About Adinkra Fellowship
The "Adinkra Fellowship" aims to bring together every year a group of rising leaders aged 40 and under from Africa and from African diaspora communities, representing a wide range of sectors.
This unique fellowship is committed to building constructive ties between Africa and the African Diaspora.
It aims to select candidates that share notable accomplishments; exert the talent, passion, and shared values that have the potential to contribute to transformative change in their communities and black communities.
Laureates will benefit from 2 trips attending some of the biggest business or social gatherings. They will benefit from a transformative leadership program aiming to build bridges, cultivate lasting relationships and inspire transformative action.
Fellows and Alumni of the Adinkra fellowship will form a dynamic network of Fellows passionately committed to bridging the divide between black communities, to the transformation of their communities and building a better future for all.
Independently, Adinkra will run the "Adinkra Achievement Lists" acknowledging Excellence among Changemakers of Black and Minority descent based in the USA from a wide range of sectors.
+ Does "ADINKRA" mean something
Adinkra are symbols from Ghana that represent concepts or aphorisms. The Adinkra symbols reflect a system of human values that are universal: family, integrity, tolerance, harmony, determination, protection among many others.
+ Who is eligible
Rising leaders from one of 54 sovereign African countries. Rising leaders from African diaspora communities include but are not limited to: African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latin Americans, Black Canadians, etc…
The
Fellowship
Programme.
Here's an outline of how the fellowship program works.
Fellows will convene during 2 trips: one in Africa,
one in a country with a large African diaspora. The
trips are designed deliberately so that fellows attend
some of the most prestigious conferences centered on
African or African Diaspora affairs. A mentorship
program will connect them with lifelong mentors. A
specific program on the sideline will see them
participating in meet the leader sessions with
high-level personalities, visits to places of
significant importance and to innovative
organizations, skills building activities, team
building activities and an awards ceremony.
Between trips, Group Projects (2-5 fellows) will be
brainstormed. The group objective is to develop
solutions for some of the most pressing challenges
that black communities are facing. Projects will be
submitted in a dissertation for peer review. The top 1
or 2 projects will receive $50,000 and access to
additional resources for pilot implementation. Some of
these projects are expected to become impactful,
long-term initiatives.
Upon completing the programme, fellows will be
required to organize an experience sharing event at a
university or institution of learning to discuss their
values, journey, impact and inspire a wider audience
of students, faculty, and other stakeholders.
Fellows return to play active roles in their
respective communities, countries and spheres of
influence. Part of our network of global leaders, all
Fellows will receive invitations to attend alumni
events and ongoing opportunities to deepen their
impact.
+ How does the selection work
A public call takes place where applications and nominations are accepted. A dedicated jury and a transparent selection process leads to the announcement of the laureates. The 1st edition of the fellowship will take place in 2026 and 20 to 40 rising leaders are expected to be selected.
Whowe are
Adinkra Alliance Institute is a US 501(c)(3) charitable
organization.
Members of our founding team previously organized
"the Africa 35.35 Awards", an initiative to recognize youth
excellence under 35 in Africa and inspire other youth to become
changemakers. Adinkra is building on this legacy with a renewed
and different ambition.
The impact in 5 years of organizing the Africa 35.35 Awards:
- More than 2,000 applications were received from 44 countries.
- More than 110 personalities have served in the Jury.
- More than 800 press articles, web, and TV reports from 120 media.
- More than 6 million interactions (likes, shares and feedbacks) on social networks.
- A community of 197 rising leaders.
Our past Accomplishments in videos
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