Africa's youngest International Arbiter and FIDE Instructor, James Kang'aru Mwangi, has made history by becoming the first chess sportsman to be honored with the Forty Under 40 Africa Award. This prestigious recognition was bestowed upon him in the Sports category for his significant contributions to chess development, particularly his work in nurturing young talent.

The Forty Under 40 Africa Awards ceremony took place on March 30, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

As the founder and CEO of Epitome School of Chess, James Kang'aru Mwangi has been instrumental in mentoring and nurturing the talents of numerous young chess enthusiasts. His leadership has resulted in producing many National Junior Chess Champions and several African chess medalists, including the 2021 Under 17 Girls Gold Medalist and Africa Champion, 2021 Under 13 Boys Bronze Medalist, and 2017 Boys Joint First and Bronze Medalist.

James currently works with schools and community-based organizations in an effort to reach out to and empower juniors and youth. His mission is to collaborate with these organizations to reach underprivileged youth in slums and rural areas.