Media company Face2Face Africa (f2fAfrica.com) for the fifth consecutive year will celebrate success stories of the pan-African community at its 2016 F.A.C.E. List Awards gala, July 9, at ESPACE Ballroom in New York City. As in the past, this year’s awards dinner-gala commences with a Red Carpet pre-reception at 6:30 p.m.
Dubbed the pan-African achievement honors, the awards gala is the capstone event of Face2Face Africa’s annual Pan-African Weekend. Each year the gala recognizes individuals who have blazed a career or business trail for younger generations and positively influenced the conversation on Africa’s image, future and potential.
The 2016 honorees are:
Rosa Whitaker, founder, CEO and president of The Whitaker Group, recipient of the Trailblazer Award. A lifelong champion of African growth and development, Whitaker initiated the United States Trade Representative’s Office of African Affairs, where she oversaw the increase of U.S. trade, investment and economic cooperation with African countries.
Wyclef Jean, Grammy Award-winning artist and humanitarian, recipient of The Pioneer Award for Impact in Music. Through his music, Haitian-born Wyclef has helped bridge the gap between the pan-African community, advocating for unity, integration, and collaboration, particularly in arts and entertainment.
Ethiopian-born Marcus Samuelsson, renowned celebrity chef and entrepreneur, recipient of the Global Ambassador Award. Raised in Sweden, Samuelsson is the youngest chef ever to receive two three-star ratings from The New York Times; was the winner of “Top Chef Masters” Season 2; and served as guest chef for the Obama administration’s first State Dinner.
Vanessa De Luca, editor-in-chief, Essence magazine, recipient of the Media Award. De Luca has facilitated Essence’s recent expansion into Africa with the anticipated launch of the Essence Music Festival in South Africa this fall.
Wale Adeosun, founder and chief investment officer of Kuramo Capital. Recipient of the Leadership Award. Kuramo Capital is Africa’s leading independent multi-manager, multi-asset class investment management firm, connecting institutions to emerging and frontier economies.
The Segal Family Foundation, recipient of the Ubuntu Award for Outstanding Service. The foundation partners and funds organizations that are working to improve the wellbeing of communities across Africa.
“This year’s honorees are a group of inspirational heroes with uniquely fascinating stories to tell. They have made a tremendous impact in their respective fields and have left a legacy that will forever shape and influence the pan-African community,” says Sandra Appiah, F2Face Africa’s chief operating officer (pictured above).
Since its launch in 2011, Face2face Africa has honored trailblazers such as Grammy award winning musician Angelique Kidjoe; billionaire financier Mo Ibrahim, of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Masai Ujiri, president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors; Fumbi Chima, chief information officer, Walmart Asia; fashion icon Alek Wek; Amadou Gallo Fall, managing director, NBA Africa; Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti; top orthopedic surgeon Oheneba Boachie Adjei; Ashish J. Thakkar, founder, Mara Group; and actor/humanitarian couple Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker.
This year’s milestone Pan-African Weekend is presented by Prudential Financial Inc. It kicks off Friday, July 8, with the IAAPA Networking Mixer and culminates on Sunday, July 10 with a Jazz Brunch. For details, go to PanAfricanWeekend.com.
