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Strategic Milestone for Afro-Colombian Heritage

CALI, COLOMBIA – February 26, 2026 – We are proud to announce that the Pan-African Council, has been formally invited by the City of Cali in Colombia to join the Advisory Committee for the 30th Anniversary of the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival.

This invitation, extended by the City’s Secretariat of Culture, marks a significant step in strengthening the bridge between the Colombian Pacific and the global African diaspora.

Why This Matters

The year 2026 represents a historic milestone. For three decades, “El Petronio” has served as the beating heart of Afro-Colombian identity, honoring ancestral memory and cultural power.

Our participation in this committee aims to:

• Scale the Legacy: Project the 30th edition as a world-class celebration of Pan-African heritage.
• Strategic Vision: Collaboration with leaders to integrate international perspectives.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Solidify Cali’s position as a central hub for the global African diaspora community.

Stay tuned as we prepare for our first session on March 12, 2026, to begin mapping out this historic commemoration.

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Saint Lucia – [August 4, 2025]

The Pan-African Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert as our new Board Advisor for Caribbean Affairs. A distinguished academic, policy strategist, and former Minister of Government, Dr. Rigobert brings a wealth of expertise and visionary leadership to strengthen Caribbean-Africa partnerships rooted in mutual respect, solidarity, and South-South cooperation.

Dr. Rigobert’s illustrious career spans international diplomacy, sustainable development, education transformation, and digital innovation. As Saint Lucia’s Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations, and Sustainable Development from 2016 to 2021, she championed transformative policies prioritizing climate resilience, gender equity, and education reform. A trailblazer, she made history as the first woman and one of the youngest to serve as Leader of the Opposition in Saint Lucia’s Parliament (2014–2016). Her powerful advocacy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has amplified the Global South’s voice on critical issues like sustainability and inclusive global frameworks.

With an academic foundation from the University of the West Indies and the University of Cambridge, where she was a Chevening and Sir Patrick Sheehy Scholar, Dr. Rigobert has taught and mentored future leaders in international relations, global political economy, and diplomacy. Her academic contributions include a visiting fellowship at the University of Sussex, teaching at Anton de Kom University in Suriname, and serving as a Visiting Fellow at the University of York’s Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre (2022–2023). Most recently, as Dean of Academics at the University of St. Martin (2023–2025), she spearheaded curriculum innovation and institutional strengthening.

Currently, as CEO and Principal Consultant of Propel Ltd., Dr. Rigobert advises global organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF on education transformation, AI governance, and policy innovation across the Caribbean. Her deep regional insight and commitment to fostering equitable partnerships make her an invaluable addition to the Pan-African Council.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert as we work together to deepen Caribbean-Africa collaboration and advance our shared vision for a resilient, inclusive future.

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New Jersey, USA / Cali, Colombia – [June 15, 2025]

The Pan-African Council is proud to welcome celebrity music executives Jamal “Mally” Brandon and Steven “Steve-O” Carless as strategic Board Members, bringing their unparalleled expertise and vision to launch a transformative community initiative in Colombia and beyond. This groundbreaking program aims to uplift the music and creative industries, nurture local talent, and bolster the entertainment business by establishing an artist development program, a state-of-the-art music studio in the heart of Cali’s most marginalized communities, and a distribution strategy to connect local artists with international markets and fans.

Jamal “Mally” Brandon, a seasoned Music Executive and Serial Entrepreneur, brings over a decade of experience in executive production, record production, deal negotiation, music video curation, artist management, and A&R. Known for his mantra of “connecting Creatives as a Creative,” Brandon’s career spans producing records like Fabolous’ “Lituation” to amassing over 1 billion YouTube views as a partner in Shot Selection Media, a venture specializing in targeted digital marketing and social media viewership. His journey from a former artist and record producer to a media mogul reflects his deep understanding of artistry and business. Through his work with MSLM DONS, Brandon promotes peace, discipline, and purpose among Black youth, using Islam as a guiding force to foster brotherhood and empowerment. His commitment to bridging the African American diaspora with Africa through tourism, citizenship, and investment aligns seamlessly with the Council’s mission to foster collaboration and advance Black communities globally in finance, education, and quality of life.

Joining Brandon is Steven “Steve-O” Carless, a renowned record executive, talent manager, tech advisor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Carless is celebrated for his work with global icons like Beyoncé, Polo G, and Nipsey Hussle, earning two Grammy Awards in 2020 for “Racks in the Middle” featuring Roddy Ricch and “Higher” with DJ Khaled. As a co-founder of The Defiant Foundation, Carless champions mentorship, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship to address wealth disparities in underserved communities. His leadership roles, including President of A&R at Warner Records and co-founder of the Republic Records Action Committee, underscore his dedication to systemic change in the music industry.

Through his company The Dream Company, Brandon is spearheading the Pan-African Council’s initiative in Cali, Colombia, creating a vibrant ecosystem for local artists. The artist development program will provide mentorship and training, the music studio will offer a professional space for creation, and the distribution strategy will amplify Colombian talent on the global stage. This initiative reflects the Council’s commitment to empowering marginalized communities and expanding our global footprint through cultural and economic collaboration.

We are thrilled to have Jamal “Mally” Brandon and Steve-O Carless on board, leveraging their expertise to drive impact and opportunity for Colombia’s creative communities. Join us in celebrating this milestone as we work to uplift local talent and connect the African diaspora through the universal language of music.

 

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Colombia – [January 8, 2025]

The Pan-African Council is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Cesar Cabezas as its Special Representative to the Republic of Colombia.

Mr. Cabezas is an Afro-Colombian leader with a distinguished career in economic and social empowerment, human rights advocacy, and historical scholarship. He brings a wealth of experience to this role, serving as the National Representative for Black communities and constituents in the Colombian Congress from 2022 to 2026. With over two decades of dedicated service, Mr. Cabezas has been a tireless advocate for the empowerment and rights of Black people within Colombia.

He has hosted important dialogues and served on esteemed bodies such as the high-level advisory commission for the consultation of Black, Afro-Colombian, Palenquera, and Raizal communities in Colombia. He has also led initiatives on inter-culturality, inclusive urban development, and ethno-education, fostering dialogue and collaboration both within Colombia and across borders.

As Special Representative, Mr. Cabezas commits to:

• Strengthening Africa and Diaspora relations with Colombia, fostering opportunities for economic, social, educational, and political exchange.
• Promoting sustainable regional development by leveraging best practices in modern enterprise, innovation, science, and technology.
• Advocating for just and inclusive governance through the development of local government and civic leadership rooted in diversity and the rule of law.
• Championing environmental protection and sustainable development practices.
• Expanding access to quality education at all levels, including workforce development through vocational training.
• Fostering a cohesive and engaged Afro-Colombian stakeholder community, inspired by visionary leadership committed to peaceful conflict resolution, social justice, and sustainable development.

We are confident that Mr. Cabezas’s expertise and dedication will make a significant contribution to advancing the Pan-African Council’s mission in Colombia and beyond.

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SOUTH AFRICA  —

Context

The Boipatong massacre, a brutal attack in 1992 that claimed 45 lives and left lasting scars on the South African township, serves as a stark reminder of the country’s turbulent past. This tragic event continues to resonate with the Boipatong community, where survivors grapple with profound loss and economic hardship.

Recognizing the resilience of the Boipatong community, particularly a group of skilled seamstresses, the Colombian Embassy, in collaboration with the Pan-African Council, embarked on a commendable initiative. Ambassadors Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas and Monde Mshudulu identified these women and generously donated sewing machines to empower their craft. This act of support aimed to provide economic opportunities and foster self-sufficiency within the community.

A Collaborative Effort for Upliftment

To further strengthen this initiative, a pivotal meeting took place at Vaal University of Technology (VUT). Ambassador Rojas and Mr. Mshudulu explored potential partnerships with VUT’s Fashion Design department. Professor Kehla Ndlovu, Vice-Chancellor of VUT, welcomed the collaboration and envisioned an expanded program. This program would not only equip the Boipatong seamstresses with essential skills but also create exchange programs with Colombian universities, fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The Colombian designer, Laura Laurens, who was captivated by a Boipatong fashion show held in October 2023, further bolstered the initiative. With the combined efforts of the Colombian Embassy, the Pan-African Council, and VUT, the sewing machine donation took place on February 21st, 2024. Professor Ndlovu’s optimism regarding the project’s potential for positive impact on the Boipatong community, VUT, and beyond, resonates throughout this collaborative effort. The potential exchange programs with Colombian universities hold the promise of fostering long-lasting connections and shared learning opportunities.

More details on the VUT website.

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SANTIAGO DE CALI, COLOMBIA  —

Building on the inaugural edition of the Afro-Colombian Executive Business Forum this past January 13-14, 2023, the Pan-African Council alongside Empresario Afro, Universidad de Santiago, and the Howard University School of Business have organized the second edition of the forum.

This edition features two special tracks on Technology & Business Ventures as well as the Creative Economy.

Event location and venue:

Cali, Colombia / Universidad Santiago de Cali

Event date and time:

June 16, 2023 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; June 17, 2023 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

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BRAZZAVILLE, THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO  —

The Council provided support for Colombia’s cultural mission to Brazzaville to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties with the Republic of Congo. Personnel from the Embassy of Colombia in Kenya traveled to Brazzaville with the aim of positioning Colombia’s foreign policy work in Africa.

Pan-African Council representatives Mr Godfre Bayalama and Mr Rudy Massamba, two Congolese natives resident in the USA, prepared a strategic proposal to facilitate the Colombian delegation’s visit to the Republic of Congo from April 27 to May 7, 2023.

The proposed itinerary aimed to help Colombian dignitaries from the Embassy of Colombia in Kenya build and foster relationships with essential Congolese cultural, political, and environmental actors. Historically, Congo has been one of Africa’s most prominent cultural and creative hubs. Its capital Brazzaville witnessed the birth of Congolese Rumba – a soulful African sound heavily influenced by Cuban Son that took over the continent and later influenced Colombian Champeta music.

The visit to Brazzaville was in the context of the Maloba Theater, Dance and Circus Festival; an international cultural exchange event where storytellers from all over the world, equipped with their words (theatre), their bodies (dance) and their imagination (circus) speak about the current world.

The festival aims to establish cultural links and propose dialogues between the artistic traditions of the Congolese and foreigners within dynamic structures of exchange and creativity. The Afro-Colombian artistic dance group Sankofa Danzafro, which has become a catalyst for relations between Colombia in Africa, participated in the festival as part of Colombia’s broad cultural agenda for engagement with the African continent. Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the meeting and agenda set forth by PAC Representative Rudy Oba Apounou Massamba.

Abbreviated Biographies

Rudy Oba Apounou Massamba is a democracy assistance expert with an extensive track record in empowering grassroots civil society organizations and movements. He worked for close to a decade at the National Endowment for Democracy, where he spearheaded grant-making strategy and managed grants programs for nine countries spread across West, Central, and Southern Africa. Rudy launched his international development career at the National Democratic Institute (NDI). He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University, and a M.S. in International Affairs from
Florida State University. A proponent of South-South cooperation, Rudy is fluent in French and possesses advanced Portuguese language skills.

Godfre Bayalama is a New York-based public servant and political operative. He serves as Chief of Staff for New York State Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie, a democrat, and fierce advocate for strengthening democracy, improving New York’s criminal legal systems, and holding gun manufacturers accountable for the scourge of gun violence. As a senior advisor to the Senator, Godfre oversaw the passage of the landmark John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, the strongest voting rights law in the United States. Godfre worked in senior roles as a political operative for several campaigns for local, state, and federal offices. Most notably, in 2021, as Campaign manager, he helped elect Crystal Hudson as one of the first out-gay Black women to the New York City Council. Godfre is a native of the Republic of Congo who has lived in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. He is fluent in Kikongo, French, English, Italian, and Lingala. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy from New York University. Godfre is passionate about soccer, Congolese Rumba, and video games outside of work.

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BOGOTA, COLOMBIA  —

Background

The Republic of Colombia’s historic election and transition to a popular government led by President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez not only marks an unprecedented window of opportunity for improved diplomatic and economic relations within the region, but also the possibility of seeking further rapprochement with African countries on the other side of the Atlantic. The political will and impetus for developing these new pathways to cooperation has never been more lucid than in Gustavo Petro’s very own presidential inauguration speech, in which he declared:

“We will seek greater alliances with Africa, where we originate from; 
we will seek an alliance of afro-descendant communities in the Americas.” 
– President Gustavo Petro, Inauguration Speech
(“Buscaremos mayores alianzas con África, de donde provenimos; 
buscaremos una alianza de pueblos afros en Ámerica.” 
- Presidente Gustavo Petro, discurso de inauguración)

Gustavo Petro’s call to action for a “Colombia of possibilities” creates an avenue to leverage our joint strengths and aspirations to face the challenges of the 21st century. During the election campaign and her activist history, VP Francia Márquez often leveraged the African idea of ubuntu (humanness) to promote interdependence within and between societies. In these unprecedented times of pandemic, climate change, supply chain, and monetary risk, the need to reinvigorate South-South Cooperation has never been more pronounced.

Contemporary Colombia-Africa Relations

The Republic of Colombia’s current “Guidelines for Colombian Foreign Politics” state the mandate of “sharing experiences in important issues for African development”. Colombia’s experience has been shared through the programs regarding Disarming, Demobilization and Reintegration allowing the development of important progress in terms of cooperation with countries such as Liberia, Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Angola, among others. Colombia makes institutional presence in sub-Saharan Africa through the Embassies in South Africa and Kenya.

More recently, the Colombian Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC-Colombia) has signed a Financial Contribution Agreement with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) within the framework of South-South Cooperation to bolster technical assistance for programmes across Africa. This agreement paved the way for the exchange of best practices, building local lasting capacities and technical assistance in different areas such as; environment, risk management and resilience; emergent technology and research; agriculture; and food security and nutrition, among others.

Partnership and Engagement

The Pan-African Council partnered with Colombia’s Office of the Vice Presidency to support Colombia’s first high-level visit to the African continent after a 26-year hiatus with the aim of strengthening diplomacy, cultural, business and entrepreneurial ties. Colombia’s first Vice President of African Descent, Her Excellency Francia Márquez, led a delegation of some 60 representatives to South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia this May.

The Council’s piece on CNBC Africa highlights the country’s desire to expand the number of embassies it has in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating a foundation for future political, cultural, and economic partnerships. The visit also provided a unique opportunity for African countries to assert their individual and collective interests through enhanced international cooperation.

Opportunities for South-South Cooperation

Colombia lags considerably behind countries like Brazil in trade and political ties with Africa. Colombia and African countries can better explore and exploit their comparative advantages in goods and services. In the context of exploring new and innovative multilateral and bilateral agreements, there’s a unique opportunity for Colombia to partner with African countries in achieving Agenda 2063 and by also sharing its expertise in areas such as renewable energy, water management, and information and communication technology.

Currently, countries across Latin America are diligently seeking to position themselves as highly competitive actors in the geopolitical landscape. Colombia is well-positioned to take the lead on Africa-Latin America relations for the Spanish-speaking world as the country seeks to improve its education and cultural exchanges, economic competitiveness, attract trade and investment, and promote themselves as major tourist destinations. African countries, in turn, aspire to rebrand and transform themselves into an influential economic, touristic, environmentally sustainable region with a vast pool of natural resources and human capital.

Activities

As part of the Colombia’s 2022-2026 Africa Strategy, the Council supported the first-ever Colombia-South Africa High-Level Business Forum, the Kenya-Colombia Business Forum (hosted by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry), the cultural industries roundtables and events (including Mandla N’s Media City Studios South Africa, collaborative music camps for artists, and the Bomas of Kenya Artistic Evening), the Ubuntu Unity Colombian and South African Cultural Heritage Celebration, the My Roots in Africa Tree Planting Ceremony and Leaders’ Breakfast at Karura Forest with the Hon. Governor of Nairobi Sakaja Johnson Arthur, Wanjira Mathai VP of the World Resouces Institute, Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) leaders Kamil Olufowobi and Mwende Mbevi in a ceremony to foster the reconnection with the African diaspora in Colombia and reaffirm our joint commitments to nature preservation and environmental protection. The My Roots in Africa tree planting initiative gives the Diaspora an opportunity to connect with the roots in Africa while reducing carbon emissions through the regreening of the planet.

The high impact trip resulted in over two dozen memorandums of understanding, bilateral and cooperation agreements signed across South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

We extend a special thanks to the entire Pan-African Council team, the Embassies of Colombia in South Africa and Kenya, as well as other partners including Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), TAP Magazine, MHM Media, Rubiez & Pearlz VIP Logistix, and Masters Of The Industry (MOTI Africa) who graciously supported the trip agenda.

We further wish to congratulate the Republic of Colombia on their historic engagement with Africa and for taking the bold step of strengthening of South-South cooperation.

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Media Contact:

Tatiana Mensah
media@panafricancouncil.org

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The Forum aims to supercharge Afro-Colombian businesses and create a community of Black business professionals from Colombia and beyond.

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SANTIAGO DE CALI, COLOMBIA  —

This coming Friday and Saturday January 13-14, 2023, the Pan-African Council will be co-hosting the Afro-Colombian Executive Forum in collaboration with Howard University School of Business and the Universidad Santiago de Cali in Colombia. ⁣

The Forum is an intensive program designed to develop the participants’ core business skills and provide them with the tools to succeed. This will be achieved through modules focused on the following topics:

• Historical and present context of building community wealth
• Business preparedness
• Discussion tables
• Leadership, human talent and branding
• Financial forecasting
• Networking and on-going engagement

In addition to job creation and new economic opportunities, entrepreneurship and enterprise development are essential drivers of community transformation that encourage innovation and a culture of success. We look forward to empowering the Afro-Colombian business community by creating new partnerships across the Council’s global network.⁣

After a historic election, the Republic of Colombia seeks to build deeper political, social and commercial ties with Africa and the Caribbean region. The Council was honoured to be invited to join this effort and recognise Colombia’s new PAC Representative in Congress this past August 8th, 2022.

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Colombia’s historic election and transition to a popular government led by President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez not only marks an unprecedented window of opportunity for improved diplomatic and economic relations within the region, but also the possibility of seeking further rapprochement with African countries on the other side of the Atlantic. This prompted the need to establish a new specialised presidential working group on Africa-Colombia affairs and a strategic summit in 2023 to embark on these objectives. The Pan-African Council has committed itself to join Colombia on this journey after being invited to Congress for the launch of the Africa and the Americas Summit Executive Committee.

The Africa & The Americas Summit 2023 (AFAS), slated for the city of Cali, Colombia, from August 10–12, 2023 (tentative date), is designed to build new cultural, trade and investment relationships between Africa and the Americas with a special focus on the African Diaspora and Indigenous communities. The inextricable link between the two regions is well documented; a shared history, identity and philosophy bind them. These are the threads that African and American nations must draw on to write a new, positive chapter in the regions’ history.

AFAS 2023 will be held under the theme “A New Path to Cooperation”. The Summit aims to foster the development of strategic partnerships between the communities in Africa and throughout the Americas, to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture, social engagement, and other sectors.
Additionally, AFAS 2023 is expected to contribute to the implementation of Colombia’s South-South objectives, namely the Strategy for Cooperation with the Caribbean Basin, Regional Cooperation Program with Mesoamerica, and the International Cooperation Strategy on Integral Security.

In addition, the Council designed a new Council Representative for the Republic of Colombia, Ms Cha Dorina Hernández, Congresswoman and Educator, who will lead the Summit Executive Committee and have shown exceptional leadership in building relations with Africa and Diaspora.