In a landmark celebration at Labadi Beach Hotel, EMY Africa officially marked its 10th anniversary with a high-profile launch event on Thursday, 29th May 2025. Attended by dignitaries, past honourees, corporate leaders, creatives, and members of the diplomatic corps, the event set the tone for a yearlong celebration of a decade of African excellence, leadership, and cultural pride.

The evening served not only as a retrospective on ten years of storytelling and honouring impact, but also as a forward-looking unveiling of EMY Africa’s new identity and mission. The event showcased the brand’s evolution from an awards-focused initiative into a multifaceted platform shaping narratives across the continent and its diaspora.

Reimagining EMY Africa: A New Chapter Begins

A highlight of the evening came with the keynote address by Albert Chris Soboh, Chief Storytelling Officer and Editor-in-Chief of EMY Africa, who introduced the brand’s bold reimagining. The new identity, he explained, moves EMY Africa beyond its original meaning, Exclusive Men of the Year, to something far more expansive, purposeful, and inclusive.

“EMY Africa is no longer just an awards brand,” Chris Soboh said. “We are rebranding to reflect what the brand has truly become; a dynamic ecosystem of excellence, ambition and legacy. This is EMY Africa.”

The new ethos is anchored in three words that now define the brand: Evolve. Motivate. Yield.

• Evolve, because growth is the cornerstone of leadership and relevance.
• Motivate, because storytelling has the power to inspire action.
• Yield, because the measure of success is not just recognition, but impact.

Chris Soboh added: “As Steve Jobs once said, you can only connect the dots looking backward. And looking back, it’s clear that EMY Africa was always becoming what it was meant to be. A man rarely knows what he will become  until he becomes it.”

The Magazine: Legacy in Print

Another major reveal of the night was the launch of the Awards Issue of the EMY Africa Magazine. This commemorative edition captures the spirit of the 9th EMY Africa Awards and celebrates the 2024 honourees with striking visuals, reflective articles, and powerful interviews.

The cover features Dr. James Orleans-Lindsay, the 2024 Man of the Year, whose personal story of vision, resilience and community impact stands as a symbol of the values EMY Africa champions. The issue, themed around legacy, influence, and cultural power, offers readers an intimate glimpse into the lives and achievements of Africa’s leading changemakers.

Reflections and Tributes

Board Chairman Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong addressed the gathering with a message of gratitude and resolve. “Ten years ago, EMY Africa began with a simple mission: to recognise excellence and inspire a new generation of leaders. Today, it has grown into something much more enduring; a movement that honours the past, shapes the present, and invests in the future.”

Other speakers included representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President, UNESCO, and sponsors such as KGL Group, who reiterated their support for EMY Africa’s mission to spotlight African excellence on a global stage.

Looking Ahead

The anniversary year promises an ambitious series of activations across key global cities. The line-up includes:

• Greatness Walk (15 June) – A symbolic walk uniting EMY honourees, partners, and the wider community in celebration of Father’s Day
• EMY Africa Expo (19–22 June) – A four-day business, culture and lifestyle fair at the Accra International Conference Centre
• Africa Rising Symposium
  • Accra (19 June) – under the theme Africa’s Defining Decade: Innovation, Leadership and Global Influence
  • New York (11 July) – in partnership with NYU
  • London (19 July) – in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• EMY Africa Soirées in London (20 July), Johannesburg (20 September), and Lagos (11 October)
• The Men of the Year Party (1 November)
• The 10th EMY Africa Awards Ceremony – set for Saturday, 22 November 2025

Most significantly, founder and CEO of EMY Africa, Kojo Soboh, announced that nominations for the 10th Annual EMY Africa Awards are now open, and invited the public to spotlight extraordinary Africans across leadership, business, culture, and social impact.