The Afropolitan Presence at the African Diaspora Awards 2013

Yaya Alafia talks with Afrofusion TV on the red carpet at the African Diaspora Awards 2013

It wasn’t quite the coincidence – or was it? – that at Applause Magazine‘s African Diaspora Awards in New York City last Saturday, the award for musician of the year went to a Ghanaian hip hop artist whose upcoming album is called “Afropolitan Dreams.” But yes, indeed, the Afropolitan scene was in full effect as the aforementioned musician Blitz the Ambassador, Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu, rising star filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu, and the brilliant actress Yaya Alafia all took home honors for work in their craft. Andrew Dosunmu (Restless City) was awarded Film of the Year for his new movie Mother of George, a visual arthouse delight shot right there in New York City. Wangechi Mutu, whose  first US survey exhibition entitled Wangechi Mutu: a Fantastic Journey recently opened at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, was honored with the Creative Artist of the Year award. All of these artists and other awardees were proud of the impact

Artist Wangechi Mutu at the African Diaspora Awards 2013

they have made in the Diaspora community, and very grateful for the recognition. The award show is in its third year, and has recognized a who’s who list of African Diaspora personalities in the past, including Grammy Award winning singer Angelique Kidjo, Ethiopian model and philanthropist Liya Kebede, and Nigerian media magnate Lola Ogunnaike. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Liberian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee, who delivered a

Filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu accepting the award for Film of the Year

rousing keynote address on the theme “The Power of Our Voice.” Other honorees at the award show were Designer of the Year Korto Momolu, Person of the Year, model Oluchi Orlandi, Humanitarian of the Year Munyang Reath Kher, and Face of Africa Nnenna Agba. Afrofusion TV will feature interviews with a few of the personalities that graced the occasion; look out for that in the coming days. In the meantime check out the gallery below for more photos from the event. Bless…

Andrew Dosunmu chats with Blitz

Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee

Actress Ebe Bassey with one of the hosts Ojinika Obiekwe

South Sudanese Model Ger Duany with friends

Face of Africa honoree Nnenna Agba

Host Ojinika Obiekwe

Media Mogul Lola Ogunnaike

Yaya Alafia Accepts the award for Actor of the Year

Les Nubians chanteuse Hélene Faussart

Blitz the Ambassador performs his set

Wangechi Mutu accepts her award for Creative Artist of the Year

Related articles

• The Afrofuturism of Wangechi Mutu (theguardian.com)