GUBA Awards — Cultural Diplomacy & Strategic Leadership Mission

I travelled to Barbados for the prestigious GUBA Awards — a global platform celebrating African and Caribbean excellence. As a featured speaker and panel host, this mission played a key role in strengthening cultural, diplomatic, and economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

Barbados represents a powerful gateway between Africa and the diaspora. The mission centred on high-level engagements with government leaders, creative industry stakeholders, and organisations shaping the future of culture, education, innovation, and soft power diplomacy.

Speaking Engagements & Panels

During the GUBA programme, I delivered keynote insights on cultural influence, African creative enterprise, and diaspora bridge-building. This included:
• Speaking on the main GUBA stage
• Hosting a high-impact panel with education ministers and regional leaders
• Contributing to conversations on youth empowerment, creative industries, and cross-Atlantic collaboration

High-Level Strategic Meetings

A core part of the mission involved strategic engagements with:
• Government ministers
• Creative and cultural economy boards
• Tourism and trade leaders
• Educational institutions

These meetings explored opportunities for joint initiatives, talent exchange, festival tourism, investment, and strengthening Africa–Caribbean creative pathways.

Meeting the Prime Minister

A significant highlight of the mission was meeting the Prime Minister of Barbados, where we discussed the shared cultural legacy between Africa and the Caribbean and the powerful role entertainment, tourism, and education can play in shaping the continent’s future diplomacy.

Cultural Connection & Diaspora Impact

Barbados offered a vibrant lens into Caribbean identity — from its cultural institutions and culinary heritage to its music, creative talent, and community leadership. The GUBA Awards served as a powerful reminder of the global African community and the shared vision for progress, prosperity, and representation.

This mission deepened Africa–Caribbean ties, forged new pathways for collaboration, and advanced the conversation around creative diplomacy. It reaffirmed the importance of storytelling, cultural exchange, and leadership in shaping the future of our connected worlds.