9 MARCH 2024 | 19:30 | PARKLANE RESORT | LIMASSOL, CYPRUS

CYDIA AWARDS® 2024

The Cyprus Diaspora Forum® 2024 concluded with a spectacular gala dinner and the inaugural CYDIA Awards®, welcoming more than 350 distinguished guests for an unforgettable evening celebrating global Cypriot excellence. Guests were greeted by the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra, before enjoying a vibrant entertainment programme inspired by Cyprus' rich cultural heritage, featuring traditional music and dance by Christos Shiakallis. The evening also included outstanding performances by Andrew Lambrou, Cyprus' Eurovision 2023 representative, acclaimed Greek Cypriot singer Marilia Charalambides, Konstantinos Michaeloudes, and Vasiliki Hadjiadamou, accompanied by Pavlos Michaelides and his orchestra. A special guest appearance by Silia Kapsis, Cyprus' Eurovision 2024 representative, captivated the audience with a moving ballad rendition of her song Liar.

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The evening's centrepiece was the presentation of the first-ever CYDIA Awards®, honouring exceptional Cypriots of the diaspora across sixteen award categories. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to internationally acclaimed Cypriot "Icon Hunter" Tasoula Hadjitofi, recognising her extraordinary work as a global advocate for human rights, religious freedom, international humanitarian law, and the protection of cultural heritage.

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The ceremony was attended by ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, business leaders, and distinguished guests from Cyprus and abroad, while thousands more followed the event through digital platforms around the world. In her inspiring acceptance speech, Tasoula Hadjitofi called for the global Cypriot diaspora to harness its collective influence through economic and security diplomacy to strengthen Cyprus' international voice and redefine its global narrative. Her powerful address received a prolonged standing ovation and left a lasting impression on the audience, inspiring many attendees—including members of the international community living in Cyprus—to express their commitment to supporting her mission and contributing to the preservation and promotion of Cyprus' cultural heritage.

celebrating global excellence