An award-winning star of hit TV show ‘Orange is the New Black’ will be the special guest at Self Help Africa’s gala Change-Makers’ Ball in New York, next month.

Uzo Aduba – star of the acclaimed ‘Orange is the New Black’ – will join up to 600 guests at the 5th annual black tie event in Manhattan on Friday, 14th November next.

Aduba, who plays Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren in the Netflix prison comedy drama, will receive the annual Spirit of Africa Award at the event.

Born in Massachusetts to Nigerian parents, Aduba – whose full-name Uzomaka means ‘the road is good’ in her parents native language – maintains strong connections to the African continent.

The actress said she was honoured to be named recipient of Self Help Africa’s Spirit of Africa Award for 2014. “By fostering an environment that teaches a (wo)man to fish, Self Help Africa helps to create self-sustaining households, directly impacting on generations still unborn. I feel truly blessed to be recognised by this organisation,” she added.

The Spirit of Africa Award recognises the talent, creativity and enterprise emerging from modern Africa, including from members of the African diaspora. The 2013 winner was Marcus Samuelsson, the Ethiopian-born chef and restaurateur.

Up to 600 guests are expected to attend this year’s 5th annual New York Change-Maker’s Ball, held to support the organization’s work with rural entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa.