Photo by Maureen Cherongis.
After a few years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Amref Health Africa’s ArtBall is officially back on Saturday, February 25 in Brooklyn, New York. Since its inaugural ball in 2016, Amref Health Africa has been using its status as the largest healthcare organization on the continent of Africa to honor Black and African talent.
“We have tried to work with only minority-owned vendors this year and we are proud to say that we did so for about 95 percent of the event,” Emily Correale, director of development and communications in the United States. “I am excited about every vendor partner we have, but probably most looking forward to the food from Teranga, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony from Bunna Café, and the performance by Chop and Quench!”
Anchoring this year’s event is an interactive installation featuring Kefeta, an Ethiopian program that centers around empowering Ethiopia’s youth and reimagining their future. Kefeta, which means “to empower” Ethiopia’s Amharic language, aims to create a nationwide network of professional, creative, and socially equitable services to reach two million young people by 2026. “It’s giving young people the skills, tools, and support to shape a better future for themselves and their country,” Correale details.
With so much emphasis on Africa’s future, it was only fitting that Julie Mehretu (pictured above) is set to receive this year’s Rees Visionary Award. “As an artist, she examines how our current lived experiences impact our futures – exactly in alignment with Kefeta,” Correale said. “Of course, it is also a bonus that she is from Ethiopia.”
But while Amref Health Africa’s ArtBall promises to have no shortage of art, food, and dancing, the festivities do not stop there. The organization is also raising funds through an art auction on Artsy, and bidding will close on Monday, February 27. Filled with pieces that will be on display at the ball, the auction consists entirely of Black, African, and Pan-African contemporary artists, both emerging and established.
You can explore this year’s virtual auction here.
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