Kwevi Quaye was a regular at The White House Briefings on Economic and Business Development for Africa. He was appointed by the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to co-ordinate the 1996 “Food For All” campaign in commemoration of “The World Food Day”, and he was also responsible for the development of Essence Magazine’s brand extension properties that later became part of the
Time-Warner acquisition of Essence Communications in 2004. During his producer years, in collaboration with Essence Magazine, he produced such notable acts as Mary J Blige, Sisqo, Eric Benet, Prince, Celine Dion, Luther Vandross and other international artists. Quaye created the critically acclaimed and award winning Diaspora Showcase, an annual event that features the music, food, dance and fashion of Africa. The showcase format also provides visibility to charitable and humanitarian organizations that have made significant contributions to Africa. Quaye’s distinguished career outside of entertainment include coaching the Sistema Women’s Soccer Club, and the creation of the Sistema Soccer Classic tournament that attracted over 52 teams globally to Tucson, Arizona. Sistema Soccer Club players also represented the U.S.A. at the 1991 first Women’s World Cup in China, and the Olympics in 1996. Prior to the 1991 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation appointed Mr. Quaye to co-ordinate the final exhibition Games of the U.S. Women’s National Team in Santa Barbara, California. The exhibition games featured women’s soccer household names such as Mia Hamm, Carin Jennings, Brandi Chastain, Joy Biefeld and Julie Foudy. Quaye is an architecture graduate from the University of Arizona, a recipient of numerous awards, an art dealer who managed the career of his brother, Mr. Tayo Tekovi Quaye (whose works are in several notable collections globally, including the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., and Victoria Albert Museum, London, England). He served as a board member of the Ethiopian Children’s Fund, the Ghana Education Project, Tucson Jazz Society,and member of Technoserve, an organization that helps entrepreneurial men and women in poor areas of the developing world to build businesses that create income, opportunity and economic growth for their families, their communities and their countries
