Halle Berry and Sinbad hosted the 1996 Essence Awards, honoring the achievements of African Americans. The show taped April 26, 1996 at Madison Square Garden. Honorees included Whoopi Goldberg, Kenneth “Babyface’ Edmonds, high school student Ketrick Jordan, Oseola McCarty, an elderly benefactor of the University of Southern Mississippi, Carol and Hurt Porter of Houston, founders of Kid-Care Inc. and Rep. Maxine Waters. Performers included Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, Bebe Winans, Chante Moore, D Angelo, Aretha Franklin, Cassandra Wilson, Patti LaBelle and Tony Rich