BAL Ubuntu Award

The Basketball Africa League Ubuntu Award is an annual Basketball Africa League (BAL) award that recognises a player who participated in the BAL and who best represents the league through his efforts in the community. The name "Ubuntu" is taken from the word in the Nguni and Bantu languages, symbolizes essential human virtues, such as compassion, respect and humanity.[1] Along with giving out the individual award, the BAL donates to a social organisation of choice by the winning player. The donation was originally $5,000, and was increased to $10,000 from the 2026 season, when Qatar Foundation became the trophy's presenting partner.[1][2]

Winners

Season Player Nationality Club Merit Nominees Ref
2021 Hicham Benayad-Cherif  Algeria Algeria GS Pétroliers Benayad-Cherif founded the Elite Student Athlete Academy in Algeria, where he has developed basketball camps and training programs for 800 children since 2018. N/a [1]
2022 Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza  Rwanda Rwanda REG At Club Rafiki, Jean Jacques helped children and young adults to integrate into society through developmental basketball programming and competitions. Gerson Gonçalves
Brice Eyaga Bidias		 [3]
2023 Tonny Drileba  Uganda Uganda City Oilers As an assistant coach for Angels Basketball Club – a professional women’s team that competes in the Ugandan Basketball League – Drileba participated in the club’s community outreach projects across the country, including youth clinics and life-skills seminars at Nakivale Refugee Camp in Western Uganda. Stéphane Konaté
Ehab Amin
Ibrahima Kalil Fofana		 [4]
2024 Alkaly Ndour  Senegal Senegal AS Douanes Ndour is recognized for founding a basketball tournament in his Dakar neighborhood of Bopp, involving nearly 250 amateur players. He also conducts youth basketball camps and supports the unemployed, promoting community engagement and peace. – [5]
2025 Joel Almeida  Cape Verde Cape Verde Kriol Star Almeida organised basketball camps and clinics that reached more than 100 aspiring players and coaches over the past year, including from underserved communities in his native Cape Verde. – [6]
2026 Ariel Okall Koranga  Kenya Kenya Nairobi City Thunder Okall Koranga founded and leads a women’s basketball initiative in Kenya that combines high-level training with mentorship, life-skills and mental-health support, reaching more than 300 players from diverse backgrounds, including participants from the deaf basketball community. Joshua Ozabor
Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia
Hasheem Thabeet		 [7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hichem Benayad-Cherif Receives Inaugural Basketball Africa League Ubuntu Award". nba.africa-newsroom.com. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "BAL secures Qatar Foundation partnership". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (16 March 2023). "Nshobozwa awarded BAL's Ubuntu community support award". The New Times. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Uganda's Tonny Drileba awarded 2023 Basketball Africa League Ubuntu Trophy". FIBA.basketball. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. ↑ Mugabo, Annet (25 May 2024). "Alkaly Ndour to Receive 2024 BAL Ubuntu Trophy for Community Impact". KT PRESS. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  6. ↑ "Libya's Alahli Tripoli Crowned 2025 Basketball Africa League Champions". bal.africa-newsroom.com. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Nairobi City Thunder forward wins prestigious BAL award for his positive impact on community". Mozzart Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
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