The African Diaspora Awards Gala Returns to the Big Apple

NEW YORK - Nov. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- The African Diaspora Awards (http://www.applauseafrica.com/ada), the only major awards show that celebrates exemplary brands and individuals who have made a significant difference in the African community in the United States across categories of media, entertainment, community advocacy and philanthropy, will celebrate its 3rd year live from the Gerald W. Lynch Theater At The Lincoln Center, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY Live on Saturday, November 30th, 2013, 6:00PM-12:00AM EST. Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist Leymah Roberta Gbowee will deliver a keynote address, on the “The Power of Our Voice”, the ADA theme for this year’s glittering red carpet event. Three-time Emmy nominated media professional and PIX 11 News Producer and Correspondent, Ojinika Obiekwe and Actor and Writer Mohamed Dione III will join Gbowee as hosts of the show.

The African Diaspora Awards (ADA), presented by Applause Africa, is the leading international awards platform honoring excellence among Africans in the Diaspora. Founded in 2011, the ADA has recognized, acknowledged and rewarded excellence in the Diaspora among individuals such as Ethiopian model and maternal health advocate Liya Kebede, media mogul Lola Ogunnaike, serial entrepreneur and iROKO Partners CEO Jason Njoku, Activist and Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo, Actor and Resident DJ at The Ellen De Generes Show Tony Okungbowa, Grammy nominated sisters Les Nubians, and Face Africa founder Saran Kaba Jones, to name a few.

Debo Folorunsho, Founder of Applause Africa says: “For over twelve years, Applause Africa has committed time and resources towards identifying and celebrating Africans in the Diaspora who make a significant difference in the global African community.  Our successful and outstanding record of accomplishment is a testament of our quest to highlight the efforts of deserving role models in the African community and serves as the passion behind the African Diaspora Awards.”

This year, over a dozen of Africa’s change makers in the Diaspora will be selected following a three-week voting process involving the board of Applause Africa , a board of judges and an independent audit committee  comprised of African leaders worldwide.  Michael Ikotun, Co-founder of Applause Africa says that “At Applause Africa, we strongly believe that it is important to celebrate leaders of today in order to inspire leaders of tomorrow.  The African Diaspora Awards joins the list of initiatives created by Applause Africa with a singular objective to celebrate, empower and connect the people, culture and visions of Africans in the Diaspora.”

This year’s ADA will entertain a 300+ invited audience of African professionals from all over the Diaspora, Friends of Africa, celebrities, senior executives at Africa-focused consulting firms, and government luminaries who will convene to celebrate those selected to receive any one of the 15 prestigious African Diaspora Awards.  “The ADA Awards is indeed an inspirational evening and a credit to the hard work that Applause Africa is doing to promote positive news on Africa,” said Edward Bergman, Executive director, Africa travel Association."

Tickets are available for purchase at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/9149015953.  Additionally, up to the minute details about the 2013 ADA celebration, including nominees and sponsors, is available at www.applauseafrica.com.ada.

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NOTE TO EDITORS

Events leading up to the 3^rd annual african diaspora awards:

·         November 11, 5PM EST—2013 ADA Nominees Unveiled at www.applauseafrica.com/ada. Categories under consideration include:

o   Lifetime Achievement Award: Leymah Roberta Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate (Liberia)

o   Advocate Of The Year: Amini Kajunju, Executive Director, Africa-America Institute (Democratic Republic of Congo)

o   Entrepreneur Of The Year: Chinedu Echeruo, Serial Entrepreneur & Founder of HopStop (Nigeria)

o   Community Service Of the Year: Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana)

o   Scholar Of The Year: Emmanuel Ohuabunwa (Nigeria)

o   Musician Of The Year: Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana)

o   Film Of The Year: Andrew Dosunmu (Nigeria)

o   Designer Of The Year: Korto Momolu (Liberia)

o   Ambassador Of The Year: Fillippe Savadogo (Burkina Faso)

o   Humanitarian Of The Year: Munyang Reath Kher (Sudan)

Other categories pending confirmation include: Creative artist Of The Year, Actor Of The Year, Company Of The Year, Face Of Africa, Friend Of Africa and Person Of The Year.

·         November 22, 6PM-10PM—A Dinner with the ADA Awards Class of 2012. The 2012 ADA recipients will be hosted to an invitation-only reception by the Consulate General of South Africa.

Media registration

Accredited members of the media may register for complimentary press passes to cover the 3^rd annual African Diaspora Awards and the events leading up to the awards.  Please email info@muipr.com or call +1 646 789 2165.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AWARDS:

The African Diaspora Awards is a special initiative that aims to celebrate exemplary individuals who have made a significant difference in the African community in the United States. The awards are particularly aimed at motivating young and accomplished African Diaspora professionals to become the change they wish to see in Africa.  The African Diaspora Awards aims to identify and celebrate notable Africans that have genuinely excelled in various spheres of life, as well as individuals in society who have contributed to the advancement of Africans in the Diaspora and Africa as a whole.  As a new breed of African leaders now seek closer ties with the Diaspora, fully aware of the need to build lasting partnerships between the African Diaspora and the African continent through sustained dialogue and resilient collaboration with the governments and peoples of different regions of the world, home to the African Diaspora; Applause Africa is strategically positioned to empower the Diaspora to effectively engage in the conversation.  Visit www.applauseafrica.com/ada for more information.

ABOUT APPLAUSE AFRICA:

Applause Africa magazine is a quarterly published lifestyle magazine for the progressive African in Diaspora. Applause

Africa focuses on the people, cultures, philosophies and successes of Diaspora Africa.  Applause Africa started as a hobby 10 years ago, in Nigeria, was re-introduced in the United States about three years ago.  Applause Africa is one of very few publications in the US that focus on disseminating positive news on Africa and celebrating exceptional Diaspora African professionals who continue to make Africa proud. Applause Africa is committed to continue to raise the consciousness of African professionals about their collective responsibility and efforts to help build a better Africa by becoming the change they envision.  Visit www.applauseafrica.com for more information.