Awards more than just recognition
The Diaspora African Forum’s (DAF) fourth African Women of Excellence Awards (Awea) was more than just recognising and encouraging the winners.
Awea’s Xernona Clayton said: “Awea’s greatest success, in addition to recognising and encouraging awardees, is the opportunity to motivate other African women to realise their visions of progress for Africa and to reaffirm their contributions, great and small.”
The awards, which took place in Sandton last week, were jointly hosted by the African Union Commission and DAF, which set out this year to honour iconic female figures who made a historic impact in the fields of government, civil society and entertainment.
A panel discussion allowing for experience sharing, networking and opening the doors for mentoring between committed African women working for economic, social, cultural and political equity for women in Africa and the diaspora formed part of the awards proceedings.
The award winners includedMinister for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Amina Mohammed from Kenya; Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete from South Africa; college professor, writer, producer and philanthropist Clarice Ford-Kulah from Liberia; first lady of the Republic of Rwanda and the chairperson and founder of Imbuto Foundation Jeannette Kagame; CEO of Odunde Inc, Oshunbumi Fernandez-West from the USA; chairperson of the United Africa Group Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun from Namibia; the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism for Nigeria’s Anambra State, Sally Mbanefo; second lady of the Republic of Ghana and founder of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) Samira Bawumia; and Toni Luck from the African Legacy Trust in South Africa.
In 2017, African Women of Excellence Awards recognised the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, for the historical advancement of women in government.
Kagame ensured 60% female representation in parliament, placing Rwanda at number one globally for female representation in government. ANAAwea’s –
greatest success is the opportunity to motivate other African women to realise their visions of progress for Africa and to reaffirm their contributions, great and small.
Xernona Clayton African Women of Excellence Awards