Life and Legacy: The 2024 SVAFF to Present Dr. John Kani, OIS, OBE With Cultural Icon Award
SAN JOSE, (July 18, 2024) – Silicon Valley African Film Festival to Honor Legendary Actor Dr. John Kani, OIS, OBE with Prestigious Cultural Icon Award
San Jose, CA – [July 18, 2024] – The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) is thrilled to announce that the legendary South African actor and playwright, Dr. John Kani, OIS, OBE, will be honored with the prestigious Cultural Icon Award at this year’s festival. Dr. John Kani has confirmed his attendance at the award ceremony and the following fireside chat which will take place on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Montgomery Theater in San Jose, California.
Dr. John Kani, renowned for his portrayal of King T’Chaka in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Black Panther (2018), as well as his role as Rafiki in The Lion King (2019), has left an indelible mark on global cinema. Beyond his on-screen accomplishments, Dr. Kani co-wrote and starred in Athol Fugard’s anti-apartheid play Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1972), for which he received a Tony Award and cemented his status as a global icon. His legacy of showcasing and uplifting the image of Africa on a global stage makes him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.
Upon learning of his nomination, Dr. Kani expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am indeed humbled and deeply honored by your gracious gesture.” SVAFF Director Chike C. Nwoffiah added, “Dr. John Kani is South Africa’s gift to the world. His legacy of showcasing and uplifting the image of Africa on a global stage makes him an ideal recipient of this prestigious award. We are incredibly excited and humbled at the opportunity to give him his flowers and say thank you to him.”
The Cultural Icon Award is SVAFF’s highest accolade, presented exclusively to individuals who have demonstrated a relentless commitment to showcasing and uplifting the image of Africa and its diaspora through creative expressions. Previous recipients of the award include actor, producer, and philanthropist Jimmy Jean-Louis (2022), actor and producer Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (2021), former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas Mother Cynthia Pratt (2019), emeritus editor of Essence Magazine Susan L. Taylor (2018), co-directors of Diamano Coura African Dance Ensemble Dr. Zak and Mrs. Naomi Diouf (2017), and actor, producer, and activist Danny Glover (2016).
Now in its 15th year, SVAFF celebrates the richness, identity, and stories of Africa and its diaspora on its own terms. The festival has grown into a cultural destination event that draws award-winning international filmmakers, high-level foreign government dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities, academics, community leaders, students, and local film enthusiasts. From film screenings to talkback sessions with visiting filmmakers, fashion shows, live performances, panel discussions, workshops, an African market, and red carpet events, SVAFF provides audiences with an exquisite window into the real Africa and its diaspora through the lenses of seasoned and emerging filmmakers.
This year, SVAFF is proud to introduce the African Film Summit, presented in partnership with the Office of the President of San Jose State University. This groundbreaking event will convene academics, students, filmmakers, film enthusiasts, celebrities, government officials, distributors, and investors from across the globe for an engaging dialogue on African cinema.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of African film, culture, and creativity. For more information about SVAFF, please visit www.svaff.org.
Sahndra Fon Dufe Okeowo
Outreach & Strategic Engagement Director
Silicon Valley African Film Festival
+1 (408) 886-0049
sahndra@svaff.org
About Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF):
Silicon Valley African Film Festival celebrates the richness, identity, and stories of Africa and its diaspora on their own terms. It has become a cultural destination event that draws award-winning international filmmakers, high-level foreign government dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities, academics, community leaders, students, and local film enthusiasts. SVAFF offers audiences an exquisite window into the real Africa and its diaspora through the lenses of seasoned and emerging filmmakers.