In a landmark moment for Africa-Caribbean relations, the prestigious GUBA Awards will be hosted in Barbados this November — marking the first time the ceremony will take place in the Caribbean.
Scheduled for 10–12 November 2025, the 16th edition of the Grow, Unite, Build Africa (GUBA) Awards will be held under the theme “Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny: Build. Connect. Renew.” The event aims to foster deeper cultural and economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean, creating space for meaningful collaboration in trade, investment, and heritage.
“This is more than an awards show — it is a reconnection with the African continent,” said Lady Dentaa Amoateng, MBE, President and Founder of GUBA Enterprise. “Barbados offers a symbolic gateway as we renew our shared destiny across the Atlantic.”
The event is being staged in partnership with the Government of Barbados, with support from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Invest Barbados, the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), and the Barbados High Commission in Ghana.
Barbados High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, said the partnership “makes tangible the ongoing discourse about bridging the gap between Africa and the Caribbean”, and reflects the increasing strategic importance of the diaspora in national development.
BTMI’s Chief Product Development Officer, Ms Marsha Alleyne, noted the occasion as “an exciting first” for the island, adding: “This partnership underscores our connection to the African continent and broadens our international reach.”
The GUBA Awards 2025 will feature a series of headline events, including a Trade and Investment Forum, a vibrant Cultural Showcase, a Diplomatic Reception at the Prime Minister’s official residence, and the prestigious Awards Ceremony itself — which will spotlight excellence in leadership, innovation, enterprise, and diaspora impact.
Previous GUBA honourees include Angélique Kidjo, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Wode Maya, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Past guests have included actor Danny Glover and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
To mark the historic occasion, GUBA has arranged a special chartered flight from Accra, Ghana to Barbados. Interested persons can find more information or register at gubaawards.com.
