Source: iol News
The recipients of the African Union (AU) Diaspora Africa Forum women's awards, leaders and continental legends such as Graca Machel, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Joyce Banda, have dedicated their awards to women across Africa.

The women, young old, were honoured for their continued work in the continent and the legacies they created at a star-studded "Celebrating Women in Excellence" ceremony in Johannesburg on Friday night.

The African News Agency (ANA) was a co-sponsor and the media partner for the prestigious event.

Guests included politicians, entertainers and business leaders.

Also present were South Africa's International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete.

Johannesburg is hosting the AU summit this week.

The two groups who were honoured comprised Women of Excellence and the Living Legends.

The women of excellence honouraries included former president Nelson Mandela's widow Machel, Justice Victoria Okobi from Nigeria, former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings' wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and medical doctors Arikana Chihombori and Juliette Tuakli.

"I accept this award on behalf of African women who die while giving birth, for all women who continue the fight to stop violence against women and on behalf of women across the world who work tirelessly every day to feed their families," said Chihombori as she accepted her award.

Machel said her award, bestowed on her by other distinguished women, made her remember the women who suffered every day through abuse and rape.

She dedicated her award to struggling women in rural areas, and the 32 million girls in Africa who did not have access to education.

"This is also for the Chibok girls who were simply targeted for seeking education. We have to do much more than celebrating, because we are privileged, and privilege comes with responsibility," Machel said.

Anti-apartheid struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former Malawian president Joyce Banda, former president of Kenya Jomo Kenyatta's widow Ngina Kenyatta, former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and AU chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma received the "Living Legends" awards.

Madikizela-Mandela paid tribute to women who toiled to make a living every day, and took the opportunity to tell the gathering that South Africans were not xenophobic.

"I want our sisters here to convey the message that people of this country, South Africans, are not xenophobic," she said. "Following the stripping of resources by colonialists, we now have new challenges. But we want to convey a message of hope and that it is all our responsibility to unite Africa, a free Africa without challenges."

Banda said it was important to ensure families had income, because without income, girls did not attend school and ended up being forced into marrying at a very young age.

"It is crucial to fight for women to be in leadership, because if a woman is not empowered, she suffers systematic abuse, rape and degradation."

African women were unstoppable, Sirleaf said.

"Many women will be in the next ten years, what I represent today. That woman is coming and is unstoppable," she said to a loud applause from guests.

Dlamini-Zuma in turn thanked women who had supported her.

"I am here because without your support I would not be where I am today. I dedicate this to all women who do their best everyday to make tomorrow better."

Head of the African Union Diaspora African Forum, Erieka Bennet, explained that her organisation was based in Accra, Ghana, where the government had bestowed it with full diplomatic status.

"This was formed to support development in Africa, and we are excited and grateful for the AU chairwoman who has embraced us and our mission in the continent."