As the NBA continues to develop its interest in Africa, the league announced that “The Godfather of Harlem” star Forest Whitaker joined NBA Africa as a strategic investor.
“I’m thrilled to become a strategic investor in NBA Africa as it plans to grow basketball’s presence across the continent,” said Whitaker in a statement.
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The Whitaker Touch
Whitaker is an American actor, producer, director, humanitarian and activist. He also is a Golden Globe, British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards winner.
He also won a 2006 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of former Uganda president Idi Amin in the British historical drama “The Last King of Scotland.”
NBA Africa today announced that global economist and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Dambisa Moyo and Academy Award-winning actor and social activist Forest Whitaker have joined NBA Africa as strategic investors.
Link: https://t.co/hSZcEFVLcX #nbaafrica pic.twitter.com/WsRPKhbYIv— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) December 21, 2021
“The game of basketball is incredibly inspirational, and my decade working in Africa has shown me how sports can be a transformative method of helping to foster peace, as well as an economic engine for socioeconomic development in areas of conflict. I deeply believe in the league’s commitment to youth empowerment and am so excited to work alongside the NBA Africa family.”
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For Whitaker, it is an extension of his activism, especially on the continent of Africa. For the NBA, it is a continuation of the league’s all-star line-up of supporters, such as former President Barack Obama, who joined NBA Africa in July as a strategic partner.
NBA Africa adds global economist and author Dr. Dambisa Moyo and legendary actor Forest Whitaker as strategic investors. NBA Africa conducts the NBA’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League, and is focused on having a presence in priority African markets. pic.twitter.com/8Uf3Nt5rKL
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 21, 2021
Whitaker is the CEO of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote the values of peace, reconciliation and social development within communities that have been impacted by conflict and violence.
Through WPDI, Whitaker has developed the Youth Peacemaker Network, a global peacebuilding network with hubs in South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Mexico and the U.S., which will soon expand to the Democratic Republic of Congo and France.
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Prioritizing Africa
WPDI is active in sports through its Peace Through Sports program, which combines sports practice and tournaments with workshops and events aimed at disseminating values of tolerance, nonviolence and respect for human rights.
Forest Whitaker Joins Lineup Of Leaders Investing In NBA Africa pic.twitter.com/l9pk43QXtl
— Wend (@WendFinancial) December 22, 2021
“We are delighted to welcome Dambisa and Forest to the NBA Africa family,” said NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams. “They are both accomplished humanitarians whose expertise, resources and guidance will add tremendous value to our existing investor group. We thank them for their commitment and belief in our efforts to use basketball as an economic growth engine and as a vehicle to positively impact the lives of youth across the continent.”
NBA Africa conducts the NBA’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League. BAL features the top-12 club teams from 12 African countries and will tip-off its second season in March 2022.
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The NBA’s Strategic Play
Additional strategic investors in NBA Africa include former NBA players Junior Bridgeman, Luol Deng (South Sudan), Grant Hill, Ian Mahinmi (France; ties to Benin), Dikembe Mutombo (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Joakim Noah (links to Cameroon).
The NBA has a decades’-long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010.
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Since then, the league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through social responsibility, grassroots and elite development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, the launch of the BAL and more.
Now Whitaker adds his star power into the African basketball evolution.
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