PRESS RELEASE

ROYAL AFRICAN SOCIETY CONFERS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS ON ZEINAB BADAWI, GRACA MACHEL, AND MILES MORLAND

30 November 2021 – The Royal African Society marked its 120th Anniversary by presenting awards to artists, activists and philanthropists in recognition of their Lifetime Contribution to Africa. The Lifetime Contribution to Africa Awards were awarded to:

• – Zeinab Badawi, for her outstanding contribution to Africa as a public broadcaster, as a historian of Africa through her 20-part TV series, as a role model to African women in this country and across the world, and as the Chair of the Royal African Society for the past seven years.
• – Graça Machel, for her outstanding contribution to African liberation in southern Africa, to peace-building on the continent through the Elders, to education in Africa and the UK (including as immediate past President of SOAS), and as an inspiration to African women everywhere.
• – Miles Morland, for his entrepreneurial example as a long-term investor in Africa, and for ploughing back much of the profit into the encouragement of African culture and literature through his generous support to young African writers and to the Royal African Society.

Arunma Oteh, Chair of Royal African Society said,  “I am delighted that we are marking the 120th Anniversary of the Royal African Society by specially recognising the outstanding contributions of Zeinab Badawi, Graça  Machel,  Miles Morland and Micere Mugo.  Their exemplary contributions have ensured that African voices and perspectives are taken account of in Africa, the UK and globally.”

The awards followed this year’s Annual Lecture, delivered by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed on the subject of ‘Africa in a Just Transition – Investing in a Sustainable Recovery.’ The text of her remarks and a recording of the event will be available here on the RAS website.

ENDS

For further information contact Nick Westcott, RAS Director at ras_director@soas.ac.uk or +44 7967 147462.

Notes to editors:

About Royal African Society

Royal African Society is a membership organisation that provides opportunities for people to connect, celebrate and engage critically with a wide range of topics and ideas about Africa today. We amplify African voices and interests in academia, business, politics, the arts and education, reaching millions of people globally.