The Miss Africa USA Pageant and the DC Chapter of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) strengthened their ongoing partnership by holding a special cultural and educational program at the First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle. During the one-man exhibit by renowned Sierra Leonean artist Sahr Songu Mbriwa, professionally known as Bondumani, Miss Africa USA pageant titleholders joined YHRI to promote human rights awareness through art, outreach, and community engagement.
The exhibit featured Bondumani, who has been showcased on CNN for his hyperrealism style, which makes images appear to jump out of the canvas. Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammad Sowa attended as a special guest and delivered remarks alongside the artist and the Miss Africa USA representatives. The Embassy of Sierra Leone is located just steps from the historic Fraser Mansion where the exhibit was held.
Bondumani showed a dozen pieces of his art recently brought to America from Sierra Leone and gave a live demonstration of the hyperrealism technique on a partially completed portrait. As an educator, he allowed others to take a turn at painting on the piece. Bondumani is the founder of the Bondumani School of Art in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and while in the U.S., he is working to gain support for free art lessons for talented youth in Sierra Leone who otherwise might not be able to afford tuition.
Ambassador Sowa congratulated Bondumani and gave moving remarks emphasizing the importance of art in today's society. Miss Africa USA Diana Melissa Ngoumape spoke about her commitment to empowering women, and Miss Africa USA's First Princess Adeola Shonubi, also the new President of Youth for Human Rights Maryland, spoke about their commitment to empowering women and the importance of human rights.
Organizer Beth Akiyama, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office and former board member of Youth for Human Rights International, said, "People of every nation must know their 30 human rights. Governments of the world must make the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights known and followed for the sake of peace and prosperity for all." She thanked the Ambassador and his staff for attending and supporting Bondumani's work and his dream for the Bondumani School of Art.
Miss Africa USA and Youth for Human Rights International foster opportunities for youth to champion human rights education across communities in the United States and abroad. Earlier this year, they participated in a program in Cameroon to bring human rights education to schools there. Through public events, media outreach, and creative collaborations, the pageant's leadership and titleholders are helping bring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to new audiences.
Founded by Dr. Lady Kate Ndi 20 years ago, the Miss Africa USA Pageant has long championed humanitarian leadership among African women in the diaspora. This month's Art Walk event highlighted that mission. Miss Africa USA Diana Melissa Ngoumape and 1st Princess Adeola Shonubi engaged the more than 100 attendees to enlighten them on the free educational materials from Youth for Human Rights International, available at www.youthforhumanrights.org, with additional DC Chapter updates at Facebook.com/YHRDC.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created at the newly formed UN after the atrocities of World War II. It includes the 30 human rights that all people have just because they are human. It is considered one of the most important human rights documents internationally, yet by survey few people have heard of it or know what their human rights are.
