Every five years the United Nations acknowledge individuals who dedicate their lives to service humanity.
With that purposeful intent, a Feb. 28 deadline nears for a select committee to decide the 2025 winners.
According to the UN Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, two eligible individuals — a male and female from different geographical areas will qualify for the coveted Nelson Mandela Rolihlahia Mandela Prize.
In order to meet the high expectations of promoting the purposes and principles of the world body, winners must submit applications, which detail dedication to the legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation the freedom fighter upheld in South Africa.
As icing on the cake, this year’s award ceremony on July 18 will be held on the annual commemoration day named for the first elected Black president of the former apartheid colony.
In 2020, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, a Greek philanthropist and world advocate of human rights who also relentlessly campaigned to protect children’s health and welfare won the prestigious prize.
Acclaimed for dedicated service as a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) she was hailed for her contribution related to global concerns.
Along with Morisanda Kouyate, a leading activist from Guinea — renowned for mobilizing movements against violence of women and girls in Africa, the pair earned recognition from the UN Department of Global Communications which serves as the governing secretariat of the committee.
Prior to that, in 2015, the Mandela prize was handed to Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia, an ophthalmologist whose life’s work has been the treatment of blindness and eye-related illnesses in her country.
Who knew that the leader of a nation would qualify for the distinguished honor.
Indeed that same year, Jorge Fernando Franco Sampaio, the former president of Portugal was chosen for his relentless struggle in maintaining democracy in his country.
Another incentive for submissions is that committee chairman and president of the general assembly, and members of six representative states will decide the most competent winners.
Needless to say, anyone who meets the qualifications is eligible to submit a nomination by the deadline Feb. 28 date.
An online website for the Mandela Prize has been established where English and French-speaking candidates can submit application forms.
African Voices Urged To Speak About Harry Belafonte
“Artists are the gatekeepers of truth,” Harry Belafonte said.
“We are civilization’s anchor. We are the compass for humanity’s consciousness.”
The actor, singer, activist, humanitarian and Civil Rights advocate spoke truth to power throughout his storied career and until his death two years ago at age 96.
The avowed king of calypso never minced words about social conditions that impact his people.
Perhaps that is why, African Voices is making a plea for poets, writers and essayists to submit pertinent fiction, art, poems, and essays that exemplify some of the areas Belafonte passionately supported throughout his exemplary career.
Intended for a special tribute issue dedicated to the global spokesperson, his artistry, and activism must dominate all entries.
Fiction submissions should not exceed 2,500 words. Essays, no more than 2,500 words.
And poetry must maintain the three to five poem limit. Artwork should be limited to three to five images.
Incidentally, ArtificiaI Intelligence (AI) generated materials will be disqualified.
All submissions must be original and 100 percent created by humans.
Deadline date is April 11, 2025,
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