Gala Honorees
Since its first Annual Awards Dinner in 1984, AAI has honored individuals, companies and countries who are working to fulfill AAI’s mission of bridging Africa and the Diaspora to catalyze a more equitable and sustainable world.
Positions listed are those held at the time of the award.
Jump to specific award list:
NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
In 1999, the AAI National Achievement Award was established to recognize the citizens of an African nation for their achievements and demonstrated commitment to: representative, effective and just governance; investing in the well-being of people through education health, peace-building and environmental conservation; and promoting sustainable economic freedom through policies that foster enterprise and entrepreneurship.
2022 - The People of the Republic of Botswana, accepted by President H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi
2021 - The People of the Republic of Malawi, accepted by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera
2020 - The People of the Republic of Senegal, accepted by President Macky Sall
2018 - The People of the Republic of Mozambique, accepted by President Filipe Nyusi
2017 - The People of the Republic of Ghana, accepted by President Nana Akufo-Addo
2012 - The People of Liberia, accepted by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
2011 - The People of Sierra Leone, accepted by President Ernest Bai Koroma
2009 - The People of Ghana, accepted by President John Evans Atta Mills
2008 - The People of Mozambique, accepted by President Armando Emílio Guebuza
2007 - The People of Tanzania, accepted by President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
2006 - The People of South Africa, accepted by President Thabo Mbeki
2005 - The People of Rwanda, accepted by President Paul Kagame
2004 - The People of Namibia, accepted by President Sam Nujoma
2004 - The People of Uganda, accepted by President Yoweri Museveni
2003 - The People of Kenya, accepted by President Mwai Kibaki
2001 - The People of Ghana, accepted by President John Agyekum Kufuor
2001 - The People of Senegal, accepted by President Abdoulaye Wade
1999 - The People of Nigeria, accepted by President Olusegun Obasanjo
1999 - The People of South Africa, accepted by President Thabo Mbeki
PRESIDENTIAL FIRESIDE
Established in 2023, AAI's Presidential Fireside Chat convenes African leaders in discussion on the importance of education, partnership and bridging Africa and its diaspora.
2023 Gala Fireside
H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and Alumnus of AAI’s Southern African Student Program
H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana and 2022 AAI Awards Gala Honoree
Moderated by: Jennifer Zabasajja, Correspondent and Anchor, Bloomberg TV and Quicktake
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Presidential Leadership Award recognized African Heads of State for their achievements in demonstrating exemplary leadership in their commitment to Africa’s democratization and political and socio-economic development.
2020 - His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger
2015 - His Excellency Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia
2014 - His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire
2012 - Her Excellency Joyce Banda, President of Malawi
2002 - His Excellency Festus Mogae, President of Botswana
2000 - His Excellency Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, President of South Africa
1997 - President William Clinton, President of The United States of America
1992 - The Hon. Nelson R. Mandela, Nobel Laureate and President of South Africa
1992 - His Excellency Frederick J. T. Chiluba, President of Zambia
1991 - His Excellency Nicéphore D. Soglo, President of Benin
1990 - H.E. Sam Nujoma, President of Namibia
1984 - His Excellency President Kenneth D. Kaunda, President of Zambia
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
AAI presents Distinguished Alumni Awards to an alumna and/or alumnus of one of AAI’s education and training programs, who has made a significant contribution to their country or field of work.
2022 - Betty Wambui Kibaara, Director, Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation
2021 - Ablade Glover, World Renowned Artist & Educator
2020 - Claude Borna, Director, Managing Director and Chief Innovation Officer, Sèmè City Development Agency
2019 - Ms. Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, Director, Multi-Sectoral Office for East Africa, UNESCO
2018 - H.E. Prof. Hassana Alidou, Ambassador to the U.S. and Canada, Embassy of the Republic of Niger
2018 - Dr. Austin Demby, Deputy Director, Office of Global Health Resources and Services Administration
2016 - Sunil Benimadhu, Chief Executive, Stock Exchange of Mauritius
2015 - H.E. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia
2014 - Thandika Mkandawire, Chair of African Development at the London School of Economics
2013 - Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All Initiative
2012 - Nik Amarteifio, CEO and Chairman of Equatorial Cross Acquisitions Ltd.
2012 - Dr. Thelma Awori, Founding Chair and Co-President, Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund
2011 - Hon. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Republic of Sierra Leone
2010 - Seipati Tlaka, 2010 FIFA World Cup Provincial Coordinator, Senior General Manager, Office of the Premier, Limpopo Province
2010 - Dr. Ousseina Alidou, Director, Center for African Studies, Rutgers
2009 - Dinah Brandful, Asst. Commissioner & Head of Laboratory, Customs, Excise Preventive Service
2008 - Jorgina Manhengane, Operations Manager, PETROMOC SA
2007 - Gidion Kaino Mandesi, Executive Director, Disabled Organization for Legal Affairs and Social Economic Development
2006 - Professor Phumla Mtala, Director of Programmes, College of Economic & Management Sciences, University of South Africa
2005 - Jonathan Lifa, Regional Manager, Public Affairs, Chevron Corporation
2005 - Dr. Betty Bigombe, World Bank Consultant
2004 - Hon. Nahas Angula, Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation
2003 - Pierre Atépa Goudiaby, World-renowned Senegalese Architect
1997 - Mamadou Dia, World Bank Country Director for Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
1992 - Wangari M. Maathai, Nobel Laureate and founder of the Greenbelt Movement
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AWARD
AAI presents the Corporate Responsibility Award to recognize corporations that are dedicated to advancing socio-economic development, workforce development and job creation in Africa.
2023 - MTN Group, accepted by Group President & CEO, Ralph Mupita
2020 - Afreximbank, The African Export Import Bank, Accepted by Dr. Benedict Oramah
2018 - Gilead Life Sciences, accepted by Gregg H. Alton, Interim Chief Executive Officer
2015 - IBM, accepted by Jen Crozier, Vice President of Global Citizenship Initiatives
2014 - General Electric, accepted by Jay Ireland, President and CEO of General Electric Africa
2013 - Chevron, accepted by Ali Moshiri, President of Chevron’s Africa And Latin America Exploration And Production Company
2010 - FIFA World Cup South Africa Leadership Team, accepted by Dr. Irvin Khoza, Chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Organizing Committee
2002 - The Limited and Mast Industries, accepted by Jerry Stritzke, President & CEO of Mast Industries
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD
AAI presents the Business Leadership Award to visionaries who demonstrate excellence in leadership on the African continent and across the diaspora through their tremendous contributions in shaping the business environment and African economy for economic growth and sustainable development.
2023 - Debra Lee, BET CEO Emeritus and Founder of Leading Women Defined
2022 - Dr. Solomon Assefa, Vice President, IBM Research
2017 - Jim Ovia, Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, and the Jim Ovia Foundation
2016 - Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group
2015 - Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Wireless
2014 - Vivienne Yeda, Director-General of the East African Development Bank
2013 - Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited and Founder, Tony O. Elumelu Foundation
1988 - David Rockefeller
ARTS & CULTURE AWARD
AAI’s African Arts and Culture award recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment and innovation in preserving, promoting, and advancing the rich tapestry of African arts and cultural heritage, inspiring cultural exchange and fostering appreciation worldwide.
2022 - Mahen Bonetti, Founder & Executive Director, African Film Festival, Inc.
2020 - Issa Rae, critically acclaimed Actress, Writer & Producer
2019 - The New York Times Magazine’s 1619 Project
2019 - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Author Williams Kamkwamba, Netflix, BBC Films, Participant Media and BFI
2018 - Studio 189, Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, Co-Founders Studio 189
2017 - Nicole Amarteifio, Creator, Director and Producer, An African City
2017 - Bozoma Saint-John, Chief Brand Officer, Uber
2003 - Rachel Swarns, New York Times Johannesburg Bureau Chief
2000 - Chinua Achebe, Nigerian Poet and Author
OTHER DISTINGUISHED AWARDS
2023 Legacy of Teaching Africa & Excellence Award
Dr. Evelyn (Evie) Jones Rich, Activist, Scholar, Educator, and Author
2023 Philanthropic Impact Award
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, accepted by President and CEO, Peter Laugharn
2021 Global Health Equity Award
World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, accepted by Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa
2021 Global Health Solutions Champion
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), accepted by Dr. John N. Nkengasong, MSc, PhD, Africa CDC Director
2020 African Diaspora Justice & Equity Award
Sherrilyn Ifill, President & Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and the Educational Fund, Inc.
2019 The Excellence in Women’s Empowerment & Leadership Award
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
2016 Regional Integration Award
The People of the Republic of Rwanda
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award
Ali Moshiri, President, Chevron Africa and Latin America, Exploration and Production Company
2016 Special Tribute and AAI U.S. Business Leader Award
Stephen Hayes, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Corporate Council on Africa
2013 AAI Institutional Legacy Award
African Union, accepted by Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chair, African Union Commission
2004 Awards
Hon. Donald Payne, US Congressional Representative (D-NJ) - Award of Special Recognition
2003 Awards
C. Payne Luca, Co-founder, Africare - Special Tribute
2001 AAI Award of Special Recognition for Promoting U.S. – Africa Trade Relations
Rosa M. Whitaker, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa
1995 Awards
Rt. Rev. Archbishop Demond Tutu
1994 Awards
Andrew Young, Mayor of Atlanta and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN
The Late Robert F. Kennedy, accepted by Bishop Desmond Tutu and Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
1993 Awards
H.E. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, UN Secretary-General
1988 Awards
Graca S. Machel
Matilda R. Cuomo
Cyril Ramaphosa, Secretary-General of the National Union of Mineworkers of South Africa
1987 Awards
Babacar Ndiaye, President the African Development Bank