There are men, and then there are Exclusive Men. In this article, we shine the spotlight on the Executive Director of the Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards, Daniel Kojo Soboh, his reasons to celebrate men in local industries and communities across Africa.
The Exclusive Men of the Year Awards, EMY Africa, is an event rising out of Ghana. It is a prestigious award ceremony that honors men of excellence in Ghana and all over Africa.
In so many ways, an award is more than a certificate to frame and put on the wall. More than a glass, brass, or gold plaque to display on the shelf in your home or office or at every family gathering.
When a person receives an award, it triggers warm fuzzy feelings and makes them feel really good on the inside. Think of it as being injected with dopamine—lots of it. That is a high that you wouldn’t want to come off.
The EMY Africa Awards is inspiring greatness in both the young and the old, and it all started because of one man—Daniel Kojo Soboh.
Daniel Kojo Soboh: From Dreams to Reality
Daniel Kojo Soboh grew up in a mining area in the Western Region of Ghana. Notwithstanding his environment and experiences, he turned out to be a brilliant and excellent young man full of passion and creativity.
He chose to study computer science at university, leaving behind his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. Two years into his study, he accepted that writing computer language was not a future he envisioned for himself. The reason, he had fallen in love with entertainment.
Kojo was the life of the party. He also had a knack for organizing events. Above all, he loved the thrill of watching his efforts pay off and how they put smiles on people’s faces.
He read all the signs the universe was sending his way (unlike some of us), and took his chance with Imajin Advertising, an events company in Ghana, notable for organizing several successful events like the Legends and Legacy Ball.
Daniel Kojo Soboh is now one of the most celebrated men in Ghana. He has made the Forbes 40 under 40 lists, he’s been named among the 100 most influential Young Africans, and ranks among the 50 Top Young CEOs in Ghana.
While trying to find his purpose, he constantly remembered his father’s words, that they could be anything they wanted to be, as long as it was 100% legal. Talk like this can set the fire blazing in a child’s heart and keep him from doing the wrong things to be successful.
It was soon time for Soboh to test the waters as an entertainer and a businessman, because the fast-growing Ghanaian entertainment industry was coming up on the heels of the No 1 entertainment industry in Africa, Nigeria. In many interviews and talk shows, he has called for all stakeholders to make conscious efforts to play their parts and move the Ghanaian entertainment industry forward.
Not many people find what they love to do and are good at. Soboh is one of the few who make the tough decision to change the course of their lives and blindly pursue their passion.
EMY Africa Awards: Inspiring Greatness and Honoring Excellence
EMY Africa annually celebrates men around Father’s Day and keeps with the theme of inspiring greatness by recognizing and encouraging great men. The campaign started in 2016, in Accra, and was the beginning of the quest to honor the most deserving men that have made tremendous societal impact from all ages and walks of life—men that are exceptional and can serve as role models at home (Ghana).
“We did a lot of research and realized there were homes that had no positive male role models young children could look up to. We know that the father’s role is very key, so it’s important that we project some of these men who are doing so great with their family, their work, and their business,” said Kojo Soboh, in an exclusive interview with Forbes Africa
So far, EMY Africa has been living up to its expectations. It has attracted several partnerships along with thousands of people committed to making the awards ceremony a success yearly.
Past award recipients include Nathan Kwabena Didi, Michael Owusu Addo (Sarkodie), Ezekiel Nana Ziggy Ansah, Giovani Caleb, Joe Mettle, and many more.
The 7th EMY Africa Awards Ceremony: A Night to Remember
The 7th EMY Africa Awards was held at The Grand Arena, Accra, on Saturday 1st of October, 2022. Dubbed seven for perfection, it was an award ceremony that was at par with international standards. The planning took several months, and the results were another milestone for Soboh and his team.
They brought on board veteran industry experts, who helped to scrutinize the nominations, which were selected in-house after extensive research, and those nominated by the public. Their final decision was made after several meetings and careful consideration.
The awards night was brightly lit with stars (literally and figuratively), and high profile guests from all over Africa, including the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia,
Last year’s ceremony had winners in the two major award categories: Honorary Awards and Competitive Awards.
HONORARY AWARDS
● Man of the Year – Ibrahim Mahama
● Woman of the Year – Prof. Elsie Effah Kuafmanm
● Man of the Year – Africa – Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
● Magnate Award – Kwame Ofosu Bamfo
● Green Corporate Star Award (by A Rocha Ghana) – ColibaGhana
● Man of Style – Trevor Stuurman
● Continental Music Icon Award – Don Jazzy
● Continental Film Icon Award – Richard Mofe Damijo
● Young Achiever (Male) – Richie Mensah
● Brand of the Year – Caveman Watches
● Group of the Year – Rotary Ghana
● Media Excellence Award – Ayo Animashaun
● Creative and Support Arts Award – Tony Tomety
● Man of Courage – Nii Quaye Brown
● The Settler Award – Amar Deep Sengh Hari
● Young Achiever (Female) – Audrey Swatson
● Man of the Year Sport – Benjamin Azamati
● Lifetime Achievement Award – Joe Lartey
● The Guardian Award – Lanre Olusola
● Humanitarian Award – Alex Dadey
● Man of the Year – Technology – Andrew Takyi
● Man of the Year – Agriculture –Alhaji Mohammed Mashud
● Asclepian Award – Dr. Elikem Tamaklo
COMPETITIVE AWARDS
● Discovery of the Year – Free the Youth
● Man of the Year – Music – Kofi Kinaata
● Actor of the Year – Adjetey Anang
● Designer of the Year – Ezekiel Yartel
EMY Africa also introduced a new scheme called Inspiring Greatness Forum where about 90 young men, aged 16 to 21, had the chance to sit with a mentor during the award ceremony. The aim was to give the young men a chance to be inspired by the older generation of exceptional men in their community, as they mingled with them and watched the awards ceremony unfold. It was a night to remember.
The Future
EMY Africa in partnership with best-selling author & Emmy Award-winning TV host, Dr Michelle Mckinney Hammond, hosted a star-studded brunch for Emmy Award-Winning actress, and Hollywood star, Sheryl Lee Ralph in Accra, when she visited in March 2023.
“When she said she was coming to visit Michelle in Ghana, Michelle and I thought, let‘s have an event and invite especially, women in the creative industry so that Sheryl can interact with them and share her story to encourage them,” Kojo said in an interview with Joy News.
There’s a lot more to anticipate from Daniel Kojo Soboh and EMY Africa, as he is always on the lookout for means to further the African narrative.
Nominations are now open for the 8th EMY Africa Awards.
REFERENCES
Ghana Web: EMY Africa hosts Hollywood star Sheryl Lee Ralph to a memorable brunch in Accra
Joy 99.7 FM: The Super Morning Show
JoyNews: Beckys exclusive with Kojo Soboh Executive Director- EMY Africa
