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African Heroes Night 2020 poster
Ohio University African Students Union will host African Heroes’ Night at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. in the Baker University Center Ballroom.
This year’s winner of the African Heroes’ Award is Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a medical doctor and activist. She was born in Zimbabwe and later migrated to the United States in 1997.
She was appointed the African Union representative to the U.S., a position she held until October 2019. Dr. Chihombori-Quao’s work in activism seeks to unite African states and Africans in the diaspora. Internationally, she is known for her work and passion in promoting women’s rights around the globe. She is expected to attend the event.
“The African Heroes’ Award was created to mark and celebrate the prison release of Nelson Mandela, the late president of South Africa.
President Mandela became the first recipient of the award in 1991. Since then, the award has been given every spring semester to an African and Africanist who is contributing to the development and advancement of both the African Continent and the people of African descent, either on the continent or in the diaspora.” said Omar Baralabe, president of African Students Union.
Previous winners of the award include:
- Dr. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, former director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and current director of the Kenya School of Law
- Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghanaian undercover investigative journalist
- Dr. Ibrahim Soce Faal, Regional Emergencies director of the Health Emergencies Program of The World Health Organization
- Evelyn Chumbow, survivor activist and former member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking
- Dr. Steve Howard, former director of the African Studies Program and current graduate director of the OHIO School of Media, Arts and Studies.
To honor other African heroes, each table at the event will have the name of an African hero and their brief biography. Entertainment will include African songs, music, dances and poetry. Food from various African countries will be served.
The public is welcome to attend a free afterparty at 10 p.m. in the Red Brick Tavern Basement.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
To purchase tickets, email Feven Berhe, vice-president of the African Students Union at fb027416@ohio.edu . You can also buy tickets at the ASU table on the first floor of Baker University Center. Tabling hours are Tuesday, Feb. 25, noon to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 26, 3 to 6 p.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.