Africa Day 2025: New York City Council Honors African Legacy and Community Leaders at City Hall

New York, May 22, 2025
Under the vaulted ceilings of City Hall’s Council Chambers, the New York City Council celebrated Africa Day 2025 with a deeply moving ceremony highlighting African heritage, resilience, and leadership across the diaspora. From 6:00 to 8:00 PM, the celebration was led by the Council Member Althea Stevens delivering the opening remarks, setting a tone of pride, unity, and cultural celebration.

“We are not just being heard tonight we are being centered,” said Stevens. “Africa Day must not be limited to a single day of recognition. It must be lived in policy, in civic engagement, and in the bridges we build across communities.”

Honoring Pillars of the Diaspora

Several figures were honored with City Council Proclamations, highlighting their outstanding contributions to African communities in New York and beyond.

Sandra Babu Boateng – Co-Founder, Panagenius

Introduced by Council Member Rita Joseph, Boateng was honored for her visionary work amplifying Black narratives through media. As co-founder of Panagenius and platforms like Face2Face Africa, Boateng has reached millions globally. In her heartfelt speech, she declared:

“At a time when African voices are silenced, our work has become not just important but urgent. Africa is not just a continent. It is a source of genius.”

Her media initiatives, rooted in cultural pride and global connection, have spotlighted Africa’s brilliance from Ghana to Italy and New York. She emphasized that the recognition was not just for her, but for “every storyteller, strategist, and creator who poured their heart into our mission these past ten years”.

Sharonne Salaam – Founder, Justice 4 The Wrongfully Incarcerated

Also presented by Rita Joseph, Salaam’s recognition resonated deeply with the audience. As the mother of Council Member Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, her advocacy arose from personal tragedy and evolved into systemic reform.

“My son was wrongly convicted, but I never gave up. I became a voice for many others,” she said. “Justice is not a moment it’s a mission.”

Her organization supports families navigating the trauma of wrongful incarceration and has become a lifeline for many. Her speech reminded everyone of the cost of silence and the necessity of civil education, especially in communities of color.

Dr. Adeyemi Lacrown Oloruntoba – President, 47th Precinct Community Council

The first recipient of the evening, introduced by Council Member Kevin C. Riley, Dr. Oloruntoba brought a powerful mix of spirituality, service, and military honor. A Nigerian-born U.S. Army veteran and community leader in the Bronx, he was lauded for his commitment to neighborhood unity.

“I came to this country more than 20 years ago with only my faith and my drive to serve,” he shared.
“Only in America did I discover I was Black but I chose to lead with integrity, excellence, and purpose.”

He is known not only for leading the precinct council but also for ministry work, supporting incarcerated individuals, and recently completing a doctorate in theology. “Let us remember,” he urged, “Africa is a continent, not a country. We are a people, not a stereotype”.

Muslim Community Network (MCN) – Honored by Althea Stevens

The Africa Day 2025 celebration at City Hall paid special tribute to the Muslim Community Network (MCN) for over two decades of tireless advocacy, education, and bridge-building across New York’s diverse boroughs particularly among African and Muslim youth. Council Member Althea Stevens, who presented the proclamation, commended the organization by stating, “Your foundation is built on truth, culture, community, and justice.”

But it was Dr. Debbie Almontaser, Chair of the Board of Directors, whose voice carried the emotional weight of history. Visibly moved, she reflected on a long-standing dream finally realized: “I once prayed we would have an African executive director and today, here he is.” That leader, Husein Yatabarry, was the one to receive the award, a symbolic moment that brought her to tears.

Almontaser underscored the significance of the occasion: “It’s an indescribable honor that our organization is being recognized on Africa Day a day that celebrates the very communities we’ve walked alongside.” She also praised MCN’s evolution, calling the recognition “a testament to the mission and vision we’ve pursued one of inclusion, dignity, and cultural solidarity.”

The MCN team shared how the organization, now in its 22nd year, continues to bridge generational and cultural divides, particularly within African Muslim communities in the Bronx. “There may be divisions, but we are committed to unity because when we rise together, we all rise,” they affirmed.

Cultural Reverence

The ceremony featured a soulful musical interlude by renowned kora player Malang Jobarteh, whose performance honored the ancestral legacy of West African music and left the audience in awe of its beauty and transcendence.

A Night of Pride and Promise

Council Member Yusef Salaam closed the evening by affirming the Council’s dedication to embedding African excellence into the city’s civic fabric.

“Tonight, we honored not only leaders but legacies,” he said. “Africa Day is a call to recognize that Black excellence is global, African pride is generational, and our collective power is unstoppable.”

Africa Day 2025 was the third annual edition hosted at City Hall now a growing tradition in New York’s civic calendar, with a message that resonates beyond borders.

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