African Spellers Reach Quarterfinals at US Spelling Bee

When 11-year-old Eugene Osei Mensah from Ghana and three fellow African spellers stepped onto the Scripps National Spelling Bee stage in Washington DC, they carried more than their vocabulary skills. They represented a continent claiming its rightful place among the world's brightest young minds.

Eugene, winner of The National Spelling Bee Ghana 2026, competed alongside Nigeria's Newton Temojo and Amazing-Grace Salami. Both countries' participation came through Young Educators Foundation Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to creating international opportunities for African youth.

The competition brought real victories. Newton advanced to the quarterfinals before missing the vocabulary word "dissuade," a significant improvement from Nigeria's preliminary round exit in 2025. Eugene and Amazing-Grace exited in the preliminary rounds on "cygnet" and "corroborate" respectively.

A fourth competitor, Keona-Dannette Osae-Twum, first runner-up in Ghana's national bee, represented New Jersey after training with Ghana's program. She made it to the semifinals before exiting on "amentiferous."

The Ripple Effect

These performances signal something bigger than individual achievement. Spelling and literacy programs are gaining strength across Africa, giving students tools to compete globally while building confidence at home.

"Beyond the rankings, this experience continues to show African children that they belong on global platforms and can compete with excellence at the highest levels," said Eugenia Tachie-Menson, convener of both programs at Young Educators Foundation Africa. Parents, coaches, and educators in both countries supported the journey, investing in their children's international exposure.

The organization has already begun preparing for next year's competition. Their focus remains on vocabulary mastery, literacy development, and building academic confidence among young Africans who deserve to see themselves in global competitions.

These four spellers proved that African students can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's best, and next year's delegation will stand even stronger.