This archive report was first published on 4 December 2019.
On December 28, 2019, the East African Nubians Award (EANA) will hold its inaugural gala dinner at the Panari Hotel along Mombasa road in Nairobi.
The award, unveiled by Grandpa Records CEO Refigah, aims to honour individuals in the corporate and community-based organizations in the Nubian community in East Africa.
‘The gala dinner will bring to life Nubian Culture, including fashion, cuisines, music, and dance. It is also a platform of unity for Nubians living and working in the diaspora,' Refigah explained.
The award has six categories: Community Distinction Award, Community Service Award, Sports Personality Award, Traditional Cultural Personality Award (male and female), and the Lifetime Award.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to vote through the EANA website, while an Academic panel will handle the award process.
Refigah's Grandpa Records has been a prominent force in the music industry, producing renowned artists such as DNA, Kenrazy, Visita, and Dufla Diligon.
However, the label has faced challenges in recent years, including mass defection of artistes and a burglary incident in February 2019, where equipment worth Sh1.5 million was stolen.
Despite these setbacks, Refigah has expanded his business interests to real estate under Grandpa Suites, which has already acquired furnished apartments near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The East African Nubians Award now becomes the record label's latest business venture, partnering with Nubians living in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
