint-Louis, "at least I know where I live," she adds with a laugh, Évelyne is the daughter of a customs officer. Uniforms, discipline, and constant movement shaped her youth. "We moved around a lot, but everywhere, my father instilled in us the same love of knowledge," she recounts. For Michel, her father, was not just a customs officer. He was above all a passionate lover of literature, a man of letters. "Our house was a library. He enrolled us at the French Institute; we had to read, summarize the books, and tell their plots," she recalls.

From this demanding upbringing was born an insatiable curiosity. “I could read a novel in 24 hours. As long as I hadn’t reached the end, I couldn’t stop.” This love of reading would become the cornerstone of an unexpected vocation. The intrepid, athletic, and headstrong teenager also didn’t see herself getting married. “I would tell my sisters: you’re going to get married, I’ll stay here to look after your children.” Her mother, exasperated, would repeat: “If you were a boy, we’d be coming to the police station to get you every day!” Evelyne laughs today at this overflowing energy, which she later channeled into the scouting movement and community involvement: president of Fosco and the EVF club. At the time, she dreamed of a uniform. But she ended up working in various newsrooms. “For a long time, I wanted to be a customs officer or a soldier.” "I was fascinated by the weapons, the uniforms, the missions," she admits, without regret. But at the time, women were not yet welcome in the armed forces.

The real turning point came after she graduated from high school. Her father steered her towards public university. "I felt betrayed. I wanted vocational training, not modern literature," she says. University repelled her; she felt lost there. But it was there that a series of coincidences led her to journalism. First, the radio station "Oxyjeunes" in Pikine was looking for presenters. Her impeccable French opened doors for her. "I did the noon news. They paid me 5,000 francs for transportation: it was a huge amount for me," she smiles.

Shortly after, a friend suggested she try for the CESTI entrance exam, the prestigious journalism school. The first attempt was a failure. The second, a revelation. “I was convinced I was going to succeed. Yet, my name didn’t appear on the list published in ‘Le Soleil.’ Something told me: go check out CESTI. And there, I learned I was the tenth person admitted,” she recounts. She entered the 33rd graduating class, from which she graduated second in her television specialization in 2005.

The day she slapped a colleague

The professional world, however, was not kind to her. “Journalism is a very macho environment. Very early on, I understood that a woman had to work twice as hard to earn respect,” she says. Harassment, persistent advances, discrimination: Évelyne hides nothing. “If you don’t give in, you’re sidelined, excluded from reporting assignments. But I knew how to say no. I refused a lot of things, even if it cost me opportunities,” she says with conviction.

In a professional world that resembles a jungle where the strongest devour the weak, without a second thought, some women might trade dignity and honesty for a "casting couch" promotion. Evelyne, however, decided not to compromise her honor. She recalls a daring act in a newsroom: "Instead of shaking my hand, a colleague tried to steal a kiss. I slapped him. The editor came out of his office… and he accused me of being violent!" These acts of resistance, far from discouraging her, forged her reputation as a woman of character. "I've sometimes been told I'm tough, but that's what allowed me to remain true to myself," says Evelyne.

After stints at RFM and other newsrooms, some of which were difficult, Évelyne considered leaving journalism altogether. Ultimately, she overcame the hardships in her life to forge her own path. Fate hadn't always been kind to her. The journalist had to overcome obstacles and setbacks to build a respectable professional reputation. A meeting with Bougane Gueye Dany, her former colleague at RFM, revitalized her career. She joined the D-Media group, contributed to its development, and now holds a key position: editorial coordinator.

On the ground, she remains a multitasker, juggling management, production, and directing. "During live broadcasts, I coordinate everything, even from the studio. I watch, I send messages, I make adjustments," she explains. Her energy commands respect. "What I love is teamwork. At the end of the day, when everything has gone well, I go home satisfied," she theorizes. In newsrooms, Évelyne Mandiouba has witnessed the evolution of women's roles. "There has been progress. Before, I was often the only woman in charge of the newsroom. Today, others have taken over: Bigué Bob (publisher of the newspaper EnQuête), Maïmouna Ndour Faye (director general of 7 TV)... it's gratifying." But she remains realistic because, for her, "there's still a long way to go." Newsrooms have become more feminized, but decision-making positions remain rare for women.

She tempers her authority with listening. “I often meet with my colleagues to talk about their personal problems. Sometimes I give it my all, I go home with my tank empty, but with a clear conscience,” she says happily, because behind the demanding professional lies a deeply humane woman. “I respect everyone. And I believe a journalist is never old as long as they maintain their passion,” she adds. Even today, Évelyne is pursuing a master’s degree at CESTI, “to formalize” all these acquired experiences. In the evenings, when she watches television, she smiles at the young news anchors. Perhaps she sees herself again, a little girl from Saint-Louis, practicing the gestures of the RTS 8 p.m. news anchors in front of the mirror.