AHBEA compiles names for 2017 Awards

The process for the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards for 2017 has begun with the compilation of names.
The Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Award according to the Africa Coordinator of the event, veteran film actor and director, Yomi FashLanso, was borne out of the necessity to celebrate and honour entertainers in the film, music, broadcasting and all other arms of entertainment in Africa.
The award event is put together solely for those who have spent 20 years and above in the industry.
According to Yomi FashLanso, there are, however, cases of exception for those who have equally performed very well as entertainment practitioners and good role model void of scandalous reputation.
He said one of the aims of the award is to use the platform to educate and sensitise young African descents in diaspora so they will know that back in Africa, good things are happening in contrast to what they’ve been taught over the years.
The organizers of the award have slated the third month of 2017 to roll out their line up of activities for the 2017 edition of the prestigious African culture, media and entertainment award event.
FashLanso informed NaijaOnlineTV during a recent interview that the AHBEA award committee was already working on possible recipients for the 2017 edition, with awardees to be drawn from various African countries.
The 2016 edition of the award held in Houston, Texas, USA on August 20 recorded a huge success as the likes of top Nigerian and African entertainment celebrities Odunlade Adekola, Dayo D1 Adeneye, Kunle Afolayan and Ella Mensah from Ghana were all in attendance to grace the occasion.
But the organizers are not really keen on bringing known faces only to their fans in the diaspora, but rather working to celebrate stars, either known or unknown, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the African entertainment and media industry for at least 20 years.
FashLanso said people and fans were head over heels to see legends and icons like Sadiq Daba, Pete Edochie, Liz Benson and Bimbo Manuel in flesh, when their pictures came up for AHBEA 2016.
FashLanso further noted that the AHBEA award is not by vote nor nomination, but strictly by careful selection process of names of entertainers who have been in the industry for not less than 20 years.
However he informed on opportunities for those who have perfected their trade, with pure excellence and commitment.
FashLanso said the AHBEA award is not only for Nigerians contrary to the opinion of a Ghanaian writer during the last edition.
Awardees were involved from Ghana and South Africa during the last edition.
However, FashLanso informed NaijaOnlineTV that the 2017 edition will definitely feature recipients from Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa aside Nigeria to name a few.
Speaking to our reporter from his base in Houston, Texas, USA, the President and Chairman of the AHBEA award planning committee, Sola Olaniyan, said hands are on deck for a successful outing at the awards in 2017 and much more reason why the Africa Coordinator of the event, FashLanso, who also attended the award event held in Houston, Texas, USA, stayed a little behind after the event for further planning and meetings against the forthcoming 2017 edition.
Olaniyan said the event promises to be off the hook.