African Liberators - The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation
African Liberation Day Symposium and Luncheon Tribute to Dr. Dorothy Height
Date: May 21, 2010
Time: 1:00 to 5:30PM
Venue: United States Congress: Canon Caucus Room at the Cannon Building, Washington, DC
Admission: Free but RSVP BY MAY 15, 2010: 240.706.6885.
The Continental African Union Community Presents:
African Liberators - The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation.
Luncheon Dedication to a Founding Matriarch of the Civil Rights: Dorothy Height, the Height of Legacy.
Co-sponsors: Africa Action and TransAfrica Forum.
Background of the African Liberation Day:
African Liberation Day is May 25.
When Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence from Britain in 1957, the poignancy of Africa's liberation was captured by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as he put it, "the independence of Ghana would be meaningless unless it was tied to the total liberation of Africa."
On April 15, 1958, in Accra, Ghana, African leaders and political activists met for the first Conference of Independent African States. Among the attendees were representatives of the governments of Egypt (which attended as part of the United Arab Republic), Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria, and the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC). The conference was significant in that it represented the first pan-African Conference held on African soil.
The Conference called for the founding of African Freedom Day, a day 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."
Five years later, another historic meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On May 25, 1963, leaders of thirty-two independent African States met to form the Organization of African Unity( OAU). At this meeting, the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15 to May 25, and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day.
The African Union (AU), established in 2002 by the nations of the former (OAU, is the successor organization to the OAU with greater powers to promote African economic, social, and political integration, and a stronger commitment to democratic principles. The 53 nations of Africa are all members and the AU's headquarters are at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Symposium: Friday May 21: 1pm to 5pm
Today, the early batch of countries that attained independence in the sixties have reached or are reaching the half a century anniversary.The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation, allows for the examination of the rise of African Liberation and what was obtained. The symposium addresses three important concepts 1) The concept of the African Personality in relation to African Nationalism; the concept of African Nationalism in relation to socioeconomic development; and the concept of the African Renaissance in relations to self-reliance.
With the participation of diverse academics, diplomats, public and private sector leaders, civil society organizations, faculties and students, the insightful conversations would highlight and record the works of African liberators and philosophers, and the philosophical basis that guides emancipation. Further, the discourse will focus on the role of African Union institutions in meeting the objectives of an integrated Africa and building viable civil societies. The symposium is intended to give a clearer insight on African and global dynamics, mechanisms to foster a vital African Union, and means through which Africa Diaspora can contribute in addressing developments.
Ultimately, the symposium hopes to enhance knowledge and systems rooted in African perspectives, which will contribute to the Arts and Humanities, public affairs, international relations and their interpretations.