Hello BNers, it’s Damilola.
I had the pleasure of travelling to Barbados for the GUBA Awards 2025, and I am back with all the highlights!
The GUBA Awards celebrate and recognise Black excellence across the diaspora and the continent. This year’s event brought together inspiring trailblazers, cultural leaders, and creatives.
My journey started at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on November 10. I landed safely in Accra, where the GUBA Team warmly welcomed me. There I met the lovely Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, who is even more lovely in person. I also connected with the talented Nimi Princewill of CNN Africa. With the team complete, we headed to our hotels to rest for the night.
The next morning, we headed back to the airport and met Ghanaian actress Nana Ama McBrown, who was also joining the trip. Alongside her were other GUBA Team members and attendees based in Ghana. After the usual airport routines, it was finally time to take off for Barbados.
This chartered flight was courtesy of Milvest, this year’s GUBA Awards headline sponsor.
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Our first stop was beautiful Cape Verde. We didn’t get off the plane, but the brief stop still gave us a chance to make some memories.
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Once the plane’s cabin crew was changed and final checks completed, we were back in the air, continuing our journey to Barbados. We arrived just past 5 pm local time and were welcomed in style.
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We took a few pictures and then headed to the Prime Minister’s private welcome at her residence.
My home for the two-day stay was the beautiful Crane Resort. The resort felt like a scene from a movie, complete with little shops that reflected Barbados’ rich culture.
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The next day started with a quick interview with Dentaa Amoateng MBE, President of GUBA Enterprise, and Yvonne Abba Opoku, Chair of the GUBA Enterprise Board.
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The next stop was the university for the Asante King’s welcome, a beautiful reminder of the connection between Africans and Caribbean people.
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Finally, it was time for the GUBA Awards. The night was filled with a rich display of African culture, beautiful connections, glitz, exciting performances, delicious food, and unforgettable moments.
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If I had to describe the experience, it would be one for the books. Seeing Africans recognised and celebrated was amazing. The acceptance speeches were powerful reminders of the excellence rooted in Africa.
I am grateful to have been on the pioneer chartered flight, to have connected with so many lovely people, and to have experienced all the unforgettable moments in Barbados.
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Source: GUBA
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The post Damilola’s Barbados Diary: Highlights from the GUBA Awards 2025 appeared first on BellaNaija – Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
