African Union celebrates 60 years of unity on Africa Day, despite huge challenges
The African continent this Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which became what is today known as the African Union (AU). The date has become Africa Day, celebrated in Africa and in the diaspora. But if the Union helped achieve a lot, many outline its shortcomings too.
The AU says that the organisation is celebrating the OAU/AU 60th Anniversary with “commemorative event featuring an opening ceremony, leadership statements, and a tribute to the founding fathers of the OAU.”
It also focuses on the role of women in particular, with lots of posts on their website and social media. "This Africa Day,” it posted on Twitter, “we remember the often-forgotten women of Africa’s independence movement instrumental in fighting apartheid, to end colonial rule, and encourage you to learn more about them."
Activities are marking the "historical moment", commemorated all over the African continent by the 55 member-countries of the AU.
They are expected, among other things, to "showcase major successes, milestones, challenges, and way forward under Agenda 2063."
The organisation "invites all African citizenry on the continent and in the diaspora to join in commemorative activities that reflect on the spirit of pan-Africanism," in celebrating 60 years of the continental organisation.
The AU encourages people in Africa, the diaspora and among allies to "use hashtag #OurAfricaOurFuture on social media to share images, videos and knowledge materials that showcase Africa driving it’s own development agenda and pride in our culture and herniate."
An organisation proudly responsible in helping with decolonisation and regional cooperation
The AU gathers 48 countries on the area of mainland Africa, plus six island nations considered as part of the continent. The organisation represents 1.3 billion people speaking 3,000 languages.
The first steps leading to the union began with the First Congress of Independent African States, held in Accra, Ghana on 15 April 1958. It was convened by Prime Minister of Ghana Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first African country to get its independence from the British Empire, in 1987.
The Congress welcomed representatives from Egypt (then a constituent part of the United Arab Republic, with Syria), Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon and of the host country Ghana. The Union of South Africa was not invited.
The conference showcased progress of liberation movements on the African continent in addition to symbolising the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.
On this anniversary day, Kwame’s daughter, Samia Nkrumah, a politician herself, told RFI that the AH “should rejoice”. She added: “I am an optimist. I also think that there is enough material in favour of this African unity. If we look at Ghana's proposal in 1963, when Kwame Nkrumah addressed African leaders and urged them to unite, not only economically but also politically, he spoke of the need for us to achieve a continental union, not to be satisfied with ratifying trade agreements, but to have a common vision, a common political basis to advance this unity. If it took us so long, it is because we did not focus on this common political vision.”
Five years after the congress, on 25 May 1963, representatives of thirty African nations met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted by Emperor Haile Selassie, to create a regional body: the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
The charter was signed by all attendees, with the exception of Morocco, due to the attendance of Mauritania and the ongoing border dispute between the two nations.
By then more than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence, mostly from imperial European states. And the OAU was founded to encourage the decolonisation of Southern Rhodesia, Angola, and Mozambique, and the end of apartheid in South Africa. Which eventually happened between the 1960s and early 1990s.
Later, in 2002, the OAU was replaced by the African Union, with headquarters still based in Addis Abeba in Ethiopia.
Since, two states joined the union: South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan on 9 July 2011, on 27 July 2011, and Morocco, on 31 January 2017.
Yet, the AU has faced many challenges and in the past few years powerlessness more conflicts.
Africa Day is celebrated all over the world
Since 1963, Africa Day has been celebrated both in Africa and around the world, on 25 May, with themes are set for each year's Day.
The AU says it's a day to "promote the use of culture and arts to demystify & de-stereotype narratives about Africa and to promote the authentic history of Africa and African life", notably through "exhibitions and galleries or museum on the history of the continent," but also to "combat stereotypes and harmful social norms", to support African women and to highlight African success.
Beyond public and international organisations, Africa Day can be celebrated by anyone, including many sport and youth organisation.
In Uganda, for instance, the city of Jinja invites people to gather to 'The Dining Area' of the Railway Museum, "for an evening of Afro beverages, snacks, a quiz & a pan-Africanist biopic screening".
Russian authorities published a statement claiming that their country "share with the peoples of the African countries the joy of celebrating the date that marks the anniversary of the liberation of the African continent from the colonial yoke," and that "the Russian Federation, a continuation State of the Soviet Union, played its role in the process of decolonisation."
And in France, cities likes Clermont-Ferrand offers a special programme for Africa Days 2023, including dinners with African food and film screenings.
Even companies joined in, like Google, which didn't miss the opportunity to create a special playlist and tweet it...
The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) tweeted that they celebrate Africa Day tomorrow by remembering "the African leaders that were created this day."
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), based in Paris, also celebrates Africa week, a series of a flagship events from its Africa Group, a body that "brings together the Member States of the African continent." The celebrations take place from 25 to 29 May.
NB. My friends from the Africa Centre in London also wrote:
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