What Is So Memorable About Africa Day?

 A friend asked jokingly, "what is so memorable about Africa Day?"

 I am aware it is a day observed on the 25th of May. 

On that day Africans pay their regards to the goals of uniting and use of a collective voice to rally around taking good care of themselves, the continent as well as celebrate the general nurturing nature or motherhood of Africa.

It is a day to set aside time and consciousness to ponder about the beauty of Africa through spiritual, cultural, political and social means. 

On this day, Africans celebrate the African Freedom Day, a day to "...mark each year 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,” according to the AU reports.

It is on this day that all Africans appreciate the physical nature of Africa in form of land, waterbodies, valleys, mountains, hills, biodiversity, resources and the people.

Africa Day draws people together to forge development plans, strategize, as well as heal from the wounds of colonialism.

Africans remember that on 25th May 1963, 32 African countries signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union (AU).
 
Africa Day, is a platform around which leaders from Africa and around the world compare political, development, social and cultural plans, achievements and challenges. It enables them to find out what worked and what did not.
 
50 years after the founding of the AU, A call for an agenda was first made during the 21st Ordinary Assembly on 26 May 2013. It was a plan for the next 50 years in which a road map was made taking Africa’s hopes and dreams through to 2063.
 
The Agenda goals are economic development which called for, among many ideals, the eradication of poverty within one generation. 

The Agenda sets down a call for political integration with emphasis placed on the establishment of a federal or confederate United Africa. In the plan goals were set for the improvements in democracy and justice, establishment of security and peace on the entire African continent, strengthening of cultural identity through an "African renaissance" and pan-African ideals, gender equality, and political independence from foreign powers.
 
Africa Day is an opportunity to give biennial reports on how much Africa is moving toward meeting the Agenda goals. The Agenda includes 15 flagship projects, which have been identified as being key to enabling and accelerating progress in all areas of development. These are:

1.     A high-speed train network connecting all African capitals and commercial centres

2.     The formulation of a strategy for transforming the African economy from a supplier of raw materials to one that actively uses its own resources

3.     The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area

4.     The introduction of the African Union Passport and the removal of all visa requirements for its holders within Africa

5.     Ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, and violent conflicts by 2020

6.     The construction of a third Inga Dam

7.     The establishment of the Single African Air-Transport Market 

8.     The establishment of an Annual African Economic Forum

9.     The establishment of a set of financial institutions, envisaged as an African Investment Bank, a Pan-African Stock Exchange, an African Monetary Fund and an African Central Bank

10.  A pan-African digital data network

11.  The development of a common African strategy for the use of outer-space technology

12.  The establishment of an African open, digital, distance-learning university

13.  Cooperation on cyber security

14.  The foundation of a Great African Museum, preserving African cultural heritage and promoting pan-Africanism

15.  The compilation of an Encyclopaedia Africana as an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life.
 
Africa Day is a time for calling on the support from all well-wishers to recognize the importance of caring for the continent which has produced so much of the raw-materials used in the entire world. In taking good care of Africa, all humanity is establishing the critical care that maintains a sustainable and sound ecology that in turn promotes growth and thriving for the people and biodiversity.