BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE– Save the date for the prestigious Marydee Awards!
The annual “Marydee Prestigious Lifetime Community Awards and Fundraising Gala Dinner -3rd Edition” will be held on Saturday, the 07th December 2024, at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini, starting from 06:30pm. This was confirmed by the founder and President of the Marydee Prestigious Lifetime Community Awards Dudu Dube.
The “Marydee Prestigious Lifetime Community Awards” ceremony is an annual red-carpet Gala Dinner that identifies, appreciates, and recognizes outstanding individuals who are demonstrating exceptional leadership, commitment and dedication in improving the standard of living in society. These are individuals who have demonstrated incredible resilience creating a positive social impact, thus taking action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Gala Dinner gathers different individuals, captains of industry and professionals from various fields of work, for a night of live music, scrumptious food, meet and greet networking, celebrating talent, achievement and excellence; while raising funds for Marydee Isibuko Serenity Foundation.
According to Marydee Isibuko Serenity Foundation Founder and President, Dudu Dube, this year, there will be three musicians; well-known gospel artist Make Nelly Siwela, afro-soul, RnB and gospel artist Lungelotom and Saxophonist Bulelwa Matsebula. Dube also thanked their 2024 partners; the Happy Valley Hotel, BH Events, Superior Solutions Branding and Smart Tickets. Marydee Isibuko Serenity Foundation, is a registered non-profit making organization in Eswatini that works with women, engages men and mentors the boy child.
“We have 16 voted for categories and in each category, we have the top 5 nominees. In each category, there will be three winners, with the overall winner taking home the trophy,” said Dube.
The 16 voted for categories are;
1. Best Male Entrepreneur of the Year Rising Star
2. Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year Rising Star
3. Best Inspirational Father of the Year
4. Best Inspirational Mother of the Year
5. Outstanding Leader of the Year
6. Best Adolescent Boy-Child of the Year (11-21 years)
7. Best Adolescent Girl-Child of the Year (11-21years)
8. Best Big-Bother Ambassador of the Year
9. Best GBV Activist of the Year
10. Outstanding 2024 Social Impact Hope Builder of the Year
11. Best Agri-Business of the Year
12. Best 2024 Handmade/Homemade/Homegrown Small-Medium Enterprise
13. Inspirational Unsung Champion of the Year
14. Outstanding 2024 Rising Champion in Arts
15. Best Female Trailblazer of the Year (advocating for Girls/Women Empowerment)
16. Outstanding 2024 Man of Valour Award (ploughing back to the society through various sectors)
Honorary Awards (not voted for categories)
1. Marydee President’s Lifetime Achievement Award
2. Inspirational Ambassador Award
3. Outstanding Volunteer Award
This year, we will have an interactive panel discussion with four speakers; Our 2024 theme is, “Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey, while Strengthening Families by addressing GBV and Mental Health issues” This will be a very interactive panel discussion between the speakers and the audience. We have four speakers, Mr. Mhlonipheni Msibi (An Activist and Advocate for Grooming the Boy Child to be a Household Leader), Mrs. Nonhlanhla Dlamini (SWAGAA Executive Director and Advocate for Women & Children’s Rights), Mrs. Naomi-Muanza-Magagula – Businesswomen, founder and Director of Naomi’s Fruits and Vegetables) and Mr. Linda Shabangu (Psychologist, Mental Health Therapist, Founder of The Bear Consultancy and Reverend).
“Tickets cost E650 individuals and E1,200 couples – includes a full-buffet meal. Tickets are available online; www.smarttickets.co.za Tickets will be available next week at the Movie Zone (Gables, Ezulwini) and Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre in Matsapha (opposite FNB)The Dresscode is strictly formal, it’s a black tie event. Our theme colour is orange with black, white or gold,” added Dube.
Marydee Isibuko Serenity Foundation Founder and President, Dudu Dube is an international multi-award winner who has received seven awards (three local and four international awards). She is a U.S. International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni. She was selected in 2023 by the Embassy of the United States in Eswatini to participate in a three-weeks International Exchange Programme, focusing on “Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. During the three-weeks program in April 2023, Dube visited four States in the United States of America. These States were; Washington, Pennsylvania, California and Utah.
PHOTOS
Founder and President, Dudu Dube
MUSICIANS
1. Saxophonist Bulelwa Matsebula
2. Make Nelly Siwela
3. Lungelotom
