Culturally Bound CEO Chidima Blyden Convenes Key Partners to Spotlight African Heritage and Diaspora Influence at UNGA80

New York, NY — During the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week (UNGA80), Culturally Bound CEO Chidima Blyden partnered with The Africa Center and Afreximbank to host a private screening of Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds and underscore diaspora culture as a driver of global cooperation. Part of the Future Africa Forum 2025 and presented in partnership with SpiralH, the event celebrated the enduring influence of Africa and its diaspora.

“Our work at Culturally Bound is about showing that heritage is not just history — it is a living strategy for building resilience and cooperation,” said Chidima Blyden, CEO of Culturally Bound. “The YorubaWorlds story reminds us that culture can guide economies, diplomacy, and communities toward a shared and sustainable future.”

Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, by award-winning Haitian American director Raynald Leconte, is a documentary that honors the untold journeys of Yorùbá people and countless African peoples who endured the earliest and most brutal transatlantic crossings from Africa to Brazil, beginning in 1533. The film features Prof. Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature and frames Yorùbá culture as a “river that never rests,” shaping Afro-Brazilian history and global Afro-culture across generations.

The event brought together senior government officials, cultural advocates, film enthusiasts, and influential members of the African and international diplomatic communities. Guests gathered to celebrate global African heritage and to reflect on how culture and storytelling serve as bridges between nations and peoples. 

The evening’s program opened with remarks from Ambassador Martin Kimani, President & CEO of The Africa Center, who emphasized Africa’s inseparable ties with its global diaspora. Cultural leaders including NYC Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo and Moriam Ajaga, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Art and Culture, reinforced the power of culture as a foundation for Africa’s continued global influence. Reflections from Brazil’s Deputy Consul for Cultural Affairs, Nara Cardosa Barato, highlighted the shared cultural and diplomatic ties uniting Africa and its diaspora.

Blyden joined a distinguished panel alongside filmmaker and CEO of SpiralH, Raynald Leconte; Head of Strategic Relationships for NVH Studios, Elis Clementino; and CEO of Sootchy and The Pacific Group, David Adefeso. The conversation, moderated by CEO of Yoba Development and three-time NAACP Image award-winner Dr. Malik Yoba, explored how African heritage drives creativity and economic growth. “When we honor our heritage and tell our stories on our own terms, we unlock the imagination and investment needed to build Africa’s future,” said Blyden.

The film discussion demonstrated how cultural diplomacy thrives at the intersection of community engagement and high-level diplomacy, with Yoruba heritage providing a framework for unity and resilience across the diaspora. Panelists discussed how in a rapidly changing global environment, cultural heritage fosters trust and unity, as well as economic and cultural cooperation across borders.  

The event reinforced Blyden’s vision that sustainable cultural initiatives thrive when grassroots practitioners and diplomatic leaders collaborate, with cultural heritage serving as a foundation for African-led solutions to global challenges. The evening concluded with a call to action: to honor, protect, and amplify the voice of the diaspora. Through its participation at UNGA80, Culturally Bound underscored its mission to advance cultural solutions while reaffirming its commitment to celebrating Africa’s legacy and building bridges that fuel its economic and creative futures.

For more information about Amazing Grace:YorubaWorlds and Raynald Leconte’s work, please visit SpiralH.For more information about The Africa Center, please visit theafricacenter.org

Culturally Bound's Mission

As the CEO of Culturally Bound, an advisory firm specializing in Africa-focused  business, development, and security through harnessing and leveraging the global African Diaspora, Blyden brings deep expertise to help American businesses navigate the complexities of cross-cultural partnerships. The firm serves as a bridge between American business acumen and African market opportunities, ensuring that partnerships are not only profitable but also culturally sensitive and sustainable. 

To learn more about how Culturally Bound can help your business explore opportunities in African markets, contact us today. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through every step of the international expansion process.