Ivory Coast: Death of Georges Taï Benson, a prominent voice of Ivorian television
Georges Taï Benson, one of the most recognized figures in the history of Ivorian television, passed away on Friday, September 25, 2026, in Abidjan. The former host and producer of Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) was 80 years old. He died at the Abidjan Institute of Cardiology.
SUMMARY
His name is associated with several decades of television in Côte d’Ivoire. A leading host in the 1970s and 1980s, Georges Taï Benson played a significant role in shaping Ivorian popular television culture at a time when RTI was the country’s primary broadcaster.
News of his passing quickly elicited reactions from the audiovisual community. Barthélémy Inabo Zouzoua, who worked alongside him for many years, expressed his sorrow upon learning of his death. “I am a bit overwhelmed,” he stated.
“When you lose someone so close, you are always in shock,” the former RTI host also remarked.
A generation of television fades away
Georges Taï Benson was not limited to hosting; he also worked as a producer and nurtured several talents throughout his career.
His passing thus impacts multiple generations of professionals who were trained or discovered during the early significant decades of Ivorian television.
Comments