TransAfrica Tribute to Belafonte

Flanked by family, Harry Belafonte accepted the first Nelson Mandela “Bridge to Freedom” award this weekend from the TransAfrica Forum, a Washington-based lobbying and education group for Africa and the Caribbean.

The dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Sunday night drew an impressive crowd and dignitaries from the business, entertainment and political worlds.

The award had been planned since last October, prior to Mandela’s release from prison--a freedom won partly because of American awareness of apartheid and subsequent economic sanctions, said TransAfrica executive director Randall Robinson.

“The American public came to understand that issue, and exerted pressure on the government to exert pressure on South Africa,” explained Robinson, who had met with Secretary of State James A. Baker III two weeks ago to discuss continuing sanctions against the government of President Frederik W. de Klerk.

Bill Cosby, the master of ceremonies who created a media panic when he arrived with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, observed of Sunday night’s festivities: “Let’s loosen up and have a good time. This is not a stuff-o occasion.”

Added Cosby, “On the day when Nelson Mandela was released, Randall Robinson got more time on NBC than I got.”

Among the guests were: Belafonte’s wife, Julie, and children Gina, Shari and David; Belafonte’s longtime friend Sidney Poitier, who presented the award.

Also there were: Mayor Tom Bradley; Assemblywoman Maxine Waters; singers Lou Rawls and Gladys Knight; comedian Byron Allen; entertainer Pia Zadora; actors Lou Gossett Jr., Gary Coleman, Mike Farrell, Shelley Fabares, Ed Asner, Chevy Chase, Jasmine Guy, Roger Moore, James Garner, Bernie Casey and Alfre Woodard; boxing champion Buster Douglas; Irving and Mary Lazar; Marvin and Barbara Davis; Tony Thomopoulos and Cristina Ferrare; Lew and Edie Wasserman; impresario Ken Kragen; Tom Pollock; Jerry Buss; and rap group Kid ‘n Play.

Cosby drew a strong reaction when he mentioned the American Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, which was drafted “over the veto of President Ronald Reagan.” Reacting to hisses from the crowd, he admonished them, “Don’t hiss when you’ve won.”

Major sponsors of the evening included Sugar Ray Leonard, who donated $250,000, and the Reebok Corp., which gave $375,000.

TransAfrica organizers said that the evening would raise more than $1 million for continued lobbying and to create a collection of information on Africa in Washington.

Entertainment was provided by Hugh Masekela, the South African-born trumpeter, and Themba, a six-member a capella choir of young South Africans.

The audience also gave a standing ovation to Lindewe Mabuza, chief U.S. representative from the African National Congress.

Mabuza reminded the crowd that Mandela--like other black South Africans--might be out of jail, but he can neither vote nor own land in the country.

He called for continued sanctions against the government of South Africa, saying, “As Nelson Mandela puts it, why turn off the heat now when the water’s about to boil?”