AFROSHINE AUSTRALIA AWARDS 2016 took place on 29th October 2016 to honour the outstanding achievements of African Australians and their friends and supporters in a special ceremony held at Rydges on Swanston, Carlton, Melbourne. Afroshine Australia Awards is an award program run by Africa Media Australia. The annual awards is in its 4th year and has combine two awards previously known as Victorian African Community Awards (VACA) and the National African Australian Person of the Year, both run by AMA.
Afroshine Australia awards acknowledge and celebrate individuals and organisations who have made valuable contributions to the communities throughout the country in different fields including leadership, advocacy, media, arts, business etc. Victorian’s Minister for Multicultural affairs and the speaker of Victorian legislative Assembly Mr Telmo Languiller attended the ceremony and joined many other community leader to hand in the awards to the winners.
AMA’s CEO, Clyde Salumu Sharady said “the annual awards is a great opportunity for the African community to showcase excellence and great achievements both from a community perspective as well as from a personal level”.
“The award winners and the rest of the people that were commended on the night do a great deal of work to make a difference in the community and it is important this work is recognised and honoured accordingly, “Said Mr Sharady.
AMA received over 80 nominations across 14 Categories for the 2016 awards. A total of 18 award and 12 commendation certificates were presented during the awards gala dinner in Carlton. Over 100 people attended the night from 27 different backgrounds.
Dr Sham Mostapha from Egypt received a special award for outstanding services to the community, recognising her long-term commitment to helping people and advocating for the community in the field of healthcare.
AFROSHONE AUSTRALIA 2016 Recipients
| Award Category | Nominee | Panel Assessment |
| Award outstanding Services to the community | Dr Seham Mostafa | Winner |
| Award for Community Leadership | Kot Monoah | Co-Winner |
| Awards for Community Leadership | Kenyatta J. Dei Wal | Co-Winner |
| Award for Youth Leadership | Ibrahim Kebe | Winner |
| Award for Women Leadership | AWHAG | Winner |
| Award for Outstanding Community Event 2016 | Sound of Heaven CD Launch (Billie Olela). | Winner |
| Award for Excellence in Arts & individual talents | Michael Adonai | Winner |
| Award for Business (Rising Afro-Australian Entrepreneurs) | Prosper Taruvinga | Co-Winner |
| Award for Business (Rising Afro-Australian Entrepreneurs) | Moses Lueth | Co-Winner |
| Award for Business ((Rising Afro-Australian Entrepreneurs) | Tabang Ongee | Co-Winner |
| Awards for Excellence in School/Academic Achievement | Nancy Logwa | Winner |
| Awards for Unsung Heroes | Khadiga Faid | Co-Winner |
| Awards for Unsung Heroes | Larson Mutebu | Co-Winner |
| Awards for Community advocacy | Colleen Chifamba | Winner |
| Awards for Community Media | Abdulrahim Elim | Winner |
| Awards for Professional Excellence (Healthcare) | Bahar Yusouf | Winer |
| Awards for Friends of Africans (Media work) | Luke Waters | Winner |
| Awards for friends of AFricand (Leadership) | John Bellavance | Winner |
| Commendation (Youth Leadership) | Ahmed Isse | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Arts/spoken Word) | Wani Le Frere | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Arts/ Music) | Munir Kamil | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Arts/Music) | Age McSoul | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Arts/Fashion ) | Rhoda Mphande | Highly commended |
| Commendation (community Leadership) | Mouktar Robleh | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Legal) | Raviro Nzenza | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Community service) | Deng Tor Deng | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Professional excellence-Banking) | Natalie Kapuya | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Friends of Africans: Arts) | Cathy Scott | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Outstanding community project) | Joseph Lamptey | Highly commended |
| Commendation (Best project with a focus on Africans) | Richard Kitula | Highly commended |
Some photos of the awards
