For nearly 70 years, The Africa-America Institute (AAI) has worked to enhance the worldwide understanding of Africa and its diaspora and increase educational opportunities for young Africans.

Founded in Washington, D.C. by Dr. Horace Mann Bond, the primary Black president of Lincoln University, and William Leo Hansberry, a professor at Howard University, AAI promotes engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue.

A few of the organization’s programs include a STEM scholarship program, partnerships with the NAACP, a faculty service program providing a sturdy K-12 curriculum on Africa and its global diaspora and an annual awards gala celebrating the vast contributions of Africa and its global diaspora.

This yr, AAI’s thirty eighth annual awards gala made its in-person return during United Nations General Assembly week in Recent York City. The gala brings together many notable guests, including heads of state, diplomats, government officials, business and civil society leaders and students.

“When the world gathers on the UNGA, sometimes the one news that breaks through about Africa and its worldwide diaspora is negative,” AAI President and CEO Kofi Appenteng told ESSENCE in a press release. “We established the gala so the world might recognize and rejoice the achievements of Africa and its worldwide diaspora as a way of balancing the image and inspiring the leaders who’re accomplishing a lot to function examples for others,” he said.

Hosted by Recent York Times bestselling creator, speaker and podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones and marketing executive, entrepreneur and creator Bozoma Saint John, this yr’s awards program was held on September 20 under the theme “Africa within the World.”

Learn more about this yr’s honorees and why it’s best to know more about them and their groundbreaking work.

01

Mahen Bonetti – Founder and Executive Director of the African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF)

For over 30 years, Mahen Bonetti has created platforms which have given African filmmakers and their work a voice. She has dedicated her life to providing opportunities for Black storytellers to inform their stories through film. Under her leadership, NYAFF has taken African cinema out of the art houses and into communities. In contrast, AFF has introduced countless filmmakers to U.S. audiences for the primary time and created the world’s largest digital archive of African movies. Her role as a master curator of African movies and champion of African Diaspora filmmakers was celebrated with the Ambassador for African Cinema Award.

02

Dr. Solomon Assefa- Vice President of IBM Research

Dr. Assefa leads IBM Research’s global effort to develop core technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, healthcare and life sciences and technology, amongst other initiatives. He can be accountable for IBM’s Africa Labs, developing latest collaboration models with government, industry, academia, non-profits, and start-ups. The Africa Labs are critical in addressing Africa’s grand challenges and serving as a model for the remainder of the world. In keeping with AAI, Dr. Assefa received the Science and Technology Leadership Award for his efforts “in advancing purpose-driven global innovation to enable sustainable futures.”

03

Betty Wambui Kibaara – Director of the Food Initiative on the Rockefeller Foundation

Betty Wambui Kibaara oversees the Rockefeller Foundation’s investments in food systems and its efforts to enhance access to nutritious foods and nutrition. She is the Rockefeller Foundation’s regional champion for initiatives to strengthen food security, agribusiness and resilience to the devastating effects of climate change to enable sustainable and equitable economic growth. Kibraara received the Distinguished Alumna Award, which honors an AAI alumna who has made outstanding contributions to their country or field of labor. Kibaara earned a Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Colorado State University after participating in AAI’s Strategic Technical Assistance for Results with Training (START) program.

04

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana – On Behalf Of The People of Botswana

AAI honored the Republic of Botswana with its National Achievement Award in recognition of the country’s commitment to democracy and stability within the region and its deal with addressing the importance of education, healthcare and youth development. The Award was accepted by Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana. President Masisi – the fifth President of the Republic of Botswana, previously worked as an Education Project Officer with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Throughout his profession, the Florida State University graduate has worked to advertise global partnerships on education and support Botswana’s youth.