The night of Tuesday September 24 at Cipriani on 42nd street, in New York City, we joined great African leaders for an evening in honour of African and diasporan visionaries in arts and culture. And it was fulfilling to listen to the words of Kofi Appenteng who leads the Africa-America Institute (AAI).
The gala night paid tributes to late Dr. Hage Geingob the third president of the Republic of Namibia whose wife, former First Lady Monica Geingos gave a speech much deserving of the standing ovation she received.
Performances were by Chiney Ogwumike who compered the event, as well as the musical group Sonic Sommelier, and Kwesi Amoak.
And of course there was what could pass as one of the greatest speeches given by an African President – the words of his excellency Nana Akufo-Addo who placed a spotlight on the “Year of Return” initiated to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in the United States. The project brought over a million people from the USA to visit Ghana.
There were at least four presidents in the room, as well as many chief executives and business leaders from around the world, including H. E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia; H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana and H.E. Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, President of the Republic of Namibia.
Reeta Roy of the Mastercard Foundation received an award for Philanthropic Impact; HE President Akufo-Addo, the president of Ghana; HE Dr. Angola Mbuba the president of Namibia and HE Monica Geingob were also honoured.
Guests included Ebenezer Asante, Snr Vice President, Markets MTN; Tobechukwu Okigbo, the Chief Corporate Services Officer (CCSO) of MTN Nigeria; Ghana’s minister for foreign affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, BHM founder and CEO Ayeni Adekunle, and The African Leadership Institute (ALI) Fred Swaniker.
Africa-America institute (AAI) was founded in 1953, to advance the continent’s development through higher education and skills training, convening activities, and promoting greater engagement between Africa and the United States.
