A prestigious awards platform that has spent a decade bridging the African diaspora with the wider world is bringing its most significant edition yet to the heart of the Asante Kingdom — and it has the blessing of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The Hollywood Africa Prestigious Awards — better known as the HAPAwards — is set to hold its 10th anniversary celebration at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, marking a milestone edition that will honour exceptional talent, celebrate African heritage, and shine a global spotlight on one of the continent’s most storied royal seats.
The announcement took shape during the Awukudae Festival on April 8, 2026, when HAPAwards founder and President Tina Weisinger led a delegation from Hollywood to the Manhyia Palace, seeking an audience with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and laying out their vision for the landmark edition.
“We, the team from Hollywood, are very happy to be in your presence and in the Asante Kingdom,” Weisinger told the Asantehene.
She described the HAPAwards as a platform with a unique purpose — one that builds bridges between the African diaspora and communities across the world, and that each year honours individuals who have not only excelled in their fields but serve as beacons of inspiration for the next generation.
Her delegation included Amberr Washington, Co-founder of the HAPAwards; Adeola Odunowo, the organisation’s African representative; and Professor Sam Nartey, consultant to the project.
Ten Years, One Kingdom:
For its 10th edition, the HAPAwards team has set its sights on doing something befitting the occasion — honouring the Asantehene himself, and hosting the celebration within the walls of Manhyia Palace on a date to be confirmed by the Palace.
It is a gesture that reflects both the personal esteem in which the delegation holds Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the broader symbolic weight of anchoring a diaspora-focused global awards platform in one of Africa’s most revered cultural institutions.
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Beyond the ceremony, the event carries an economic dimension. The organisers intend to use the occasion to raise funds for the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, and to position Kumasi as a destination for investment — drawing the attention and resources of the global African diaspora community toward the Asante capital.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II received the delegation’s presentation and offered his approval, directing Nana Amoamanghene and the Palace Office to liaise with the HAPAwards team to determine an appropriate date for the event.
With royal endorsement secured and preparations underway, the stage is being set for what promises to be the most ambitious edition in the HAPAwards’ ten-year history — a celebration of African excellence, diaspora connection, and Asante heritage, hosted at the very heart of the kingdom.