Dr. Mohamed Ghazala, the Egyptian professor and artist of animation just received his trophy for Best African International Achievers, for his activities in the Art and Culture field in Africa 2011.
The prize is provided by African International Achievers [AfIA] Awards, which is a not for profit program managed by NILE African Development [NAD] a not-for-profit organization. The awards mission is to generate greater understanding of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to galvanize public support for their achievement, and to honor exceptional efforts to achieve the goals. the awarding event is held every year in May in London, UK in attendance of many African VIP and ambassadors..
Ghazala is the founder director of ASIFA Egypt, the regional African chapter of the International Association of Animation filmmakers (ASIFA) and assistant professor in animation department in Minia University in Egypt. He is active as a trainer of animation in different African countries, and as historian and reporter for many international publications about African animation. he represented the animation of Africa in many international events and festivals, for example, Stuttgart animation festival (Germany), Castelli Animati festival (Italy), Chilemonos festival (Chile), CICDAF animation festival (China), Durban film festival (South Africa). As a jury member, he represent the African animators in many international festivals in Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece, China, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Serbia, Chile, Capo Verde, and Egypt.
As artist, Ghazala made many awarded animated films, one of them "Honayn's Shoe" which won the prize of best animation in the African Movie Academy Awards (Nigeria 2010).
The African International Achievers [AfIA] Awards aim to recognize, grow and nurture exceptional African individuals, groups, companies, institutions etc to enable them to achieve the greatest possible impact in their communities and also inspire more African people to become engaged in improving and create positive stories about Africa. These Awards are to demonstrate that there are people within our communities still achieving and are good role models. These awards are intended as incentives for many people in reaching their future GOALS and aimed at addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and try to make it happen that they may shine.
