The Africa Diaspora Awards celebrated, honoured and recognised achievement from the African Diaspora community

The African Diaspora Awards, an important event in the calendar of Africa's successful Diaspora community, and a great networking platform, took place in London on May 2nd and it is anticipated that it will become a major annual event.

The African Diaspora Awards paid tribute to African success across all walks of life; emphasising achievement and highlighting inspirational role models in the fields of business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and popular arts and culture.

The African diaspora in the UK has, over the past decade, achieved greater recognition for their positive contribution to Africa's development as well as to that of the United Kingdom. These awards celebrated diversity and multiculturalism and the achievements of the contemporary and historical African diaspora community in the UK.

According to the Awards co-founders, Dr Knox Chitiyo, Africa Associate Fellow with the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) in London, and Conrad Mwanza, CEO of the Africa Diaspora Awards UK, their vision for the event was to highlight the positive contributions the African diaspora community makes to the UK and to Africa, and to recognise and reward the contributions of migrants to the UK Community.

During dinner guests had the opportunity to silently bid for amazing items with all proceeds going to Tutudesk Campaign. Rebecca Sweetman, CEO of Tutudesk UK, spoke of the work being done to provide portable school desks to children in Sub Saharan Africa, where over 95 million school children don’t have the benefit of a classroom desk.

Speakers on the night included Algy Cluff, Chairman of Cluff Natural Resources, who spoke on building strategic partnerships with Africa and the Diaspora community in today’s world.

In his speech, Dr Knox Chitiyo, Chairman of the African Diaspora Awards (ADA), acknowledged that "Now is the time for the African Diaspora". He also paid tribute to African Diasporas past and present. Acknowledging our legacy and struggle for achievement, "walking in the footsteps of giants" both in Africa and in the UK, he commended the Award nominees and winners for what he called "The pursuit of everyday excellence"

The keynote speaker, Her Excellency Thandi Modise, Premier of North - West Province, Republic of South Africa, delivered an eloquent address and emphasised the importance of promoting social justice and gender equality, not just in South Africa but also internationally. She also spoke of the vital role women can, and are, playing, in community and global peace-building. Following her presentation, Ms Modise also acknowledged the role played by the African Diaspora in the struggles for equality in Africa and also for their contribution to the rise of contemporary Africa. Modise was presented with a special African Diaspora Award in recognition of her outstanding role in the advancement of peace-building and women's empowerment in Africa.

Other speakers included HE Mohamed Omaar, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Transitional Federal Government of Somali, who spoke on his role representing Somalia and the wider African Diaspora community here in the UK.  Another speaker, Lillian Ogbogoh, who is well known for her community work in the UK African Diaspora, also spoke on the key role women have played in empowering the African Diaspora over generations.

The winners of the African Diaspora Awards 2013 were:

Education/Academia

Images by Keith Matthews