This information was made known in a press statement released by the Award committee in Hamburg Germany, today 21st June 2023. it states: “HRM, we are thrilled by your excellent records educating, informing, and transforming the institution of Omuship and promoting the cultural heritage of the Anioma people, Nigeria, and the black race. Your footprints through your various books and publication are that of advancing Anioma’s cultural diversity and heritage. The African Diaspora Living Legend Award Committee have therefore the privilege and pleasure to nominate you as a recipient of the 2023 Award as Global Icon of African Cultural Heritage”.
This year’s Award ceremony will be taking place on the 5th of August 2023 at NH Airport Hotel West Frankfurt Germany the communicated further stated. The African Diaspora Living Legend Award was inspired by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution, A/RES/69/16, Programme of Activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/69/16 in 2014, proclaiming the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) to promote the recognition, justice, and development of people of African descent worldwide. The resolution called for various activities to address the challenges faced by people of African descent and to enhance their contributions to society.
The African Diaspora Living Legend Awards was instituted in 2016 by AGIC under the inspiration of the current Mayor of the city of Heubach, His Excellency, Dr. Joy Alemazung, and Hon. (Dr) Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi, CEO of African German Information Center, and former member of Hamburg Senate Foreigner’s Advisory Council as part of the Africa Day celebration in promotion of the ideals and objectives of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. Since then, it has been an annual event.
Prominent past recipients of the African Diaspora Living Legend Award include (Dr. Peter Tschentscherthe, the Governor of Hamburg and Senate President; Dr. Joy Alemazung, Mayor of the city of Heubach, Germany; Dr. Pierrette Herzberger Fofana, Green Member of European Parliament, Brussels; Dr. Karamba Diaby (MdB), first black African member of German Federal Parliament; Elombo Bolayela (MdBB), first black African Members of Parliament city of Bremen); Prof. Enyeribe Anyanwu, MD, Ph.D., FWACS, FACA Emeritus Professor of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Muenster, Germany; Prof. Charles Yankah, German Heart Institute Berlin and member Pan-African Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (PASCATS) among others.
The organizers also stated that this year’s Award celebration will be the major highlight of the Deutsch – Africa Business & Cultural Fair 2023 which is about creating an agricultural ecosystem for African and German agricultural enthusiasts, financial institutions that incorporates Diaspora, young farmers, smallholder farmers, academics, entrepreneurs, supply chain managers to build partnerships that contribute to current developments in agribusiness and improve food security and sustainability in Nigeria/Africa.
