chaka Khan honored, ‘Girlfriends‘ Creator Receives Icon Award in Celebratory Week for Black Women in Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA – A week of accolades for black women in entertainment culminated this week with honors for music icon Chaka Khan and television trailblazer Mara Brock Akil, alongside celebrations of Tembi Locke and Shoniqua Shandai. The events highlighted enduring legacies and emerging chapters for these influential figures.
the gatherings underscored a moment of recognition for Black women’s contributions to television, film, music, and literature, with a focus on friendship, growth, and artistic expression. These events also marked the launch of a new initiative dedicated to honoring women in the entertainment industry.
Mara Brock Akil, creator and producer of the groundbreaking series Girlfriends and The Game, received the Icon Award for 25 years of impactful storytelling.Accepting the honor, Akil stated the series was “profoundly moving…that series was more than a show, it was a love letter to friendship, womanhood, and the lives we lead together.” The party included appearances by Girlfriends stars Golden Brooks and Yvette Nicole Brown, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Amber Riley, and Hollywood Confidential creator Steve Jones. The event also served as the kickoff for ICONIC Girlfriends in TV, film & Media, a new signature dinner series from Steve Jones’ Hollywood Confidential designed to honor trailblazing women in entertainment.
Elsewhere, author Tembi Locke discussed her latest book, Someday Now, and her experience navigating life after children leave home at the Reframing Midlife: Having A Growth Mindset panel during the Flow Space Women’s health Summit in Los Angeles. Locke shared insights into her “re-nesting” journey.
Singer Shoniqua Shandai delivered a sold-out, full-length concert at the Apollo Music Café in Harlem, New york, with an introduction by Bevy Smith, marking a celebrated homecoming for the rising artist.
