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Black Creatives and African Leaders Are Taking UNGA80 by Storm

  • Writer: Siona Sakah
    Siona Sakah
  • Sep 21
  • 3 min read
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The UN may host world leaders, but the real buzz this week is creativity, culture, and African innovation lighting up the city. At UNGA80, world leaders are making headlines, sure, but something even more exciting is happening just beneath the surface. Black creatives, African innovators, and cultural changemakers are taking center stage, showing the world that storytelling, art, and culture are forms of leadership all on their own. From dazzling galas and film screenings to bold panels and cultural showcases, this week is proof that Africa’s voice is loud, proud, and unstoppable.

Healing Through Storytelling

UNGA Healing Arts Week 2025 (Sept 20–26) is transforming New York into a hub for film, music, workshops, and panels that explore the power of creativity to heal and empower communities. Produced by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in partnership with the WHO, the program spans all five boroughs, bringing art, research, and conversation together in dynamic ways.

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One highlight? The documentary My Brain: After the Rupture by Ursula Macfarlane, following Clemency Burton-Hill as she rebuilds her life and career after a brain hemorrhage. It’s more than a story of survival—it’s proof that creativity can be a lifeline, a tool for advocacy, and a force for transformation.

Guiding these conversations are visionaries like Prof. Nisha Sajnani, Co-Director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, and Prof. Daisy Fancourt from UCL, whose research demonstrates the profound health benefits of arts engagement. They’ll be joined by Laurie Cumbo, NYC’s Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, at the opening of the NYU Steinhardt Research Symposium on September 22.

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Africa isn’t just attending UNGA, it’s commanding the spotlight. Side events are packed with high-level business forums, cultural showcases, and youth-led innovation, making the continent’s voice bold and unstoppable.

Some key Africa-focused events to watch:

  • Columbia Africa Conference (Sept 19–20): Student-led conversations connecting culture, capital, and community.

  • Unstoppable Africa (Sept 21–22): A high-powered forum where CEOs, heads of state, and investors push bold trade and investment agendas.

  • Ghana House in New York (Sept 22): A vibrant celebration of Ghanaian culture, business, and diplomacy.

  • Africa Soft Power @ UNGA (Sept 23): Panel “Finding X: Creativity, Finance, & Technology in Africa” featuring Nkiru Balonwu, Obi Asika, Zoe Ramushu, and Pearl Thusi.

  • VitalTalks: Health Financing in Africa (Sept 23): Global and African leaders reimagine health financing solutions for the continent.

  • Africa’s Health Architecture (Sept 24): Exploring Africa’s healthcare systems, infrastructure, and innovations.

  • MIPAD Recognition Week (Sept 25–27): Celebrating excellence across the African diaspora with recognitions, networking, and ecosystem highlights.

Spotlight: MIPAD Gala

One of the week’s most glamorous moments is the MIPAD Recognition Week Gala, Friday, September 26, at Lagos TSQ Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, Times Square, NYC.


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  • Hosted by: Charles of Play and Juliet Ibrahim

  • Official after-party Dress Code: Fabulous and Cultured

  • Strictly by invitation—RSVP at www.mipad.org or call +1 917 541 8394

This is where influence meets glamour, an evening of culture, networking, and celebration, honoring the most influential people of African descent.

UNGA Healing Arts Week Highlights

  • Monday, Sept 22 – Research Symposium: “Re‑Imagining Health through the Arts”, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., NYU Steinhardt (schedule)

  • Morning Plenary: The Arts and Youth Mental Health, ~10 a.m.

  • Afternoon breakout sessions: Brain Health & Creative Aging, Youth Mental Health, Military-Connected Communities, Local Ecologies & Civic Health

  • Tuesday, Sept 23 – Africa Soft Power @ UNGA80: Finding X panel, 4:00 p.m., The Citigroup Center (link)

  • Wednesday, Sept 24 – Well‑Being Concert & Special Reception, ~8:30 p.m., Carnegie Hall (link)

  • Friday, Sept 26 – NYC Health + Hospitals: Bridging Community, Care, and Culture, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Lincoln Medical Center, Bronx (link)

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From healing through art to Africa’s bold, unapologetic voice on global stages, UNGA80 is showing that creativity, culture, and leadership are inseparable. Black creatives and African innovators aren’t just attending, they’re leading, inspiring, and shaping the world.

Leadership isn’t only about titles or speeches. It’s about vision, courage, and the power to tell your story. This week, Africa and Black creatives are proving just how unstoppable they truly are.


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