The 2014 Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award goes to Mrs. Jane Magigita Milyango

 The 2014 Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award will be given to the Executive Director of Equality for Growth (EfG), Mrs. Jane Magigita Milyango, in recognition of her tireless efforts advocating for women’s rights. 

According to a media advisory released today, the United States Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Virginia Blaser will present the award to Mrs  Milyango on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the U.S. Embassy  at Msasani, along Old Bagamoyo  Road in Dar es Salaam.

Officials  from the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, Former MLK Drum Major for Justice Award recipients and their families as well as members of the Press have been invited.

The U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam annually presents the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award in commemoration of the life and achievements of Dr. King, and to honor a Tanzanian whose life embodies the life and legacy of Dr. King. 

Other Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice award recipients have included:  Hon Joseph Sinde Warioba – 1999, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (posthumously) – 2000, Hon. Francis Nyalali – 2002, Prof. Geoffrey R.V. Mmari – 2003, Mama Justa Mwaituka – 2004, Ambassador Gertrude Mongella - 2005, Dr. Salim A. Salim – 2006, Mr. Rashid M. Kawawa – 2007, Mr. Reginald Mengi – 2008, The People of the Albinism Community of Tanzania – 2009, Dr. Marina Alois Njelekela – 2010, the Zanzibar's Committee of Six - 2011, Retired Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani – 2012 and Dr. Esther Daniel Mwaikambo - 2013. 

In a sermon on February 4, 1968, Dr. King said, “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice, and say that I was a drum major for peace.  I was a drum major for righteousness.  And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” 

Dr. King was ordained in 1948 at the age of 19 and received his PhD in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.  Upon completion of his studies at Boston University, he accepted the call from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where he served as pastor from September 1954 through November 1959.  He resigned to move to Atlanta, Georgia to direct the activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and serve as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church.