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UK PSYCHOLOGIST AND AUTHOR WINS TWO BLACK EXCELLENCE AWARDS IN DUBAI
UK born Psychologist, author and photojournalist Delroy Constantine-Simms, is the winner of two Black Excellence Awards (Middle East)
The inaugural Black Excellence Awards organized by Marsha Fry, the CEO and founder of online and print publication “ Out and About Magazine .
The Awards ceremony took place on June 4th 2021 at the luxurious Sofitel, Palm Resort Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The awards consisted of 18 categories, ranging from lifestyle coaching and education to inventors and aviation professionals.
The ceremony was hosted by former Dubai TV presenter Layne Redman, featured performances by Afrobeat musician MKO, Singers Kande Sill, Khandice Taylor, Poet Samantha Rodgers, and guest speaker Omar Tom, Founder and Managing Partner, Dukkan Media.
Constantine-Simms’s awards were presented to him by wealthy Emirati Businessman Mr. Yaqoob Al Ali for the following categories.
1. The Out and About Photographer Award, in acknowledgment for his work in photojournalism, on contemporary social political issues, street art, sports and entertainment in the Middle East, Cuba, Brazil and the USA.
2. The Out and About Author Award, after writing and editing two consequential books, #Take A Knee Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, and The Brazilian Covid Catastrophe.
Constantine-Simms says, “I am extremely happy to be the recipient of these awards. I was initially nominated for three awards, unfortunately, I lost out to my Canadian Colleague, Donavan Patterson, but just to be nominated is an honour, but to win two awards, I am ecstatic and extremely happy, not only for me, but for the people that have supported me over the years, especially Dale Williams, Ivor Patterson, Maureen Drackett-Fuller, and the Briscoe, Simms and Dixon family world-wide, and my peers from Wolverhampton, and all the staff at the Phoenix Newspaper and Blacknet.
He goes on to say,
“When I first arrived in the Middle East, I was very wary of the usual stereotypes of Islamic culture, but having lived in Dubai for a few years, you quickly realise that in the UAE anything is possible. The UAE has over 200 nationalities living here. It’s a place where black professionals thrive, and are succeeding, I am happy to be part of the community journey of professional success. A success that’s been pioneered by groups such as the UAE AFRICA Networking Group, Woment Talk and the online website AFRIKANEKT.
Leisa Grace Wilson Editorial Director, Teach Middle East Magazine, says,
“Black excellence is evident in nearly every facet of life in the United Arab Emirates. The Black Excellence Gala and Awards is a celebration of the indelible mark that Black people have been making on all sectors of society, across the Middle East”.
Garfield Kerr CEO, Mokha 1450 says
“The Black Excellence Gala and Awards represents an idea that is long overdue. The event proves what many of us in disparate fields in the UAE, and the Middle East, at large have always known that there are many people of colour in this region at the pinnacle of the industry and the creative arts that are worthy of recognition.”
Constantine-Simms is currently a freelance journalist and psychologist pursuing part-time study at the University of Oxford, while running his book publishing company Think Doctor Publications and author agency Black Book Collective with Christopher Sill and acclaimed author Kande Summers.
Photo Credits: Maureen Drackett-Fuller of Moza Designs
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