admin
On 25 May 1963, leaders of 30 of the then 32 independent African countries signed the founding charter of the OAU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In 2002, the OAU established its own successor, the AU. Before then, 15 April, which marked the first Conference of Independent African States held in Ghana in 1958, was upheld as African Freedom Day.
Within years, the African Freedom Day was renamed African Liberation Day and the date changed from 15 April to 25 May following the establishment of the OAU. The number of independent African countries had risen from eight in 1958 to a little over 30 in 1963.
The name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity and for many years, Africa Day has been a celebration of just that, African unity.
The significance of Africa Day was to reflect on the aspirations of the African people and to break free from the chains of colonial bondage by means of a collective will.
It was meant to help raise political awareness around the world about the state of affairs in Africa and the self-determination of its people. The value of Africa Day is in the unity it enjoins. Importantly, Africa Day occasions a moment for reflection.
Africa is one stereotyped continent that, in some quarters, continues to evoke gruelling images of poverty, scenes of famine, and blighted tales of corruption and narratives of civil conflicts. Pessimists cannot imagine a predictable solution to the crisis presented by the sum of Africa’s misfortunes.
The most important decisions of the AU are made by its Assembly, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states.
The AU’s secretariat, the AU Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The AU is made up of both political and administrative bodies. It also has a representative body, the Pan African Parliament, which consists of 265 members elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states.
Today, the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa will be abuzz, as leaders and representatives of more than 60 countries will gather for the first Global African Diaspora Summit, which seeks to push for a change in the global attitude through building and maintaining strong democracies, good governance and advancement.
The summit, to be held under the theme “Towards the Realisation of a United and Integrated Africa and its Diaspora” is in collaboration with the AU and the South African government.
Political analyst Dr Lawton Hikwa said Africa Day is a day that was set aside by leaders within the then OAU to commemorate the unity of Africa.
He said it is a day to celebrate Africanness and being there for each other.
“Africa Day is a day that was set aside by leaders within the then OAU to commemorate the unity of Africa. It is a day to celebrate Africanness and being there for each other.
“The AU has had some milestones but it has also had some shortfalls. For example, the war in Libya and the regime change in Cote d’Ivoire. The AU could have been more proactive and intervened in time,” he said.
Dr Hikwa said a more civilised and procedural way could have been used to prevent the war in Libya and the regime change in Cote d’Ivoire.
“The AU can be more effective if it dealt decisively and in a timeous way with problems. There needs to be a unity of purpose. This can be achieved by going to international fora with one voice. If they showed unity of purpose, they would go a long way,” said Dr Hikwa.
Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said Africa Day is an important day to raise African consciousness, a day to foster identity.
“It is an important day to raise African consciousness and foster identity. Africa has a difficult past. It has been colonised and had its resources plundered.
“We had our revival when we got our independence. It is our visionaries who formed the AU to foster unity and the fortunes of the continent are on the rise,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said there has been economic growth in Africa, which has recorded a gross domestic product of six to seven percent per annum.
“It has a bigger middle class than India. There have also been new technologies that Africa can use to communicate with the rest of the world. There is a new sense of optimism.
“Africa is a rich land in terms of resources and everybody wants a piece of it. Market is king for Africa.
There are new sources of capital as well,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said because there is capital, infrastructure continues to improve as well.
“There is also intra-African trade were Comesa and Sadc trade. Africa can trade among itself and in turn foster unity,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said the unity of Africa has also forged a relationship with Africans in the diaspora, a view that coincides with the thrust of the AU this year.
“Africans in the Americas, the Caribbean and even in the United States now have a sense of identity.
They now have more direct contact as opposed to seeing Africa through other people’s eyes. These are all indicators of the growth of Africa,” he said.
Africans across the continent commemorate Africa Day in different ways.
In Zimbabwe, a variety of activities are lined up across the country including pageants such as Miss Africa Day and the much-awaited musical show by Nigerian sensation Flavour. Others however prefer to spend the day with their families.
Mrs Nomathemba Sibindi (32) said she would be spending the day at home with her family.
“It is a day to relax at home with my children and make the best of what we have. Maybe we will have a braai and just spend some quality time together,” she said.
Online Reporter