Bärbel Grade, the First Councillor of Eschborn has described the AFRONEWS – Ortel Mobile African Community in Germany Awards as “a platform to show off African excellence“ in Germany.
Addressing guests at the African Community in Germany Awards Gala Night in Eschborn on 22nd October 2022, Ms Grade said the Awards “recognize, celebrate, thank and encourage” African achievers in Germany in addition to improving the image of African communities.
She said she was grateful to be invited to be a Special Guest at the Awards Gala Night organised by Aafronews.de together with My Ethnic Cooking & Catering.
On behalf of the Mayor of Eschborn His Lordship Adnan Shaikh, Ms Grade welcomed all the guests to her city and thanked the organisers for choosing Eschborn as the host town of the African Community in Germany Awards Gala Night 2022.
Fifteen awards were presented to Africans who have excelled in different fields in Germany during the Red-Carpet Awards Gala Night in the presence of so many Excellencies, eminent business and community leaders. Apart from Ms Grade, some of the dignitaries who graced the event included: Mr Allison O. Valentine – First Secretary (Information, Culture and Education) – Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Germany, Mr Prince Makurudze – Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe to Germany, Mrs Melanie Nolte – Vice President of the Frankfurt Chamber of Industries and Commerce, Mr Gregor Fränzel – the CEO of Ortel Mobile and the main sponsor of the event, Mr Dimitrios Tsakiroglou – Ria Money Transfer Retail Manager, Germany, and Mr Kofi Adu Frimpong – Taptap Send Growth Launcher.
“I am especially proud to be in the presence of so many Excellencies, eminent business and community leaders,“ Ms Grade said, “You play major roles in the African community here in Germany, in Africa and around the world. Ladies and gentlemen and everyone watching at home, we are here to pay tribute to your efforts tonight, at the AFRONEWS – Ortel Mobile African Community in Germany Awards 2022.“
Ms Grade said that for the past 30 years, until January this year she worked at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. “Eschborn is very much a global village, among acres of land, with the view of the skyline. So, I have been a guest at a few celebrations. Not just in Germany, but also with my many international colleagues and friends in Eschborn and abroad.“ She however pointed that she rarely “had the honour to be the guest at a gala that was so lively, colourful, innovative, so glamorous and diverse.”
The First Councillor of Eschborn described Africa as a continent “blessed with great diversity.”
“The most impressive is the sense of community and strength this Panafrican community and African diaspora can share and celebrate glamorously here and around the world,“ Ms Grade said.
The high-class African dinner served at the Gala Night was prepared by Ms Gillian Lwangu Piroth, the CEO of My Ethnic Cooking & Catering (MEC) and her team of chefs.
Ms Grade mentioned the African cuisine as an example of African diversity. “We just had the opportunity to taste the excellent catering of My Ethnic Cooking by Gillian Piroth. Thank you,” the First Councillor of Eschborn said, and expressed pride at the fact that Mrs Piroth’s business is registered and situated in Eschborn.
“After tasting it, I really have to participate in one of her cooking classes. Her cooking expresses the passion, vitality and sense of community this award stands for very well. The African diaspora find solace and encouragement in sharing food with each other. And everyone’s lives in Germany is enriched by learning from them. And that is exactly what this award achieves as well,“ Ms Grade said.
Turning to congratulate the winners, the First Councillor of Eschborn said: “I am sure for the winners, nothing can be more encouraging than the love and respect of their own community, which they showed through the public votes.“
She praised the rapid progress made since the launch of the African Community in Germany Awards in 2021. “Last year Mr Stephen Ogongo started this wonderful initiative with five categories, on a glamourous but smaller venue at Frankfurt. This year you are here, and 15 prize categories will be awarded. I am curious to learn how many categories you will have next year,“ Ms Grade said.
Responding to this, Mr Ogongo, who is the editor of Afronews.de and the founder of the African Community in Germany Awards promised that next year’s event will be three times bigger than this year’s.
“We would be honoured it if you returned next year,“ Ms Grade said, “But until then, we hope you will enjoy your time here, thanks in no small part to the wonderful work of the organisers and sponsors of the event.”
After tasting the excellent food prepared by Ms Gillian Piroth, founder of My Ethnic Cooking & Catering, “I really have to participate in one of her cooking classes. Her cooking expresses the passion, vitality and sense of community this award stands for very well.”
Mrs Bärbel Grade, the First Councillor of Eschborn
The winners of the AFRONEWS – Ortel Mobile African Community in Germany Awards 2022:
• The Best African Business/Entrepreneur in Germany 2022: Kumbirai Chipadza
• The Best African Radio Station in Germany 2022: Radio R FM
• The Best African Author in Germany 2022: Diana Mac Omolo
• The Best African Gastronomy – Restaurant/Caterer in Germany 2022: Mary Ikhuoria
• The Best African Fashion Designer in Europe 2022: Roselyne Ogonya
• The Best African Events Organiser in Germany 2022: Christopher Mendy (Chris Black)
• The Best African Actor in Germany 2022: Prince Ogugua Igwe
• The Best African TV Personality in Germany 2022: Nyima Jadama
• The Best African Association in Germany 2022: Kultur und Evangelium Musik Expo e.V.
• The Best African Teacher/Coach in Germany 2022: Evelyne Waithira Mueller
• Best African Musician/Band in Germany 2022: Joy Wendo
• The Best African Beauty & Hair Salon in Germany 2022: Joyce Avoka
• The Best African DJ in Germany 2022: Babajide Moibi (DJ Freegah)
• Lifetime Achievement Award 2022: Elizabeth Horlemann
A special thanks to Sponsors of African Community in Germany Awards 2022
Ortel Mobile, Germany’s leading prepaid sim cards provider for people with a migration background, was the major sponsor of the African Community in Germany Awards 2022.
The Awards were also sponsored by Taptap Send, an easy-to-use smartphone app that lets you send money to family and friends with just a few taps and a debit card, and Ria Money Transfer, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: EEFT), a global leader in the money transfer industry.
Start.Up Lounge Africa, a management consulting firm connecting and promoting businesses in Africa and Europe were also a part of the sponsors to this amazing event.