2020 Caribbean American Heritage Awards to Honour Buju Banton Amongst Others

Author

Institute of Caribbean Studies

Release Date

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

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ICS’ Caribbean American Heritage Awards is the leading honors event by the Caribbean Diaspora for people in the Caribbean diaspora. The 2020 honorees include Dr. Swinburne Augustine, COVID Test Research Scientist, of Dominican heritage; Trinidad-born Andrea McKenzie, Artist; Grenadian inventor and investor, Dr. Nicholas Braithwaite; Frederick Morton, Esq., Founder of Tempo TV, of Nevis and USVI heritage; and Jamaica’s beloved reggae giant, Mark Anthony Myrie aka Buju Banton. Announcements of additional honorees will continue over the coming weeks leading up to the event, which will take place on November 20th following the conference, the Invest SMART Caribbean Agribusiness Forum, which takes the focus on FARM THE FUTURE.

The Caribbean American Heritage (CARAH) Awards, which is held under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps celebrates members of the Caribbean diaspora who have been exceptionally successful in their fields at the national or international level. ICS started this event 27 years ago in an effort to highlight to the American society at large the caliber of individuals that claimed Caribbean American ancestry, and to provide a forum for honoring and recognizing their contributions to America and the world and this remains important today, given the rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Over the past 26 years, over 100 leaders and influencers such as Susan Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine; Rita Marley, reggae matriarch and philanthropist; Dr. Velma Scantlebury, kidney transplant surgeon; George Willie, CEO of Bert Smith and Company; actress Cicely Tyson; and the late Toots Hibbert, have received CARAH Honors.  Friends of the Caribbean lauded have included Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Eliot Engel; and the Hon. Andrew Young.

The 2020 Gala will be hosted by television personality Neki Mohan, a former CARAH Honoree who is herself of Trinidadian heritage. Entertainment for the evening which will be held virtually will be anchored by top Caribbean Band in Washington DC, IMAGE Band, and will include cameos from other artistes.  The Pre-event Reception will include an Art Walk and Silent Auction.

Event partners include CaribNation TV which will co-executive produce the CARAH Gala for television. Pure Jamaica and Tempo TV are some of the media partners joining to make this event a truly global celebration of triumph and transformation in this year of the Covidemic. Part of the proceeds raised will be used to support the LifeSEED Youth Empowerment Program. ICS 2021 partners will include the Buju Banton Foundation.

To learn more about the Caribbean American Heritage Awards, visit www.caribbeanheritageawards.org.

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