23 September 2015
This Heritage Day, Africa’s myriad cultures will be celebrated in New York City when brain gain company Homecoming Revolution hosts its annual Speed Meet in the Big Apple. The gathering is held in affiliation with Brand South Africa.
Captains of industry, African professionals, celebrities and media will meet for the two-day event, which starts with a VIP Heritage Day dinner at the trendy Kaia Wine Bar in Manhattan on 24 September. This is followed by a full-day interactive networking event at the Thomson Reuters headquarters in Times Square on 25 September.
Among the invited guests are South Africa’s consulate-general Thulisile Nkosi; media executive Alex Okosi; Brand South Africa board member Thebe Ikalafeng; Paralympic footballer Ibrahima Diallo; artist Ibiyinka Alao; and fashion designer Farai Simoyi.
Angel Jones, the chief executive of Homecoming Revolution, said the Speed Meet aimed to inspire Africans living in the US to come home. It would show them that the continent was full of opportunity. “We feel incredibly privileged to be playing such an important role in building our continent’s prosperity. The ‘Africa Rising’ dream can only be fulfilled if there is a significant brain gain on the continent.
“There are amazing opportunities on the continent, from jobs to investments to entrepreneurial ventures. Now is the time for global Africans to fulfil their destiny of success and significance.”
Speed Meet New York will introduce Africans living in the US to top employers back home, as well as provide advice on returning, property investment and relocation.
The gathering in New York follows Speed Meet Jozi, which took place in August. At that event, former South African president Thabo Mbeki called on the African diaspora to return.
Brand South Africa has entered into an agreement with Homecoming Revolution in order to leverage opportunities for its Global South Africans (GSA) programme. The agreement, which consists of a number of engagement platforms, including the Speed Meet, will provide exposure for the GSA programme, and assist with growing the network.
For more information on this and Homecoming Revolution’s other global events visit the organisation’s website.
