Video courtesy of PDCS

Celebrating the African identity on Africa Day 2016

Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25, 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which is modern day Africa Union (AU). A celebration of African unity and culture. Over 17 African countries gained independence from European colonizers between 1958 and 1963. The newly-liberated countries felt the need to express solidarity with one another, and in May 1963, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to form the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU).

 

Ghana became the first African country south of the Sahara to gain independence on March 6, 1957. Just over a year after its independence Ghana under the leadership Kwame Nkrumah convened the first Conference of Independent African States on 15 April 1958. The conference called for the observance of African Freedom Day once a year, to mark “the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”

 

“I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.” ― Kwame Nkrumah

 

The OAU became the African Union because of the increasingly economic, rather than political, nature of the challenges faced by the continent in the 1990s. The African Union was officially launched in Durban, South Africa, in 2002. The African Union now comprises of 54 member states, bringing the continent of Africa to collectively address the challenges it has faces such as armed conflict, climate change, and poverty.

 

The African Cultural Information and Integration Center (AKIIC) is delighted to continue our tradition of highlighting the strong connections between Slovakia and the countries of Africa at this annual occasion, the official day of the African Union. Slovakia’s links to the African continent are very profound highlighted by the many Slovak volunteers, doctors, missionaries, charity workers, tourists and other business relations with Africa.

 

Supported by PDCS (Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia), Africa Day celebration in Slovakia presents an important opportunity to show case how the Slovakia-Africa connections are in many ways positive and exciting. Africa Day provides a platform to celebrate the achievements of African nations, as well as their diverse cultures and heritage. By supporting Africa Day again in 2016, PDCS are demonstrating their confidence and hope for the continent over the years to come.

 

This year PDCS has been holding several presentations in Bratislava, Banska Bystrica and Košice to commemorate the Africa day. The presentations are in the form of open library, where African migrants in Slovakia get to share their culture and experiences with the Slovak natives.

The event kicked off in Banska Bystrica on 17th may, at the CNK zahrada, where we had presentations from Alhassane Touré and Rodrigues Sétondji both Africans living in Slovakia. Alhassane Touré again presented on 23th may, at Panta Rhei bookshop in Bratislava.

 

On 24th and 25th may, Naima Abdi and Kiboi Kiplang’at Sakong respectively delivered their presentations at the Artfore bookshop in Bratislava. Further presentations will be delivered on 26th and 31st May in Panta Rhei Bratislava and Tabačka Kulturfabrik Kocise by Rodrigues Sétondji and Naima Abdi respectively.

 

Viva Africa, special thanks to PDCS, Katarína Bajzíková, and Andrea Závodskej

 

 

Africké Kultúrne, Informačné a Integračne Centrum

Ružinovská 1,

821 02 Bratislava

Tel:  +421 (0) 904 254 939

Email: info@akiic.sk

 

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