The 4th Edition of the Black History Festival (BHF 2025) was successfully hosted over the weekend at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park City on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Under the theme: “Bridging Continents, Celebrating Legacies, and Promoting Trade,” the festival showcased the richness of African heritage, culture, economic development, and diaspora engagement while fostering impactful collaborations.
The festival commenced with a series of high-powered dialogues and networking sessions covering key topics such as the legal framework for diaspora integration in Africa, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cultural exchange and tourism, free zone opportunities in Africa, and other high-level bilateral discussions.
The networking welcome reception, held at the GICC Enclave, featured distinguished guest speakers, industry leaders, and key personalities.
The main sessions, held at GICC Salon 6 and 7, began with the Black History Expo, featuring renowned brands such as Apollonia City, JOBerg Ghana Limited, Ghana Free Zones Authority, Nico Wayo Arts, Pay Angel, Ezel Fashion, and the Atlanta Barber Institute, among others.
The Summit was officially opened with keynote speeches from prominent figures, including Janelle McKenzie, Mayor Pro Tem, College Park City, Councilman Joe Carn, College Park City, Councilman Roderick Gay, College Park City, Alex Appau Dadey, Executive Chairman, KGL Group and Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President of Ghana.
Also, Mattie McFadden-Lawson, Civil Leader & Board of Trustee Member, Morehouse College, Prince Anthony Bart, President & CEO, The Bridge Zone, Krishna Camarena Surgeon, General Director, National Secretariat of Policy, Panama, Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, City Manager, City of College Park, Georgia, Patience Agleze Acolor, Director, Ghana Free Zones Authority, Ben Crump, Celebrated American Civil Rights Attorney, Mayor Khalid Kamau, Mayor of South Fulton, Rep. Gabe Okoye, Georgia House of Representatives, 102nd District, Rep. Segun Adeyina, Georgia House of Representatives, 110th District, Rep. Kim Schofield, Georgia House of Representatives, 63rd District, Mrs. Elsie Apau, CEO, Acrety Ghana & Ezel Fashion and many more distinguished guests.
The Black History Summit featured industry roundtables on crucial topics, including Bridging the gap between the transatlantic continents for shared prosperity, Cultural diplomacy for diaspora engagement, African heritage, creatives, and cultural preservation, Dual citizenship opportunities, housing, and business prospects.
The Black History Expo attracted a diverse range of businesses, including fintech companies, fashion and perfume brands, real estate firms, human resource service providers, and beverage companies from both Africa and America.
This year’s Black History Makers Awards honored some of Georgia’s most distinguished leaders.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rep. Kim Schofield, Rep. Gabe Okoye, Rep. Segun Adeyina, Councilman Roderick Gay (Ward IV), City of College Park, the International Affairs Award was presented to Mayor Khalid Kamau, Mayor of South Fulton City, Georgia.
Organisations that played key partnership roles in the festival were also recognised for their invaluable contributions which included the KGL Group. JOBerg Ghana Limited, Appolonia City.
The coveted Star Prize of the Black History Makers Awards was awarded to Benjamin Crump, Civil Rights Attorney, Mattie McFadden-Lawson, Civil Leader & Board of Trustee Member, Morehouse College, H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana .
Stephen Selasie Asuo, President of BIDEC INC, alongside Mayor Pro Tem of College Park City, Councilwoman Jamelle McKenzie, officially declared College Park City, Georgia, as the host city for the 2026 edition of the Black History Festival, to be held once again at the Georgia International Convention Center.
The festival concluded with a powerful keynote speech by the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, who delivered remarks on behalf of the President of Ghana., HE John Dramini Mahama.
She called on people of African descent to reconnect with their heritage and emphasised the importance of reparations and the African Union’s 2025 theme.
She also highlighted the Black Star Experience, a yearlong initiative aimed at providing the diaspora greater access to Ghana throughout the year, culminating in the highly anticipated December in Ghana celebrations.
BIDEC INC projects that over the next year, the African diaspora community that participated in the festival will gain firsthand insights on traveling to Africa, securing dual citizenship; owning properties, and investing in business opportunities across the continent; establish meaningful partnerships with global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to drive economic growth and cultural exchange; and encourage collaboration between trade institutions, chambers of commerce, and investment firms from the USA and Africa, leveraging Georgia’s economic landscape and cultural appeal as a hub for future tourism and business engagements.
Additionally, Georgia’s strategic position as a host city for major global events—including several matches of the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA Men’s World Cup in June 2026—presents an opportunity to further strengthen trade, tourism, and economic relations between Africa and the diaspora.
The Black History Festival 2025 has set the stage for deeper collaborations, economic growth, and cultural unity, reinforcing its mission to bridge continents and celebrate African heritage on the global stage.
