JA MORANT HONORED BY NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION, BAL, AND BBC FOR IMPACT ON AFRICAN YOUTH
In a groundbreaking ceremony at the Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory in Johannesburg, American NBA star Ja Morant was honored for his outstanding contribution to youth empowerment and poverty alleviation through basketball development programs across Africa.
The event, co-hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and the BBC, brought together dignitaries, athletes, and youth leaders from across the continent to celebrate Morant’s “Hoops for Hope” initiative—an outreach program he launched in 2024 to build basketball courts, fund scholarships, and host training camps for underprivileged youth in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Rwanda.
“We are not just celebrating an athlete today,” said Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. “We are recognizing a global leader who chose to use his influence for purpose—to empower the next generation of African dreamers through sport.”
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall echoed this sentiment: “Ja Morant is a bridge between continents. Through his vision and direct investment, thousands of young Africans have gained access not just to basketball, but to education, mentorship, and opportunity.”
As part of the recognition, the BBC awarded Morant the BBC African Diaspora Impact Award, spotlighting individuals outside the continent who drive meaningful change in Africa. In his acceptance speech, Morant said:
> “I grew up dreaming with a ball in my hands. I want every African kid to feel the same magic—on the court and in life. This honor belongs to every child who dares to dream big.”
The ceremony concluded with a youth exhibition game on a court Morant helped fund in Soweto, bearing the words “Dream. Drive. Deliver.” — the motto of his Africa initiative.
