Shanah Manjeru, won the Arts and Culture Award at the Second Annual AfrICAN Children of the Year Awards (ACOTYA) 2019, held on 2 November at the Profound Conference Centre, Bramley, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Annual AfrICAN Children of the Year Awards is an initiative of The Stacey Fru Foundation based in South Africa. The Awards recognises children aged between 7 and 13 years from across Africa, who are contributing positively with their talents and skills in their communities, countries and the continent. The first ceremony was held in November 2018 in South Africa.
Shanah was the only non-South African to win a trophy in her category in the continental event, which comprised 11 Winners, 11 First Runners-up, 11 Second Runners-up, and 59 Nominees from Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The Awards custodian, now 12-year-old child author Stacey Fru, planned this ceremony to coincide with the United Nations and particularly UNICEF’s celebration of children. This year’s ceremony coincided with the commemoration of the 30-year anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The coveted awards ceremony was graced by talented children in various fields; from 14-year-old male and female MCs, 8-year-old speech presenter, 4 to 6-year-old creche singers, 7 to 14-year-old dancers, 14-year-old interviewer, among others.
Shanah Manjeru, had this to say, “I am very grateful to receive this Africa-wide recognition for my effort and work around influencing and inspiring all kinds of people through my music. I shall continue making more inspirational music that transcends boundaries so as to reach and impact more people globally.”