Africa to the World!
Today, BET Networks revealed iconic R&B group New Edition will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 “BET Awards”. In addition, multi–Grammy Award winning hip-hop artist and singer-songwriter, Chance the Rapper, will receive the evening’s Humanitarian Award presented by Walmart.
Internationally, Ilwad Elman and Yvonne Chaka Chaka will be honored with the 2017 BET International Global Good Star and Power Awards, which recognize individuals championing endeavors to positively impact change and heighten awareness in different parts of the world.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and teacher. Dubbed the “Princess of Africa,” Yvonne is a legend in the South African popular music scene, with a 27-year career and hits such as “Umqombothi.”
Outside of her musical career, Yvonne is a champion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; the United Nations MDG Envoy for Africa; and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. She was chosen by Nelson Mandela as the first ambassador for his children’s fund and has established her own charity, the Princess of Africa Foundation, which is a member of the ACTION global health advocacy partnership.
In 2012, she was the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award. Yvonne Chaka Chaka is the recipient of the 2017 BET International Global Good Power Award, which recognizes individuals who have been steadfast and true to their cause(s), leveraging their artistic platform to bring visibility and provide a voice to the under-served and under-represented.
Ilwad and Yvonne join past Global Good honorees artist and philanthropist Akon for his Lighting Africa initiative and Tanzanian Supermodel Millen Magese for her dedicated work in maternal and women health as well as the education of African girls on self-care through her Millen Magese Foundation. The Global Good honors will be awarded as a part of the BET International presentation, and will be airing in the international edition of the 2017 “BET Awards.”
Ilwad Elman is a Somali–Canadian social activist. In her work with the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Mogadishu, Ilwad helps to run Sister Somalia, the country’s first program providing counseling, health and housing support to victims of gender-based violence. Her efforts with Sister Somalia as well as several other organizations have helped to raise awareness locally on the issue and encouraged governmental policy changes.
