2015 African Torchlight Awards Nominee's Announced - See Who Made The Cut

2015 African Torchlight Awards

America’s  African owned,  dynamic,  and  diverse  organization,  the  TorchLight Foundation  has  today  announced  this  year’s  nomination  for  the  TorchLight  Awards.

The  TorchLight  Awards  Celebrates  African  excellence  in  the  diaspora  in  the  fields  of:  philanthropy,  education,  entertainment,  fashion,  and  culture.

This  year’s  nominations  were  restricted  to  the  State  of  Minnesota  due  to  ineligibility  of  submissions  from  other  states.

“Most  submissions  from  out  of  state  did  not  meet  our  criteria  for  eligibility. We  could  not  verify  the  legitimacy  of  many  and  due  to  the  standards  of  our  award  show;  we  simply  could  not  consider  these  submissions.  The  TorchLight  award  is  only  for  the  best  and  the  best  only.  Some  categories  will  not  be  awarded  this  year  for  the  same  reason”.  Says  Stephen  Ngang,  the  executive  director  of  the  TorchLight  Foundation.

The  2nd  TorchLight  Award  will  be  simulcast  live  on  NTV  on  Saturday  July  11,2015  at  8  p.m.  (ET)/5  p.m.  (PT)  from  the  Passion Event  Center  in  Fridley, Minnesota.  The official red carpet correspondent of the Torchlight Awards is Raro Lae of RLTV and Rarolae.com.The  full  performance  will  later  be  available  on  the  TorchLight  Awards  website.

Of  all  African  awards  in  the  diaspora,  only  the  TorchLight  Awards  is composed  of  composed  of  members  and  participants  from  all  corners  of Africa.  The  program  lays  emphasis  on  empowering  Africans  and fostering  their  Culture  in  the  diaspora.  A  voting  board  consisting  of  industry  professionals,  community  leaders,  teachers  and  scholars  as  well  as  entertainment  personalities  chose  this  year’s  nominees.  Balloting  was  conducted  from  June  1st  2015  and  ended  at  3pm  on  June  10th  2015.

A  wide  array  of  programs  and  individuals  compete  in  each  category  for  the coveted  TorchLight  Trophy.  Final  Voting  will  commence  on  June  27th  2015.  The  voting  process  is computed  by  a  ratio  of  1:1:3  amongst  the  public,  the  nominees,  and  the  voting  board.  To  keep  up  with  the  TorchLight  Awards  commitment  to  sustainable  practices,  all  votes  must  be  completed  by  noon  on  July  7th,  2015.  Results  will  be  tallied  and  sealed  until presented  at  the  2nd  TorchLight  Awards  Ceremony  on  July  11,  2015.

The  TorchLight  Foundation  has  also  announced  it  will  give  honorary  awards to  3  individuals  excelling  in  their  respective  fields.  Munira  Khalif  and  Harold  Ekeh  will  receive  a  TorchLight  award  for  Educational  Excellence  will  be  receiving  an  honorary  award  in  recognition  of  outstanding  academic  excellence. They  were  both  Accepted  into  all  8  Ivy  League  schools  in  the nation.  Kadra  Mohamed  will  be  receiving  an  honorary  award  for a  groundbreaking achievement;  she  is  the  first  Somali American  woman  to  join  the  St.  Paul  Police  Department.

The  complete  list  of  nominations  for  the  2nd  Annual  TorchLight  awards®  follows.

BEST  ACTOR

JULIAN  ASIEDU

ELIJAH  KONDEH

JOHN  SAMUEL  SMITH

KEN  SHALLY  MONNETTE

BEST  ACTRESS

DEBBIE  SHIZZLE

MELI  NASH

NICOLE  SENDOLO

ELIAN  MAMBO

REGINA  A

BEST  GOSPEL  ARTIST

TOYEBI  ADEDIPE

HELENA  SERE

KELECHI

ROBERT  NYABWARI

KOFI  &  THE  FIRE  KEEPERS

MIN  TRACY  HARRIS

BEST  PRODUCER

FRANCIS  SAMPAHH

LEXTEE

BIGTIME

 D12

BEST  MEDIA  OUTLET

JAGONZY  ICON  PRODUCTIONS

IR  MEDIA  HOUSE

VOICES  MAGAZINE

TMZ  RADIO  LIBERIA

MSHALE  NEWSPAPER

H.HARDY  &  MZ.CHOCLIT  SHOW

BEST  PHOTOGRAPHER

GIFTED  HANDS  PHOTOGRAPHY

AGYEI  PHOTOGRAPHY

KELECHI  UCHEGBU

DARLINGTON  PARTON

BARNABAS  WAMAO

BEST  COMEDIAN

JULIAN  ASIEDU

KWAME  ANDERSON

MR’SOTA

BOIMA

FREEMAN

BEST  NON‐PROFIT

GREENLIFE  AFRICA

MAWA  MINNESOTA

PDS  IMAGE

AFRICAN  IMMIGRANT SERVICES

BEST  AFRICAN  RESTAURANT

SNELLING  CAFÉ

JAMBO  AFRICA  RESTAURANT

T’S  PLACE

SUYA  LOUNGE

CITY  AFRIQUE  RESTAURANT

AFRICAN  DELI

BEST  HAIR  STYLIST

X

BEST  AFRICAN  NIGHT

SCSU  NIGHT

SCSU  LSA  NIGHT

MSU  NIGHT

UMNTC  NIGHT

CSBSJU  NIGHT

BEST  AFRICAN  STUDENT  ASSOCIATION

SCSU  ASA

SCSU  LSA

ASA  MSU

ASA- UMNTC

ASA  CSBSJU

BEST  COMMUNITY

NIGERIA

LIBERIA

CAMEROON

GHANA

ETHIOPIA

BEST  MALE  ARTIST

SAMPAHH

BRYAN  DOE

TOGAR  HOWARD

JRHYMA

G-­RIZE

BEST  FEMALE  ARTIST

XTEN

SCARLETWHITE

MUNNAH

BEST  SONG

BEAUTIFUL  -­BRYAN  DOE

XTEN  –DROP  IT  FOR  ME

G -­RIZE  – LIBERIAN  GIRLS

THAT  GUY  –SAMPAHH

I  TOLD  A  LIE  –MUNNAH

D-­12  – CALL  ME  YOUR  DADDA

BEST  MUSIC  VIDEO

BEAUTIFUL  -­BRYAN  DOE

XTEN  –DROP  IT  FOR  ME

G -­RIZE  – LIBERIAN  GIRLS

BURNSVILLE  STRONG

LONG  WAY  TO  GO  – T.H.L

BEST VIDEO DIRECTOR 

FRANCIS SAMPAHH

ISAAC WEST

SAM AMRSTRONG

EAGLEMATE

EDITH TONOU

AUGIE AMBE

BEST DJ MN

DJ RUFUS

DJ BANKE

DJMIGHTY JEFF

DJ FLEX

DJSHORRTLEGG

DJ NODEH

DJ SOLO

BEST PROMOTER 

PASSAPASSA ENTERTAINMENT

MR. YORK ENTERTAINMENT

DAB ENTERTAINMENT

TEAMNICE

ROC CITI

KADIE DICKEY

LONGCOIN ENTERTAINMENT

BEST FASHION DESIGNER

JUMMY THOMAS

CARMEN ATTIKOSSIE

JACQUILINE ADDISON

HILDA MAUYA

ELI NYAMAL

GLAMOUR AFRIC

BEST GOSPEL SONG

MOBBY MOBISA -­‐ SPEND NA MUNGU

KOFI & THE FIRE KEEPERS FEAT. DEVRON MITCHELL

MIN.TRACY HARRIS FT DADDY RICH -­‐NO BODY DEY LIKE YOU

KOFI & THE FIRE KEEPERS FT TITI KABA

BEST NEW ARTIST

XTEN

FANAKA

CBOY-­‐Z

NIMS

JAY KOFA

BEST CULTURAL DANCE GROUP

ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION DANCE GROUP

O.Y.A OROMO DANCE GROUP

ASAMBA DANCE GROUP

TIYUMBA DANCE GROUP

TITAMBE WEST AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE

BEST CULTURAL GROUP

OYSU

NACDA

IGBO WOMEN’S LEAGUE

UMUNNE

For  further  information,  please  contact:

torchlight@torchlightawards.com  |  www.torchlightawards.com  |

www.thetorchlightfoundation.com

About  TorchLight®

• The  Torchlight  Foundation  is  America’s  dynamic  and  diverse  African  owned  organization  aimed  at  empowering  African  immigrants  and  fostering  the  African  culture  in  the  Diaspora.  It  comprises  of  a  large  number  of  both  active  and  in-active  members  from  all  over  Africa.  Although,  the  TorchLight  Awards  may  stand  out  as  the  foundation’s  main  program,  it  is  involved  in  a  wide  range  of  education,  philanthropy,  cultural,  and  entertainment  activities.  For  more  information,  visit  www.torchlightawards.com