Pretoria – The series of events lined up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) is expected to provide a platform to promote social cohesion, build a common identity and a sense of belonging for all people of the continent.
The activities aligned to Africa Day celebrations on Saturday include the Scramble for Africa Conference on the international academic community from the continent and diaspora, which is deliberating on matters affecting the African continent. The conference started on Monday.
On Wednesday, a gala dinner pitched as a networking session with African embassies will be in held in South Africa, while Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile will unveil an exhibition on “Cultural Brokerage: Africa Imagined (Act1)”.
On Saturday, President Jacob Zuma will unveil an artwork as South Africa’s cultural contribution to the 50th anniversary of the African Union, previously the Organisation of African Unity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This year, the Department of Arts and Culture, City of Tshwane and the Africa Institute of South Africa celebrate the 50th anniversary of the OAU under the theme “2013, Year of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”.
The anniversary will facilitate and celebrate African narratives of past, present and future that promote a Pan-Africanist spirit.
It will enthuse and energise South Africans to see themselves as part of an African movement for change.
It also enables South Africans to acknowledge the role of the OAU in bringing an end to apartheid.
Minister Mashatile said: “As the government, we are particularly interested in pursuing a social cohesion programme that will help the people of the country and continent to redefine their social, political and cultural identity in a manner that will give them a sense of belonging and ownership to determine their own future and destiny.
“We are proud to support an initiative that showcases, develops and nurtures Africa's rich cultural heritage.”
Building African unity
The African Union, which has 54 member states, brought together the continent of Africa to collectively address its challenges, such as armed conflict, social upheaval, climate change, and poverty.
It has been 50 years since the emergence of the OAU and a decade since the formation of the African Union (AU).
It seeks to promote an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa that is people centred and represents a dynamic force on the world stage.
Africa Day will reflect the key lessons of the past 50 years and acknowledge the contributions of founders of the OAU and Pan Africanism in all countries, regions and the African Diaspora.
This commemoration enables the continent to take stock of Africa today, its assets, capabilities, opportunities and challenges and to look forward and define the Pan-African values that will underpin the African agenda over the next five decades.
Significantly during the world economic crisis, Africa’s economies continued to expand, and growth forecasts remain positive.
However, the benefits are not reaching all Africans. Poverty, hunger, and disparities in health, education and social participation, are preventing Africans from fully realising their full potential.
Fifty years after the formation of the OAU, Africa is on the rise. At the same time, the continent is aware of the challenges it faces, and of the need to use this opportunity to rejuvenate its mission, through “Pan Africanism and the African renaissance”. - SAnews.gov.za
