African Leaders’ Showcase brings Role Models to Life
A poet and 27 public speakers inspired the audience at the 8 th edition of the African Leaders
Showcase on March 10.Showcase on March 10. The African Leaders’ Public Speaking Series promotes public speaking skills, as student immerse themselves in Black excellence–embodied by the leadership of both our ancestors and contemporary role models in academia, the arts, business, engineering, health, mathematics, politics and the sciences.
This Women’s History Month, we celebrated the iconic freedom fighter and civil rights activist Fanny Lou Hamer; environmental activist Wanjari Mahai; dancer, choreographer, and cultural icon Katherine Dunham; tech trailblazer Erica Hairston; inventor, computer scientist and educational activist Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon; along with formerly enslaved multi-millionaire philanthropist Bridgette “Biddy” Mason, who was one of the founders of California’s economy.
Positive role modelst
As is evident by our line-up, the series focuses on positive role modelsto inspire students’ interest and self-confidence as they research phenomenal achievers, synthesize language, and embody the characteristics of excellence through their speeches Each UPP Oral Communication group and several BSS courses held speaking competitions in class to choose the top speakers to appear in the Showcase.
| Ange Eunice Mienmoh DIBY | Survey of US History | Graca Machel | Mozambique |
| Ian Amour Jonathan DUPONT | Survey of US History | Oliver Law | USA |
| Ninko Pennon Zara TCHAKALA | Survey of US History | Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon | UK |
| Pierre-Anthony CADIO-AMMANN | African & African American History | Rev. Anthony Bowen | USA |
| Fatoumata Sakinat Bint Ky TRAORE | African & African American History | Bridgette “Biddy” Mason | USA |
| Yves Kouadio Axel Christian N’ZUE | African & African American History | Garrett Morgan | USA |
| Abdoul Jalilou ADAMOU | African & African American History | Cudjoe | Jamaica |
| Offoyeh Keren Yasmine KOUADIO | African & African American History | Gabriel Prosser | USA |
| Grace Innocente Affouminou ME | Advanced A | Fanny Lou Hamer | USA |
| Elloh Yann Auriol AMATCHE | Advanced A | Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor | USA |
| Sialait Yann Euphraim TOIPLI | Advanced B | Tunde Folawiyo | Nigeria |
| Keren-Happuc Eberechukwu NWABUIKE | Advanced B | Ory Okolloh | Kenya |
| Ouele Junior Jeremie ZOULOU | Advanced C | Joaquim Alberto Chissano | Mozambique |
| Affi Daniel Tedeum-Laudamus N’KOUASSE | Advanced C | Ludwick Marishane | South Africa |
| N’guettia Paul Emmanuel KOUASSI | Advanced D | Iyinoluwa Aboyeji | Nigeria |
| Oumar Habib TRAORE | Advanced D | Wanjira Mathai | Kenya |
| Ibrahim DOUMBIA | Intermediate A | Robert Sutherland | Jamaica |
| Patrick Ayomide ADIGUN | Intermediate A | Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton | United Kingdom |
| Awa Gnelle COULIBALY | Intermediate B | Fabrice Sawegnon | Côte d’Ivoire |
| Kouadio Ahmed AHI KOFFI | Intermediate B | George Dixon | Canada |
| Berhane Noura Jahnai MESSOU | Intermediate C | Changamire Dombo | Zimbabwe |
| Ronald Armel ZAHUI | Intermediate C | Erika Hairston | USA |
| Ketura Othniel Sollet Divine GRAH | Intermediate D | Lebohang Monyatsi Mode | South Africa |
| Madjoua Laure- Ange Myriame KOUASSI | Basic A | Katherine Dunham | USA |
| Mamadou FOFANA | Basic A | Anton Wilhelm Amo | Ghana |
| Loboue N’drin Yves Junior AYEKPA | Basic B | Fats Waller | USA |
| Siofoloh Christ –Nathanael SILUE | Basic B | Queen Pokou | Ghana/Côte d’Ivoire |
This semester’s program began with “Black and Gold,” a slam poem by Ms. Unglid Paul, an English Teaching Assistant at Lycée Excellence and guest of the U.S. embassy. She was followed by eight speakers from BSS history courses and 19 UPP students.
