Titled “Rooted in Greatness: Celebrating Women of African Descent,” the 5th edition of the virtual awareness initiative promises to be a defining chapter for the organisation. It will honour the identities, legacies, and contributions of 31 phenomenal women across the diaspora, whose visions continue to lead, heal, build, innovate, and inspire, all while navigating the beautiful complexities of identity, legacy, and belonging.
“I’ve been speaking on the continent of Africa since 2012. I’ve coached thousands from the continent, including celebrities and notable figures. I’m honoured and humbled to be asked to join such a momentous occasion that further fosters relationships between citizens of the motherland and the diaspora,” Hodges shared.
A historical yet under-recognised occasion, Africa’s Women’s Day was made official in July 1962 during the inaugural conference of the Pan-African Women’s Organisation (PAWO), held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As part of efforts to reignite its significance in modern times, this annual virtual awareness campaign aims to remind the world of the remarkable contributions of Africa’s unsung heroines, past and present, across leadership, advocacy, innovation, and culture.
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Over the years, the celebration has featured powerful voices whose insights and experiences have shaped the times. Tera Carissa Hodges will be joining a long list of previous distinguished guests, including Her Excellency Joyce Banda (First Female President of Malawi), Hon. Maria Das Neves (First Female Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe), Her Excellency Catherine Samba-Panza (First Female President of the Central African Republic), Hon. Grace Kabayo (Secretary of the Pan African Women’s Organization, PAWO), Dr. Ngozi Ofionjo-Iweala (Director General of the World Trade Organization), among many other trailblazers.
The organisers of Africa’s Women’s Day Virtual Celebration shared about their fifth celebration: “We understand that for many, ‘African descent,’ can be a deeply personal, and even a complicated conversation to have. History has created emotional, physical, and generational distance, and not everyone feels connected to a continent that feels more symbolic than personal.
Our goal is not to label, but to connect, to create a space that honours the shared thread of greatness that runs through our global African heritage.”
With Tera Carissa Hodges at the helm of Africa’s Women’s Day 2025, she continues to stand tall–a lighthouse for women who aspire to be great–and affirm her role in nurturing and amplifying the voices of tomorrow’s women.
About Tera Carissa Hodges
Tera Carissa Hodges is internationally recognized for her work as a faith-based empowerment speaker and certified life coach, touching the lives of women worldwide. Hodges has been featured in Essence, Yahoo Finance, Bacon Magazine, and Hype Magazine. She has also served as a moderator for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, presiding as a keynote speaker for events sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and JPMorgan.
As a thriving entrepreneur and a brilliant example of Black Excellence, Hodges has headlined gatherings that have attracted women from more than 17 countries. This pull has led her to be a source of inspiration for thousands of women: celebrities, politicians, and business leaders from Fortune 100 and 500 companies across over 25 countries. To date, Hodges has received over 10,000 testimonies from people she has impacted, many of which she shares on her outreach and empowerment page on Facebook.