From July 25th to July 27th, Face2Face Africa held its first Pan-African Weekend, which included the Young Africans Committed to Excellence (YACE) Master Class, the Fascinating Africans Committed to Excellence (FACE) List Awards, and a jazz brunch, and if you weren’t there, then you are most definitely a square.
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Armed with video presentations that highlighted their contributions to the continent at the African Union, the YACE Master Class featured some of Africa’s brightest talent with Co-Founder and CEO of Uncharted Play Jessica Matthews, CEO of Clean Water for Everyone Wemimo Abbey, Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Executive Director of Oduko Boatemaa Foundation Deniece Yeboah, Founder of Africa Impact Group Issam Chleuh, Co-Founder and President of Global Minimum David Sengeh, and Founder of Cleanacwa and Golden Palm Investment Sangu Delle.
Afterward, YACE honorees and attendees enjoyed a laid-back “I Am a Professional African“(IAAPA) Mixer at the Carlton Hotel.
Saturday ushered in Face2Face Africa’s annual FACE List Awards at New York University‘s Skirball Center, where Africa’s finest graced the stage. FACE List awardees included the iconic model Alek Wek, musician Femi Kuti, Toronto Raptors‘ General Manager Masai Ujiri, billionaire Dr. Mo Ibrahim, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei.
The affable actor Chris Attoh and Face2Face Africa Director of Operations Sandra Appiah hosted the event, with Ghanaian reggae sensation Samini serving as the principle talent of the night.
The nearly five-hour affair was further punctuated with yellow carpet interviews, beautifully dressed attendees, actresses MaameYaa Boafo and Nana Mensah of the uberly popular “An African City” appearing, a live band, a number of respected journalists, and both Wek and Kuti dancing together during Samini’s grooves.
The final event of the weekend took place at the aforementioned Carlton Hotel, with attendees enjoying delectable brunch choices alongside a live jazz band that set the mood for a relaxed atmosphere of mixing and conversation.
All in all, Face2Face Africa’s Pan-African Weekend was an exciting presentation of Africa’s present and future, which is clearly chock-full with talent, innovation, and success.
Enjoy photos from the FACE List Awards here:
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