[Photo: Davies Chirwa, founder of the African Achievement Awards, with singer Oltanie of Haiti, who won the Best Female Afro Caribbean Artist category at the December 15 event in Seattle, Washington.]

African excellence was rewarded in chilly Seattle, Washington on December 15, at the annual African Achievement Awards. Held at Seattle Airport Marriott, it was the first physical show since 2020 when the event was affected by Covid-19.

The show celebrated accomplishments in community service, education, entertainment, fashion, sports. That format has been in place since the African Achievement Awards was first held in 2019.

Davies Chirwa, a Zambian television mogul, is founder of the ceremony. He said last month’s show, “Marked a significant milestone for us, as we gathered in person to celebrate our rich and diverse heritage. This event provided a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of African culture to a broader international audience. It was a pivotal moment that allowed us to represent ourselves on a global stage, highlighting the beauty and depth of our traditions.”

While the majority of the over-30 awardees are from Africa, there was a Caribbean flavour. Oltanie, a singer from Haiti, won Best Female Afro Caribbean Artist, while Ardie “Cuban” Wallace from Jamaica was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wallace, who is from Montego Bay, is a cousin of legendary rapper The Notorious B.I.G. He has promoted reggae-dancehall shows in Hartford, Connecticut for 50 years.

“This is special for me, especially coming from Davies who has done a lot of great work. It’s always great to win awards,” said Wallace.

Chirwa is one of the leading media figures in the United States’ African Diaspora. He operates Channel A TV, which focuses on current affairs and trends in Africa, and DC Productions, a company that specialises in event and video productions.

A major sports fan, Chirwa has directed and produced documentaries for top athletes such as Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Deion Sanders, Danielle Pelham, Bobby Wagner, Doug Baldwin and Michael Irvin.

He said the latest African Achievement Awards is a dress rehearsal of sorts for two major sports events.

“This year’s event, marking the return to an in-person format since the pandemic, drew nearly 400 distinguished guests. The theme, centered on promoting tourism and economic empowerment, aligned with Washington state’s preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026, showcasing the vital contributions of the African diaspora in the Pacific Northwest and beyond,” Chirwa disclosed.

(Photo contributed)