Africa Day is an occasion for South Africans to reaffirm their commitment and strengthen their support for all government initiatives aimed at improving Africa and the world.
Background
Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which preceded the African Union (AU), in 1963. It highlights the strides made by African nations, as well as the difficulties they encounter in a worldwide context.
The African Union is an assembly of 53 member countries that has united the African continent to address shared challenges such as armed violence, climate change, and destitution.
History of Africa Day
African countries pushed for independence from European colonial powers after World War II, with a significant number gaining independence between 1945 and 1965. Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara to gain independence on March 6, 1957, and its success inspired other African nations.
In 1958, Ghana hosted the first Conference of Independent African States, attended by Ethiopia, Sudan, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and other nations. It was the first Pan African conference to be held on the continent, bringing together different African countries to reject colonialism and imperialism.
Only eight African countries were independent at that time, and the conference created a collective platform for African countries to collaborate in the fight against colonialism.
The conference called for the observance of African Freedom Day once a year, marking “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.” April 15 became known as African Freedom Day (or Africa Liberation Day), which later became Africa Day.