Suzanne "Africa" Engo is officially ranked one of the top 40 most influential youth AIDS activists in the world as proclaimed by MTV Networks and the Kaiser Family Foundation, who put her face on the Times Square MTV jumbotron on World AIDS Day. "Africa" came to the United States as the daughter of the Cameroon Ambassador to the United Nations and while exploring her new life was reminded by her activist Mother that young children like her were beginning to be orphaned by a disease called AIDS. "And what should we do about that?" Her Mother asked. "HELP!" A twelve year old Africa said and she hasn't stopped since.
"Africa" founded the New York AIDS Film Festival, the first film festival on HIV/AIDS in the world, as proclaimed by the United Nations. With the support of Former SG H.E Kofi and Mrs. Nane Annan, Africa Engo launched the now 6 year old festival which is transitioning to becoming the New York AIDS Museum. Africa Engo was one of the co-founders of the African Action on AIDS and also has co-operated on exposing and promoting many celebrity media initiatives and films that are AIDS related including:
- Lucy Liu's Three Needles project
- HBOs Angels in America
- Ashley Judd & Youth AIDS
- Jack Valenti - Friends of the Global Fund
- MTV Transit, Amfar, and more
She is one of 103 prominent AIDS activists named on Wikepedia. Africa Engo has collaborated in her work on AIDS with the Magic Johnson Foundation/ Abbott, MTV Networks, HBO, BET, New York University, GMHC, The City of New York and most prominently the United Nations (UNAIDS) among countless others. So it is no surprise that, after her noted speech, I am dying of AIDS Activism, given last year at the United Nations for World AIDS Day, when she announced she would be losing 100 pounds as well as running from New York (United Nations) to Chicago (Oprah Winfrey Studios) to remind people what is happening in her continent and that help is still needed, as well as encourage voting as she is a newly american citizen.
Africa Engo will be promoting her AIDS Activist Uniform which consists of Bono/Shriver Product (RED) brands and Russell Simmons Def Empowerment Fund Green Bracelet. The entire initiative leading up to World AIDS Day at the United Nations will be documented for a film. It is Africa Engo's wish to mirror a 100 year old route that was run by the YMCA boys in 1908 from New York to Chicago.
She has already completed her goal of loosing 100 pounds on Oprahs Best life Diet and is two weeks from completing her run from New York to Chicago ending November 17th.
On top of running, her company's Suzanne Africa Engo is the bloggerspondent for Cause Celebrity News on THINK.MTV.COM she is also an Ireporter Superstar on CNN.COM where her short film New American Votes her Cause AIDS: Suzanne Africa Engo on the road for Obama was selected as a finalist in the CNN Online Film Festival where she has interviewed countless celebrities and charities about their philanthropic efforts, most recently she interviewed the new Miss USA, DMC from RUN DMC, Governor Paterson and many more.
Television Appearances:
- Suzanne Africa Engo on NBC
- Suzanne Africa Engo on FOX
- Suzanne Africa Engo on ABC (I)
- Suzanne Africa Engo on ABC (II)
