On October 20th the inaugural African Health Now (AHN) “Gift of Life” Cocktail Benefit was held at Chelsea Piers’ Sunset Terrace in New York City. The event was held to honour 3 professionals for their philanthropic commitments to the African community.

Contemporary African artist Wangechi Mutu received the Humanitarian award. The founder and president of African Health Now, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo had this to share with Black Enterprise on the selection of Mutu:

"Wangechi Mutu, who is receiving the humanitarian award, is a renowned Kenyan artist and activist who recently launched an initiative called Africa’s Out. The sole purpose of Africa’s Out is to change the narrative, to change how we see and talk about the continent from the continent’s perspective. She wants to change the story and the way people see the story, whether it is about art, health, culture, the LGBT community, the whole thing."

Mutu is originally from Kenya but is currently based in New York where she also attended Parsons School of Art & Design and The New School for Social Research, where she focused on Fine Arts and Anthropology.

Mutu's art centres around the female figure, and challenges the perceptions of gender, race, and cultural identity. Much of her art also comes from magazines and she explains to Border Crossings why:

"So if I pick up a National Geographic or Motorbike magazine, it’s about what it stands for and who reads it and why. What is its purpose and how are women’s bodies used in there? As a woman of color, how I’m represented in these publications is of absolute relevance and importance to me because it tells me where I stand in that particular culture."

Using her art, Mutu expresses her perception of Black Women. But with her campaign, Africa's Out, she's trying to change, not only the perception of Africa, but Africa itself in terms of how Africans reach out to empower one another, as explained on her website.

It's important to reach out and give back at any stage in life, but particularly once you have a platform and the ability to influence. I may not fully agree with some of Mutu's standings, however I can appreciate and respect the fact that she has one and she's using her influence to voice it. Everyone may not agree with your message, and everyone doesn't have to. You have your beliefs and values and as Malcolm X said, "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

Giving back to your community, especially if it's a less fortunate one, is not only a nice thing to do, but I would argue that it's your responsibility, it should be your mandate to better the neighbourhood you came from once you make it out. Heck, even if you're still in that neighbourhood, try to better it.

It's only when we care enough for change to happen that change will actually happen. It's easy to say that things can't change, it's impossible, or it's too hard, but Mandela said "It always seems impossible until it's done." He too could easily have said that changing the former status quo can't be changed, but he wound up president. So you tell me, is it really impossible? 

Be blessed!