August 2011 
Africa's International Media Summit 2011.
This event has been convened by ACA and is supported by the African Union.
Click here to visit the AIMS 2011 Summit website

November 28, 2007
Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission of the Diaspora African Forum Receives African Global Leadership Award in London for Her work Promoting Diaspora Affairs

LONDON, THE UNITED KINGDOM
In an award ceremony presented on the evening of November 28th, 2007, at an elaborate dinner at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall in London... Dr. Erieka Bennett received the Global Leadership Award endorsed by the World Bank, IMF African society for her work promoting African Diaspora Affairs. This distinguished award was presented at an elegant gala organized under the banner of The Kofi Annan African Achievement Awards, which were first presented at an NGO conference in 2004 by Nexus and other partners. Clearly moved emotionally as she received the award, Dr. Bennett told the attendees at the gala she was "taking ownership of the award as a steward, in recognition for the many people throughout the African Diaspora who have labored long and hard to keep African Diaspora issues alive and evolving. I give glory and honor to God and our ancestors and I especially want to mention certain people in the USA, like Mel Foote of the Constituency for Africa.

Mel has done a yeoman's job keeping the dream of a thriving union between Africans and African Americans alive. He also deserves so much recognition for his work. I also include Stan Straughter of the Sullivan Foundation; he is truly one of the great ones. He learned his leadership craft well and brings great honor to the memory of his mentor, the late Dr. Leon H. Sullivan. I also want to mention my family and my clan of long-time collaborators, media man Tony Regusters and my sisters in-the-work, Mazie, Desta, Claudette,Brenda, Toni,Juliette,Anne,Joy,Shirley - and there just so many, many others who have brought incredible dedication and creativity to the cause of Diaspora Affairs. I am accepting this award on all of their behalf..."

Dr. Bennett has lived and worked in Africa for over 30 years and is the founder and Head-of-Mission of the Diaspora African Forum (DAF), which has diplomatic status recognized by the African Union. DAF has missions in Accra, Ghana and Abuja, Nigeria. Additional DAF missions are being planned for 10 other nations across Africa. The Diaspora African Forum is dedicated to building sustainable cultural, human, geopolitical, international, philanthropic and economic relations between Africans in the Diaspora and those in the great nations of the African continent.

Dr. Bennett (3rd from left with gold turban) and other awardees, including, from far left: Catherine Ampaw, Executive Director OBE-TV, London England; Dr. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuike, Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Dr. Bennett and Marilyn Comrie, CEO Leadergen Company, London, England.

In her powerful life-work, Dr. Bennett has been an extraordinary asset to the African Union (AU), et al, in developing a platform for Diaspora issues; stood at the forefront of the political, journalistic media and economic efforts which resulted in the creation during the Clinton Administration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA); served as a consulting advisor to the architects of NEPAD and also served for three years as an elected member of the AU's ECOSSOC. Among her many other notable achievements, Dr. Bennett is also Vice-Chair of the African Communications Agency, the first CNN International's marketing partners in Africa, and is the publisher of The Legacy, a four-color photo journal commemorating President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic presidential trips to Africa.

In a quiet moment after receiving the award Dr. Bennett recalled a recent moment aboard a presidential jet sent to Accra to transport her to Cote d'Ivoire where she was knighted by President Laurent Gbagbo for her work helping to consolidate activities to bring peace and end the civil war.

"I remember looking out over the clouds, recalling my childhood and was so amazed at how far God has brought me from those carefree days. Yet,"" she continued, "all my years of personal growth and spiritual evolution have helped make me the person I am: Someone who loves Africa, the African people and Africa's children all around the world. Whoever they are, wherever they are, I love them with all my heart..." You are not an African because you are born in Africa you are an African when Africa is born in you."" An elaborate congratulations celebration is being prepared for Dr. Bennett in Accra Ghana on December 18th and the International High Life Queen Asabia Cropper will be performing.

West African Economic Group to Honor Muhammad Ali with ‘Living Legend Award,’
Feb. 13 in Nigeria

(ABUJA, NIGERA) – Excitement is building in the capital of this Western African nation as it prepares to host the Economic Community of West African States Summit, February 12-14, at which ECOWAS and the African Communications Agency (ACA) will bestow boxing legend and former three-time heavyweight world champion Muhammad Ali with its Living Legend Award and enshrine him in its Hall of Fame. Ali or a family member will accept the award less than a month after his 65th birthday. “ECOWAS is proud to be a part of this very special occasion,” said Dr. Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission. “Muhammad Ali’s legacy will resonate in the Hall of Fame forever. He is truly a living legend.”

Dr. Chambas said Ali will be among a small elite group of honorees who will receive the Living Legend Award and be feted for their life-long dedication to enhancing the positive promotion and advancement of Africa and its people. Other 2007 honorees have not yet been announced. They will be honored along with Ali at a special awards banquet on the evening of February 13 at the Nicon Hilton Hotel in Abuja. “We are honored to celebrate the life of Muhammad Ali,” said Dr. Erieka Bennett, vice chairperson of the African Communications Agency, which is co-convening the event with ECOWAS. “Besides being a phenomenal athlete, he is a world citizen who is loved and respected for his courage, strength and generosity. Muhammad Ali is a true humanitarian in every sense of the word. He is ‘The Greatest,’” she said. Past Living Legend Award recipients are: Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan, (Ghana) Ambassador Dudley Thompson, (Jamaica) H.E. Ruth Sando Perry, (Liberia) Professor Wole Soyinka, (Nigeria) Dr. Babcar Ndiaye and (Senegal) Dr. Bamanga Tukur (Nigeria).

“The summit’s main focus is to promote a more positive and balanced perception of Africa among the global community,” Dr. Adrienne Diop, Director of Communications for ECOWAS. The ‘re-branding’ of Africa will continue over the next five years until Africa is set in a more positive light in the minds of millions of world citizens,” Diop said. Ali, the self-avowed “Greatest of All Time,” revolutionized the sport with a style previously unseen in boxing. Born Jan. 17, 1942 as Cassius Clay, he garnered international acclaim by winning a light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Olympics. In his climb up the heavyweight ranks, he beat Billy Daniels, Archie Moore, Doug Jones and Henry Cooper, before challenging the highly favored Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title in 1964. When Liston failed to answer the bell after the sixth round of that bout, Clay was proclaimed the heavyweight world champion. However, soon after the fight, Clay shocked the world by announcing his conversion to Islam, while changing his name to Muhammad Ali.

With a stinging left jab, hand speed of a welterweight and footwork of a ballet star, Ali dazzled not only boxing fans, but soon became a beloved and controversial pop icon. He defied traditional boxing rules by pulling back to avoid punches, dropping his left hand, while spouting street poetry and waging psychological warfare on boxing opponents, who in some cases were much younger and more physically imposing. In 1967, citing his religious beliefs, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army. He was promptly arrested, had his boxing license suspended and was stripped of his heavyweight crown. Barred from the ring for his religious and political beliefs from March 22, 1967 until Oct. 26, 1970, Ali fought a different kind of fight, promoting anti-war sentiment - and messages of racial equality, social activism and political dissention.

During those years, with Ali absent from the boxing scene, a new heavyweight, Joe Frazier emerged and demolished all challengers en route to the heavyweight title. In 1970, Ali returned to the ring and defeated Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena, prompting a heavyweight title showdown with Frazier. In what has been called “The Fight of the Century,” Frazier dropped Ali in the 15th round and won a unanimous decision. Ali regained his title in Africa in 1974, lying on the ropes with his now famous “Rope-A-Dope” ploy, he wore out a physically superior George Foreman and stopped him in the eighth round. Ali successfully defended his tile against other challengers, including final fights with Frazier and Ken Norton. Far past his fighting prime, Ali yielded his crown in 1978 to another American Olympian winner Leon Spinks, who upset Ali in just his eighth pro fight. Six months later, Ali recaptured the heavyweight title from Spinks in a rematch. Ali ended his career, losing to former sparring partner Larry Holmes in 1980 and dropping a 10-round decision to future champion Trevor Berbick in 1981. These days, Ali, ever the fighter, battles the effects of advanced Parkinson’s disease and remains active in various social causes championed by his Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Ken.

Letter from Bill Clinton
February 23, 2001


Dr. Erieka Bennett
President and Vice Chair
African Communications Agency
Post Office Box 39281
Washington, D.C. 20016

Dear Erieka:

I just wanted to thank you for your outstanding work on The Legacy. The book is wonderful, and I treasure it.

You have done an excellent job on behalf of U.S./Africa relations, and I appreciate your support of my efforts, too. All the best, and thanks again.

Sincerely,
Bill Clinton

The Legacy was launched in Nigeria by President Bill Clinton.
April 2011

ACA's Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur with President Clinton		ACA's Vice Chairman Dr. Erieka Bennett with President Clinton
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater signing The Legacy for Ann Mcneil		From left to right: Mel Foote, Constituency for Africa; U.S. Congressman Donald Payne; H. E. Ruth Perry, former Liberia President; Sharolyn Rosier Hyson, writer of The Legacy
Pretrolin President Samuel Dossou-Aworet with President Clinton		From left to right: Congressman Donald Payne signing The Legacy for Anita Omitowogu; Businesswoman Anita Omitowogu; Babacar Ndiaye, former President of African Development Bank; Ambassador Seck of Senegal
Former O.A.U. Chairman Salim Ahmed Salim		Ben Guriab, Foreign Minister of Namibia
Nados Bekley-Thomas from UNDP (left) reading The Legacy with Sister Claudette Muhammed, Minister of Protocol for the Nation of Islam		ACA's Vice Chairman autographing The Legacy for Sister Ruth
Businesswoman Anita Omitowogu introducing The Legacy		ACA's Vice Chairman with Jubrial Diallo of UNDP
Guests reading The Legacy		ACA's Staff with President Clinton
ACA's Chairman and Vice Chairman discussing The Legacy		ACA's Vice Chairman introducing The Legacy at a African Business Round Table (ABR) conference. For more information on ABR, please visit www.abrnet.org