Lifetime Achievement Awards

Alan Donovan (third left) with the Guest of Honour for the African Heritage 40th Anniversary Celebrations, Prince Kwete Kwete of the Kingdom of Kuba (DRC), second from right, with French Ambassador to Kenya, Director of French Cultural Centre, and models in original African Heritage designs of authentic African textiles by Alan Donovan.

ALAN DONOVAN took the opportunity of the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations in 2012 at the French Cultural Centre in Nairobi to present Lifetime Achievement Awards to some of the outstanding performers, artists and other creative lights associated with African Heritage over the four decades of its existence. It is hoped that this will be a tradition that continues to be carried on for years to come.

The picture shows Alan Donovan (third left) with the Guest of Honour at the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations, Prince Kwete Kwete of the Kingdom of Kuba (DRC), second from right, with French Ambassador to Kenya, Director of French Cultural Centre, and models in original African Heritage designs of authentic African textiles by Alan Donovan.

“Music”

AYUB OGADA, probably Kenya’s most famous international musician has traveled around the world, playing his 8-stringed harp, the Nyatiti which he got at African Heritage after co-founding the African Heritage Band as Job Seda with Alan Donovan in 1979. He has performed with the likes of Peter Gabriel, famed fashion maestro Issey Miyake of Japan and many others. His music has been featured in numerous TV programs and films, especially his most famous song, “Koth Biro” featured in the film The Constant Gardener. He has also acted in many films including Out of Africa. Ayub performed at the 40^th Anniversary Celebrations where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Music from Alan Donovan in 2012.

AYUB OGADA

FERNANDO ANUANG’A

“Dance”

FERNANDO ANUANG’A also performed during the African Heritage Celebrations in 2012. Fernando debuted in Nairobi with dance with his first group, the sensational Rare Watts during the 1980’s. He traveled with Kenya’s African Heritage Festival and now lives in France where he performs at the Centre Cardin and many other venues. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Dance from Alan Donovan during the celebrations.

“Sound”

ASSAD RAJPUT has traveled with Kenya’s African Heritage Festival through Europe and many other countries. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Sound from Alan Donovan during the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations. He now is a permanent fixture producing all the sound for the many musical programmes at the French Cultural Centre / Alliance Francaise in Nairobi.

ASSAD RAJPUT

EMMA TOO

Lifetime Achievement Awards 2012 at the French Cultural Centre in Nairobi

“Modelling”

EMMA TOO received a Lifetime Achievement Award for MODEL during the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations. Alan Donovan first discovered her working in a hair saloon in Nairobi during the 1980’s. She then became the head model of African Heritage following in the footsteps of many other famous models like Iman, Khadija, Fayel, Catherine Karl and others. She won the title of “MISS NAIROBI CENTENNIAL” during the Centennial Celebrations in Nairobi in 1997, from among over 700 contestants. Later she took the “Face of Africa” crown for East Africa and won a modelling award with Elite Models in the USA. She is seen speaking after receiving the Lifetime Achievement award for MODEL during the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations.

“Journalism”

MARGARETTA wa GACHERU received the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for JOURNALIST during the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary Celebrations. She received the award from the Director of the French Cultural Centre. Margaretta has reported on the cultural events in Nairobi for decades including the many festivals and exhibitions held at African Heritage.

MARGARETTA WA GACHERU

“Photography”

CAROL BECKWITH and ANGELA FISHER known as AFRICAN CEREMONIES started their photographic careers at the very beginning of African Heritage.

Angela Fisher held an exhibition of items she had collected with the group that crossed the African continent with her (almost the same route that Alan Donovan took a few years earlier) at African Heritage when it opened its doors in December 1972.

Carol arrived in Nairobi in 1974 and her first exhibitions of art were organized by Alan Donovan at African Heritage and other venues in Nairobi. Alan was also instrumental in assisting her in her first photographic opus, MAASAI with Teplis Ole Saitoti. Alan also launched Angela’s first book, the phenomenal awe inspiring AFRICA ADORNED during the special “Twelfth Night” at African Heritage with shows at the Nairobi Serena in 1984.

He introduced the two to each other during an exhibition of Angela Fisher’s jewellery collections and the pair went on to produce their first collaborative work, “AFRICAN ARK” and have produced several books together since that time.

“Art/Ceramics”

Famed Kenyan ceramicist MAGDALENE ODUNDO, the first Kenyan to receive the Order of the British Empire (OBE) held her first exhibition in Kenya at African Heritage Ltd. during the UN Decade of Women’s Celebrations in Nairobi in 1985. Alan bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award for Art/Ceramics on Magdalene during the 40^th Anniversary celebrations held at the French Cultural Centre in 2012.

“Art/Sculpture”

ELKANA ONGESA was given the Liftetime Achievement Award for Art/Sculpture during the African Heritage 40^th Anniversary celebrations. Elkana held the first major exhibition at African Heritage on Kenyatta Avenuein 1973, in conjunction with Bruce Onobrakpeya, one of Africa’s most famed artists and print makers. Many years later he produced with magnificent statue “The Bird of Peace Emerging from the Stone of Despair” for the Murumbi graves at the Murumbi Peace Memorial, as per Murumbi’s last wishes.

MAGDALENE ODUNDO and ELKANA ONGESA

MICKEY RAGOS

“Male Model/Bodybuilder”

MICKEY RAGOS from Nigeria is the longest reigning “Mr. Kenya“ of all time (about 16 years), was the leading male model for African Heritage for 22 years. He traveled the world with Kenya’s African Heritage Festival and appeared in numerous television and media during that time. He is seen receiving his LifeTime Achievment Award for Male Model/Body Builder from Alan Donovan at the opening celebrations for the Nairobi Gallery at the Old PCS Office in Nairobi in 2013.