The maiden edition of the AfroEuropa Gala and Awards Night in 2022 marked the beginning of a legacy, a platform dedicated to celebrating excellence, diversity, and community impact across Africa and Europe. The historic event honoured four outstanding individuals whose leadership, creativity, and service have continued to inspire others within and beyond their communities.
Leading the honourees was Prince Bimbo Roberts Folayan, recipient of the AfroEuropa 2022 Leadership Award, recognised for his visionary leadership and remarkable contributions to community empowerment and cross-cultural collaboration.
Layla Najafe received the AfroEuropa 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award for redefining beauty standards and breaking barriers through her pioneering project, Mrs. Universal Empire Pageant. Her work continues to promote confidence, inclusion, and the celebration of authentic womanhood on the global stage.
The AfroEuropa 2022 Culture Ambassador Award went to Ayan De First – Mr. Culture, a cultural icon known for his commitment to preserving and promoting African heritage through art, music, and performance.
Finally, Aina Omovbare, founder of Idias Seeds of Hope Foundation, was honoured with the AfroEuropa 2022 Award for Voluntary Service for her outstanding humanitarian work and continuous service to vulnerable individuals and families.
The success of the maiden edition set the tone for what has become one of the most anticipated multicultural events in the diaspora. AfroEuropa’s vision, to promote unity, inclusion, and recognition of impactful individuals, was clearly defined from its very first year.
As the AfroEuropa Awards continue to evolve, the 2022 honourees remain symbolic of the event’s core values: leadership, service, culture, and purpose-driven excellence.