This weekend, CNN International’s acclaimed magazine programme, African Voices Changemakers, proudly sponsored by Globacom, welcomes the illustrious Djimon Gaston Hounsou, a Hollywood icon of African descent.

Born in Benin Republic in April 1960, the accomplished actor will engage in a captivating conversation with Larry Madowo, sharing his remarkable story and discussing how the Djimon Hounsou Foundation, launched in New York in 2019, serves as a bridge reconnecting the Black diaspora with its heritage.

Djimon Gaston Hounsou, a Hollywood icon

Hounsou became a thespian when he acted in the 1990 film titled Without You, I’m Nothing from which he has gained recognition for his outstanding roles in several other films including Amistad (1997); Gladiator (2000) and a French film titled Forces speciales (2011) among other great works. His talents have earned him the Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in Drama and the NAACP Image Award both in 1998 and for his role in Amistad. He also got the Academy Awards as Best Supporting Actor in 2004 as well as an Outstanding Performance Award for Blood Diamond in 2007.

His foundation has been at the forefront of empowering Africans through his philanthropic initiatives like Run Richmond 16.19. He has successfully bridged history, culture, and community in a mission to unite the African diaspora and honour African heritage.

African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30a.m. and will be repeated same day at noon. Further repeats will be broadcast on Sunday at 4.30a.m. and 7p.m.; Monday 4a.m. Repeat editions will come up in the same broadcast schedule next week from Saturday