Page 11 - SA Chamber UK - MAY Newsletter 2024

OPINION
BUILDING A BETTER AFRICA

AFRICA DAY 25 MAY

- By Gayle Adlam

The annual commemoration of Africa Day on the 25 May marks the founding of the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU) in 1963.

Through the OAU, the African continent became a pioneer in being the first continent to
focus on continental unity and to encourage nation building through unity and freedom
from oppression.

The commemoration of Africa Day is internationally renowned, as regardless of their
location, Africans from all over the world celebrate African unity and culture.

Africa Day is also intended to celebrate the progress and successes of the continent and
its cultural and economic potential. This year, the AU launched and dedicated Africa Day
towards accelerating the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Areas. It
also promotes programmes supporting the International Decade of Indigenous Languages
as declared by UNESCO to highlight the significance of promoting the use of indigenous
African languages.

Significantly the day is an opportunity to reflect upon the common challenges that the
continent faces in a global environment, which include armed conflict, climate change and
poverty. In 2024, the AU theme is: The Year of Education - Educate an African fit for the 21st
Century, which is a call to action for nations across the continent to prioritise education as
the cornerstone of progress and development.

In South Africa, the month of May is
annually recognised as Africa Month
and is linked directly to supporting and
strengthening Africa Day. This year Africa
month is celebrated under the theme:
“Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom: Building
a Better Africa and a Better World’’.

The Africa Month programme is
mandated by the South African Cabinet
to acknowledge the work done by the
African Union, celebrate pan-Africanism
and, at the same time, unlock economic
opportunities in line with the African
Continental Free Trade Area, Africa
Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and
other instruments.

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SA CHAMBER UK NEWSLETTER MAY 2024