Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale

MINNEAPOLIS – The African Awards, organized annually by Mshale Newspaper, held its glittering seventh African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13 at the World Headquarters of Target Corporation in Minneapolis. This year marked the first time that the African Awards have been held away from a hotel ballroom or convention center, a result of a major commitment at last year’s gala by Target VP for Diversity and Human Resources, Caroline Wanga to host them at Target. The company was also the main sponsor for 2018.

The three-hour formal gala program was preceded by a red carpet walk for attendees, awardees and presenters and a TV interview by WOW Africa and a heavy hors d’oeuvres that featured South African wines. The main highlight of the evening being the honoring of individuals and organizations that have exemplified excellence and distinction in serving the community while pursuing their business or scholarly objectives as defined in the criteria for their respective award categories. All finalists were nominated and voted on by their community.

Before the formal gala program could begin however, local up-and-coming rapper, FANAKA, lunged on to the stage to warm up the crowd with a song to set the tone for the festive evening. He performed throughout the evening his energizing songs, blending traditional African rhythms and hip-hop. In honor of the African Awards, FANAKA released his latest music video, “Naka from the Block.”

After a welcome from Mshale founder Tom Gitaa, who thanked Target for hosting the gala, he invited Target’s Wanga to the stage. Wanga said, “You are here tonight because it is important for Target to tell you that you matter to us.” She went on to say that, her company cares about the African immigrant community.  “The investment in this awards are a small token to tell you that we see you, that you matter, are important and that it is not because I am an African immigrant that this came through, but because you are important demographic to a company that makes money and thus we are honored to have you here tonight,” Wanga said.

Wanga went on to breakdown the important demographics of the African immigrant community that are of interest to her company, including the estimated 200,000 plus African immigrants in Target’s home state of Minnesota.

Minneapolis based R & B singer, the Lagos born and bred Carolyne Naomi, delivered a soulful acoustic set during an African dinner prepared in-house by Target.

The evening gala, already elegant in all aspects, was taken to another level with the entry of Soweto Street Beat.  A world music ensemble based in South Africa and Atlanta, the magic of the drums delivered by the group had almost everyone take out their cell phones to record the performance. “We don’t do this for money but to promote our culture as I love my people,” said Soweto’s director, Peter Ngcobo.

Retired Minnesota judge, Lajune Lange was the keynote speaker. Before speaking, she invited Ngugi wa Thiong’o to the stage to make brief remarks. Thiong’o was in town for the Twin Cities Book festival happening the same day as the African Awards and Gitaa, who hosted him the night before, invited him to the awards as a special surprise for the guests. The author and former political prisoner added to the significance of the evening by noting the pan-Africanism that was on display. Thiong’o was warmly received and he stressed the importance of African languages, a cause he has championed all of his life, he said. Also gracing the evening was the National High School Debating champion, Halima Badri of Apple Valley High School who was invited to the stage by the MC Charles Dennis to greet the guests.

Judge Lange, the founder of the International leadership Institute, told the audience the importance of education and why America and Minnesota in particular, needs to look to Africa on how to get education right. She said when in Africa “When I walk in any school (in Africa) children aged three can read English and write in cursive and it does not matter whether their parents can read or not.”

Lange also revealed to the audience that in the United States, Kenyans have the most PhDs awarded to loud applause. She concluded by saying, “you are part of the future plans of Africa.”

“Remember that song, ‘oh what night’,” Leon Rodrigues, chair of the African Awards Panel of Judges, asked the audience in reference to the spectacular evening as he took the stage and got ready along with fellow judge Miata Getaweh to announce the award winners. First, he asked to audience to join him in congratulating Dr. Getaweh for getting her doctorate recently. Rodrigues said their fellow judge Godson Sowah could not join them at the gala this year as he was out of town.

The evening also featured a video message from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey congratulating the finalists. State Representative Ilhan Omar, a past recipient of the African Awards’ Community Leadership Award, also delivered a video message congratulating the finalists. Omar, who is running for the US Congress and destined to be the first black person born in Africa to be in Congress, said in her message that her winning the African Awards a few years ago is what prompted her to first run for office.

The following are the winners of this year’s African Awards. Each winner, in addition to the coveted trophy that is made by hand in Nairobi, also received a laptop computer and six months of free internet access courtesy of Comcast, which returned for the second year as a sponsor.

Artist of the Year: Yusuf Shalita

Student of the Year: Hajaratu Jaafaru

Business of the Year: Afro Deli

Spirit of the Moran: Abdullah Kiatamba

Community Leadership: Jonathan Rose

Non-profit Organization of the Year: Mercy International Missions

The next African Awards gala will be on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Marcus Mays of Comcast, a returning sponsor of the African Awards, speaks at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Peter Ngcobo, Soweto Street Beat Director, introduces his group which is based in South Africa and Atlanta before their performance at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Literary giant, NgĹ©gÄ© wa Thiong’o, a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, speaking at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Caroline Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President Human Resources at Target Corporation speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Literary giant, NgĹ©gÄ© wa Thiong’o, a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, acknowledges applause at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale

The evening’s master of ceremonies, Charles Dennis, at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
The evening’s master of ceremonies, Charles Dennis, invites Halima Badri, a student at Apple Valley High School and the reigning US National Champion in Original Oratory to greet guests at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Halima Badri, a student at Apple Valley High School and the reigning US National Champion in Original Oratory greets attendees at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Tom Gitaa, Founder and the President of Mshale, speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Fanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Fanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Fanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Carolyne Naomi, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Conga player, Christian Adeti, at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Carolyne Naomi, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Soweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Caroline Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President Human Resources at Target Corporation speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Dr. Leon Rodrigues (left) chair of the African Awards Judges’ Panel and fellow judge, Dr. Miata Getaweh, get ready to announce the finalists and winners at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Yusuf Shalita accepting the Artist of the Year at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Abdullah Kiatamba, executive director of African Immigrant Services, accepting the Spirit of the Moran Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Thomas Fadirepo of Mercy International Missions accepting the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award on behalf of his organization at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Abdulrahman Kahin, owner of Afro Deli accepting the Business of the Year Award on behalf of his company at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Dr. Jonathan Rose, accepting the Community Leadership Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale

 

Author

About Bethel Gessesse, Mshale Photojournalist

Bethel is a general assignment reporter and photojournalist at Mshale. She is based in Atlanta.

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