Asante' Awards: honoring the Arts

It gives us great pleasure to inform you that you are invited to attend the 1st Annual Asante Awards: Honoring the Arts, scheduled for Friday, June 28, 2013 at the August Wilson Center from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

The Asante Award, given by Umoja African Arts Company, honors an array of artists in the Pittsburgh community and acknowledges their contributions to various genres of art in the categories of Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Performing Arts, Spiritual, Spoken Word, and Theater. Asante is a Kiswahili word meaning “Thank You” and Umoja African Arts Company is thanking Pittsburgh artists for their unique gifts.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Umoja African Arts Company, we thank you for your efforts to provide and enhance the arts in the Pittsburgh community. We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony.


Honorary Chairs – Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Byrd
Mistress of Ceremonies – Lynn Cullen
Umoja “Unity” Award – Damien Pwono
Cultural Sprit Award – Thaddeus Mosley

Currently, nominations are being carefully considered among a slate of several talented nominees. Winners will be announced on the evening of the event.


Spiritual Award
David Dance Team
Northside Institutional Church
Macedonia Baptist Church

Blues Award
Jill West & Blues Attack
Pittsburgh Blues Society
Muddy Creek Blues

Theater Award
Kelly Strayhorn Theater
Bricolage Production Company
Pittsburgh Playwrights

Performing Arts
August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble
Hill Dance Academy Theater
CAPA

Jazz Award
Kevin Howard
Roger Humphries
Joe Negri

Hip Hop Award
Hip Hop on Lock
Jasiri X
Chris Edmunds

Spoken Word Award
Christina Springer
Kimberly Ellis
Leslie “Ezra” Smith