By | May 25, 2021

When is Africa Day Celebrations ? 25 May

Africa Day Celebrations – Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world. The organisation was transformed into the African Union on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, but the holiday continues to be celebrated on 25 May.

Africa Day Celebrations

Who created Africa Day? Kwame Nkrumah

It was convened by Prime Minister of Ghana Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and comprised representatives from Egypt (then a constituent part of the United Arab Republic), Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon and of the host country Ghana. The Union of South Africa was not invited.

What is the importance of Africa Day?

Africa Day is celebrated every year on 25 May to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (African Union). Africa Day is intended to celebrate and acknowledge African solidarity, unity in diversity, creativity, challenges and successes.

What countries celebrate Africa Day? 55 African Union Member States


Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

What is the theme for Africa Day 2021?

It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent as well as around the world. This year’s theme of Africa Day is Arts, Culture And Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.

History of African Unity Day

On May 25th 1963, the leaders from 30 of the then 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The OAU was created to help bring about change, freedom and independence to many African countries.

In 1991, the OAU established the African Economic Community, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union.

Since the establishment of the OAU, a further 21 states have joined. South Africa became the latest and 53rd member on May 23rd 1994.

Following the first Conference of Independent African States on April 15th 1958, African Liberation Day or African Freedom Day was celebrated in Ethiopia, South Africa and Ghana. This holiday was replaced by African Unity Day in Ghana in 1963.

Despite the name change to the African Union, both the name and date of Africa Day have been retained and Africa Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the peoples and governments of Africa.

Where was Africa Day formed? Ethiopia

Commemorated on May 25th, Africa Day was established after the leaders of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia back in 1963.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • The AU Motto is “A United and Strong Africa”
  • The AU has headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • The AU’s legislative arm, the Pan African Parliament, is located in Midrand, South Africa.

Summary
Commemoration on May 25th of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity

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