Africa and its diaspora took center stage in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) as Culturally Bound and SpiralH presented Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, powered by the Afreximbank’s Global Africa Gateway at The Africa Center. Hosted by the Future Africa Forum 2025, the private screening and discussion formed part of a global gathering that champions Africa’s cultural power, policy innovation, and investment strength as engines of shared prosperity.
The program began with a powerful welcome from Ambassador Martin Kimani, President & CEO of The Africa Center, who spoke of Africa’s future as inseparable from its global diaspora. “At The Africa Center, our mission is to transform the world’s understanding of Africa and its diaspora by serving as a hub for culture, policy, and business. We are a platform where heritage meets innovation, where dialogue leads to action, and where Africa’s global influence is celebrated and amplified,” said Ambassador Kimani.
Ms. Laurie Cumbo, NYC Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, reinforced New York’s role as a vibrant platform for African and diaspora voices. She was followed by Moriam Ajaga, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Art and Culture, who emphasized the importance of cultural heritage as a foundation for Africa’s continued global influence. The program also featured reflections from Nara Cardosa Barato, Deputy Consul for Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Brazil in New York. Her remarks underscored Brazil’s diverse cultural diplomacy, as well as the artistic innovation that unites Africa and its diaspora across oceans. Together, they set the tone for an event celebrating Africa’s enduring power and promise.
Raynald Leconte, the award-winning Haitian-American filmmaker behind Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, acknowledged the distinguished guests and sponsors before the screening of his groundbreaking film. “This film is my tribute to the resilience of the Yorùbá people and all who carried Africa’s traditions across oceans, shaping the world in ways still felt today,” said Leconte.
Photo credit: Marco Peinado (Instagram: @marcopeinadoo or @1941wilhelmina)
Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds takes audiences on a voyage of rediscovery—an immersive dive into Yorùbá culture across the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The film features Prof. Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature and frames Yorùbá culture as a “river that never rests,” shaping Afro-Brazilian history and global Afro-culture across generations. The film celebrates the diversity of the African diaspora, with 47 million in the United States; 113 million in Latin America, mainly in Brazil; 13.6 million in the Caribbean; and 3.5 million in Europe and beyond.
Following the screening, a panel discussion explored how African heritage serves as both identity and influence—fueling artistic, political, and economic power. Dr. Malik Yoba, CEO of Yoba Development and three-time NAACP Award winner, guided the discussion which featured Raynald Leconte, filmmaker and CEO of SpiralH; Chidima Blyden, CEO of Culturally Bound; Elis Clementino, Head of Strategic Relationships at NVH Studios; and David Adefeso, CEO of Sootchy.com & The Pacific Group.
The panel discussed how storytelling, entrepreneurship, and heritage actively build Africa’s creative and economic future. “When we honor our heritage and tell our stories on our own terms, we unlock the imagination and investment needed to build Africa’s future,” said Blyden.
In Ambassador Kimani’s closing remarks, he called on all present to honor, protect, and uplift the diaspora. He urged participants to carry forward the spirit of collaboration and commitment shared at the Forum, ensuring the connections built extend far beyond the gathering and contribute to a stronger, more united future. The program advanced the collective mission of promoting storytelling, education, financial literacy, diaspora connections, and cultural solutions across sectors for Africa.
Photo credit: Marco Peinado (left), Noemad (right)
For more information about Amazing Grace:YorubaWorlds and Raynald Leconte’s work, please visit SpiralH.
For more information about Culturally Bound, please visit culturallybound.com.
For more information about The Africa Center, please visit theafricacenter.org.
