by Thinus Ferreira
Britain's Prince William and a phalanx of international stars will be in Cape Town on 6 November when the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards takes place for the first time in Africa with celebrities like Heidi Klum, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Nina Dobrev, Robert Irwin and others attending where the Ndlovu Youth Choir will perform.
Bonang Matheba and American actor and singer Billy Porter are the co-hosts of the 4th Earthshot Prize Awards which will take place under extremely strict security measures on 6 November in Cape Town as part of Earthshot Week which starts on 4 November in the city.
The Earthshot Prize was founded by Prince William in 2020 and this year's awards show will announce five winners out of 15 finalists from six continents who will each win £1 million (R22,9 million). The ceremony will be shown on YouTube worldwide and on MultiChoice's DStv across Africa.
The Earthshot Prize Awards will have a green carpet with a live green carpet pre-show which will be live-streamed globally on The Eartshot Prize's YouTube channel on the evening. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and rapper Moozlie will be the green carpet show's hosts.
Besides the Ndlovu Youth Choir who will sing with Lebo M, the Earthshot Prize Awards will include performances and appearances from artists across East, West, Northern, Southern, and South
Africa.
International stars set to appear include the Nigerian singer-songwriter Davido, the Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz, the South African composer Lebo
M, as well as producer Uncle Waffles. Actor Tobe Nwigwe and Canadian model
and beauty entrepreneur Winnie Harlow will also attend.
The five categories in which prize money will be awarded include "Protect and restore nature", "Clean our air", "Revive our oceans", "Build a waste-free world" and "Fix our climate".
Nomzamo Mbatha will act as host for Earthshot Week, together with Robert Irwin, the Australian conservationist and wildlife photographer who is the son of the late Steve Irwin.
Robert Irwin says he is "very excited to
help bring this year's Earthshot Week to life in Cape Town", with Mbatha saying "There are so many inspiring Earthshot innovators
who are dedicating their lives to repairing our planet, and I can’t wait to help
share their stories".
Hannah Jones, Earthshot Prize CEO, says "Our annual global awards are designed with
intentionality, aiming to breakthrough into youth and mainstream culture, and
to become a once-a-year 'date in the calendar' for infusing urgent optimism
into the global environmental narrative".
"Together with partners from the arts,
entertainment, sport and music, we are united with one aim: By showcasing Earthshot winners and finalists, can we spark young people's imaginations and invite them
to imagine a future in which they too could become an Earthshot winner?"
