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| Africa Day | |
|---|---|
| Name | Africa Day |
| Observed by | African Union; formerly Organisation of African Unity |
| Date | 25 May |
| Scheduling | same day each year |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First | 25 May 1963 |
| Significance | Founding of the Organisation of African Unity |
Africa Day Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963 and the ongoing work of the African Union to promote continental unity, development, and cooperation. Observances occur across Addis Ababa, Accra, Cairo, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and in diasporic communities in London, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Annual themes often align with initiatives from the African Union Commission, United Nations, African Development Bank, Economic Community of West African States, and regional blocs like the Southern African Development Community.
Africa Day traces its origin to the 1963 inaugural summit that established the Organisation of African Unity in Addis Ababa with leaders including Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Julius Nyerere, Modibo Keïta, and delegates from newly independent states such as Ghana, Sudan, Senegal, Nigeria, and Algeria. The founding charter addressed decolonization, territorial integrity, and solidarity amid struggles involving Algerian War of Independence, Portuguese Colonial War, Mau Mau Uprising, and liberation movements like the African National Congress and Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania. During the Cold War, continental debates referenced actors such as the Soviet Union, United States, Non-Aligned Movement, and figures like Kwame Nkrumah and Haile Selassie over alignment and development strategies. After the OAU's transition to the African Union in 2002 during summits involving the New Partnership for Africa's Development and leaders such as Thabo Mbeki and Muammar Gaddafi, the observance refocused on integration frameworks exemplified by the African Continental Free Trade Area negotiations and the African Union Commission's Agenda 2063.
Africa Day signifies pan-African solidarity celebrated by institutions including the African Union Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Development Bank, and national governments like South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Morocco. International organizations such as the European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations often coordinate events or statements. Civil society groups like Amnesty International, Transparency International, Oxfam, and movements such as #BringBackOurGirls and End SARS have leveraged Africa Day platforms. Diaspora organizations including the African Diaspora Network, Pan-African Congress, and cultural institutions like the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art host forums in cities such as London, Paris, Toronto, Atlanta, and Boston.
Annual Africa Day themes have linked to projects like Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change Conference engagements, and health campaigns coordinated with the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Past themes referenced priorities in infrastructure with the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa, gender equality with organizations like UN Women and leaders such as Graça Machel, youth empowerment linked to Tony Elumelu Foundation and Young African Leaders Initiative, and peace and security tied to the African Standby Force and African Peace and Security Architecture. Campaigns have partnered with funders like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Mastercard Foundation.
In Ghana, events in Accra highlight the role of Kwame Nkrumah with exhibits at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and programs by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Ghana). Nigeria celebrates in Abuja with participation from the Economic Community of West African States and cultural troupes referencing Fela Kuti and the Nollywood industry. South Africa hosts events in Pretoria and Johannesburg with involvement from the African National Congress and universities like the University of Cape Town. Kenya stages forums in Nairobi involving the United Nations Office at Nairobi and groups such as Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Egypt combines heritage programs at locations like the Egyptian Museum with diplomatic receptions at embassies. Smaller states such as Senegal, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, and Mauritius mark the day with parades, conferences, and trade expos involving regional bodies like Economic Community of Central African States and East African Community.
Symbols associated with Africa Day draw on pan-African iconography used by figures such as Marcus Garvey, W. E. B. Du Bois, and the Pan-African Congress, including colors and motifs later seen in flags of Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa. Cultural programming showcases music from artists like Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Angelique Kidjo, Salif Keita, and Youssou N'Dour and literature by authors such as Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wole Soyinka, and Nadine Gordimer. Visual arts from institutions like the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and festivals such as the Pan African Film Festival amplify cinematic voices including Ousmane Sembène and Ava DuVernay collaborations. Sport and diplomacy intersect with football icons like Didier Drogba and continental tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations influencing unity narratives.
Critiques of Africa Day focus on gaps between rhetoric and outcomes, citing debates around neocolonialism, structural adjustment programs promoted by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and uneven benefits of projects like the African Continental Free Trade Area. Human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International highlight issues during celebratory messaging involving leaders with contested records like Robert Mugabe and Omar al-Bashir. Observers note diplomatic tensions when summits address conflicts such as those involving Darfur, South Sudanese Civil War, Somalia conflict (2009–present), and the Tigray conflict. Questions about funding and accountability invoke institutions like the African Development Bank and donor relationships with the European Union and China–Africa relations.
Category:Public holidays in Africa