Africa Day: The African Union celebrates its 57th anniversary

On 25 May 1963, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed 1963 in the fight against colonialism and apartheid. Africa Day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge the successes of the OAU (now the AU) from its creation in May 25 and this day is normally celebrated with music, dance and poetry.

Celebrating Africa Day in 2020

This year’s celebrations are expected to include a special virtual broadcast featuring speeches by the President of the Republic of South Africa and Chair of the African Union (AU), President Cyril Ramaphosa; the AU Commission Chair, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, the President of the Pan African Women Association, Ms Eunice Ipinge, and the AU Youth Envoy, Ms Aya Chebbi.

The broadcast is expected to bring one of the champions of Africa’s Liberation H.E Dr Kenneth Kaunda of the Republic of Zambia, who is the only remaining founder of the OAU. Dr Kaunda served as Zambia’s first president and as the chairman of the OAU from 1970 to 1973 and he worked side by side with other gallant giants of Africa’s liberation in establishing the organisation that strived to free the whole continent from the shackles of colonialism.

On the 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, the OAU was transformed into the African Union to achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between African countries and nations.

Leaders are expected to take this as an opportunity to educate the people of the continent on the African Union’s initiatives to fight the pandemic.

The African Union has developed a comprehensive pandemic strategy, established an African Union Response Fund and strengthened the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Celebrations of Africa Day will continue throughout the day on a number of platforms anchored by various entities from the continent and across the world. President Ramaphosa will be featured delivering a message of support on the Africa Day Solidarity concert for the Response Fund. The concert which will stream on all Trace stations from 17:00 (CAT) will be raising funds which will be directed to the AU COVID-19 fund.

The President will also feature on the MTV Base Africa Day benefit concert which is working with United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and UNICEF Africa to ensure that proceedings of the concert go towards food security for vulnerable children and families which are hardest hit by the pandemic.

This year’s celebration coincides with South Africa’s one-year tenure as Chair of the African Union.

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