Broadway Actor Sahr Ngaujah to Co-Host 2014 African Diaspora Awards

Applause Africa, a multimedia platform that aims to celebrate, empower and connect the people, culture and visions of Africans in the Diaspora, announced today the 2014 Honorees for the AFRICAN DIASPORA AWARDS. The 4th Annual ADA Awards will be held on November 15 at Lincoln Center's Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. The Red Carpet and cocktail reception begin at 6:00PM, followed by the awards show at 7:00PM.

The AFRICAN DIASPORA AWARDS celebrates the accomplishments of exemplary individuals from the African Diaspora who have excelled in various spheres of life, as well as individuals in society who working towards the advancement of Africans in the Diaspora and Africa, as a whole.

Co-hosted by Sahr Ngaujah, award winning actor and musician (Broadway hit "Fela") and Ebbe Bassey, actor, producer and writer ("Mother of George", "NYPD Blue", "Law & Order: SVU") , the ADA Awards is one of the most electrifying and highly anticipated awards shows celebrating the African Diaspora.

The ADA Awards brings together established brands, entrepreneurs, world-class entertainers, fashion mavens, renowned scholars, politicians, athletes, and philanthropists from the Diaspora. The awards show promises to engage attendees in a cultural extravaganza of iconic tributes, powerhouse performances and unforgettable moments.

The 2014 ADA Honorees are: Actor of the Year: Ger Duany, star of "The Good Lie" [South Sudan];Creative Artist of the Year: Kemi Adetiba [Nigeria]; Entrepreneur of the Year: Meck Khalfan, Puku Charger [Tanzania]; Community Leadership Award: Semhar Araia, Dawn Inc. [Eritrea]; Musician of the Year: Somi [Rwanda-Uganda]; Friend of Africa: Bernadette Paolo, The Africa Society [U.S]; Advocate of the Year: Dr. Olajide Williams, Hip Hop Healthcare [Nigeria]; Designer of the Year: David Tlale [South Africa]; and Company of the Year: Ogilvy & Mather [U.S.].

"The ADA Awards provides a platform for us to honor and raise awareness about these extraordinary individuals from the Diaspora," said Debo Folorunsho, co-founder of Applause Africa. "By shining a spotlight on their accomplishments, we hope to shift the prevailing narrative about Africa and Africans to a vision of hope and promise."

Previous ADA Honorees include Noble Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee; Chinedu Echeruo, tech entrepreneur and founder of HopStop.com; Angelique Kidjo, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist; Ajamu Wesley, IBM Vice President of Africa Skills Initiative; Mpule Kwelagobe, former Miss Universe; and Lola Ogunnaike, former correspondent for CNN, The View,VH1, MTV, BET and Centric Arise 360, among other accomplished individuals.

The 2014 Awards theme "Homecoming Revolution" will lift up the positive and inspiring movements of Africans in the Diaspora who are driving the revitalization and economic progress in the global African community.

"We believe in celebrating leaders of today in order to inspire leaders of tomorrow," said Michael Ikotun, co-founder of Applause Africa. "Younger Africans must be engaged in investing in the future of their homelands. The ADA Awards will motivate our generation to become the change they wish to see in Africa."

The evening will conclude with an After-Party featuring DJ FOLS, who will spin Afrobeat hits and continue the celebration.

The AFRICAN DIASPORA AWARDS is a part of a series of events. On November 13, in partnership with the United Nations Association SNY for Young Professionals, an ADA-United Nations Ambassador Tour will take young African professionals to visit three African Permanent Missions in New York City to encourage young professionals to explore career opportunities with UN Missions.

The ADA Awards are sponsored, to date, by: Vlisco and Arik Air International.