Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett noted that Soyinka’s commitment to cultural continuity, modernity, and truth mirrors DAF’s mission to build bridges between Africa and its global Diaspora.
THE Diaspora African Forum Embassy in a ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, in Accra Ghana, hosted the Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, to celebrate his decades of literary excellence, intellectual courage, and Pan-African legacy.
Held under the leadership of Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission, the commemorative event also saw, Soyinka conferred with the prestigious DAF Bridge Builders Award, an honour previously bestowed on world leaders and global icons for advancing unity, dialogue, and continental progress.
Also as a permanent tribute to the writer-activist-global humanist’s impact on African thought and identity, Soyinka’s name was engraved on the DAF Embassy Supporters’ Wall, joining the ranks of distinguished friends and partners of the 6th Region.
Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett noted that Soyinka’s commitment to cultural continuity, modernity, and truth mirrors DAF’s mission to build bridges between Africa and its global Diaspora.
DAF Embassy is dedicated to celebrating African excellence and strengthening the strategic partnership between the continent and the 6th Region.
The event was attended by DAF Board members, cultural stakeholders, and supporters, all gathered to honor a legend whose pen and voice have shaped Africa’s conscience.
Soyinka was accompanied to the ceremony by his Heritage Voyage of Return, HVR team, including Rio-Brazil-based Ajoyemi Osunleye and Caroline Morais; London-UK-based Elaye Youdeowei, Accra-Ghana-based Dr Wale Okediran, as well as Abeokuta-Nigeria-based Engineer Tokunbo Odebunmi.
The HVR is described as a transformative ocean voyage connecting Brazil, the Americas, and the Caribbean back to the African continent, retracing, in reverse, the historical maritime routes, cities and settlements, through which millions of Africans were forcibly taken into slavery.
The ceremony also featured:
* . Presentation of the 6th Region Flag to the laureate symbolising the African Union’s recognition of the African Diaspora as the continent’s 6th Region.
* Presentation of a book “Visions of Africa” by Prof. Kwame Addo to the Nobel laureate
* . Presentation of Ghanaian chocolate engraved with Prof. Soyinka’s likeness, celebrating Ghana’s cultural heritage through food and craftsmanship.
