Imani Awards

Every great achievement should be awarded, no matter who you are, or where you come from and the inaugural Imani Awards is a step in the right direction.
The African Canadian Legal Clinic and the Youth Justice Education Program (YJEP) celebrated the accomplishments of a few deserving African-Canadian youth within the city at the first ever Imani Awards hosted at the Peter and Paul Banquet Hall in Toronto’s east end, last Sunday afternoon.
All proceeds of the event were donated to the eight YJEP men who are headed overseas to Africa in order to continue project and self-development. The award’s host and Canadian icon, Farley Flex, touched on the importance of such a journey.
“When you see the fruits of their labour and I’m not talking about raising money to go to Africa, I’m talking about putting an initiative like this together, staying the course of the YJEP program, it tells you that, if they weren’t interrupted by the social ills that are out there facing our community, I’m proud of where they are now, but imagine where they are going,” Flex announced to the hall of attendees.
“It’s critical that we work together to make sure that this kind of stuff happens on mass throughout the diaspora, not just Toronto, not just Ontario, not just Canada, not just North America, throughout the diaspora.”
One of the eight YJEP youth headed to Africa, Segun Akinsanya and actress Donisha Prendergast, who is the granddaughter to the late legend Bob Marley, awarded Ken Jeffers with the Elder Award for all his work in the community in the past 45 years. Other awards of the celebratory day consisted of Michelle Green with the Education Award, Dereese Williams with the Justice Award, Christopher Reid with the Youth In Care Award and the Mental Health award was given to Jamal Binwalee, who delivered an inspiring poem to the hall.
On top of the inspirational speakers and awards, the day’s performances were nothing short of entertaining. Beyond Sound amazed the crowd with a highly energetic drum set, bringing a unique and culturally rich experience to the already profound event. A dance performance from Gimme One Riddim, song from O’Neil Watson, spoken word from Rise Poetry’s Randell Adjei, comedy from Marc Trinidad and a rap from Promise were all highlights of the powerful day.
One the eight YJEP youth, Kadeem Reid thanked attendees for all their support and urged for the continuation of such initiatives, not just for the young men on their mission to Africa, but for the future of all youth in the GTA. “It is time to build unity to add strength and support in our community,” he says.
And with the support of the youth and the Imani Awards, it looks like it is just the beginning of future empowerment for those on the edge of losing faith, for if anything can be taken from the day of praise, it is that it is possible for anyone to turn their lives around and they should be recognized for such an achievement.