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Countdown to Mwape Peer Awards


One of the biggest and most prestigious events by Zambians in the diaspora events will be held on 13 October 2012 in New York City. Over the last two years that the ceremony has been running, seventeen Zambians have been conferred with the Mwape Peer Awards.

Initiated in 2010 by James and Ruth Mwape, the idea to have Peer awards was conceived by the couple who had just moved from New York to New Jersey. After establishing their website www.mwape.com which includes a section dubbed brain drain, the Mwape’s begun listing the Zambians who were in the diaspora. The idea was to establish a list of accomplished Zambians and to appear on that list one had to have a minimum of a Master’s Degree. The list later culminated into a book that was published entitled ‘Mwape Who’s who among Zambians’.

 The Mwape’s went on to pioneer the first diaspora online radio show which featured Zambians from all sectors including politicians. The diaspora voice has been running for five years and its listenership includes both Zambians and non-Zambians.

Further, the Mwape’s identified the need to come up with an initiative that would acknowledge the many people that were making a difference. It was observed that most of the people that were honored in Zambia were well known people such as politicians and musicians. The Mwape Peer Awards would bridge the gap and recognize the unsung heroes and the recognition would be made by their peers.

The Awards are called the Mwape Peer Awards because they are sponsored by the Mwape family. According to James Mwape, there are a lot of ‘Peer Awards’ and the name makes the Award distinguishable. The Awards have 11 Categories and the winners are selected by their peers, these are people of a similar field as the award category.  

The Inaugural award was held in 2010 in Washington DC and seven Awards were presented. The subsequent ceremony in 2011 was held in New York with 10 winners awarded. A total of 11 Awards will be presented at the 2012 ceremony. Financial support was made towards the ceremony by other Zambians including Mbumwae Suba Smith, Mwizenge Tembo and Evans Phiri.  Mbumwae has continued to play a pivotal role in the organizing the subsequent awards both technically and financially.

James Mwape pointed out that some most of the people that had won the Mwape Peer Awards later won other awards. He cited Crisis a Zambian hip hop musician won the Music in 2010 later won an American Award for his Music. Gershom Njovu won the journalism award in 2011 and later won another excellence award in the UK.  “This is a clear manifestation of how the Mwape Peer Awards Discover and expose the talent. That is the purpose to show the different kind of talent Zambia has  and to promote the people.”

The Mwape Peer Awards are open to everyone. Nominations opens between February and March running until July. Zambians from anywhere around the world can nominated and be nominated.  For details on the http://www.mwape.com/2012_Awards.html

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