In many activist circles around the world, the 5th month of the year is known as Afrika Liberation month or season, in acknowledgement of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on May 25th 1963, designated Afrika Liberation Day. The origins of ALD can be traced to the Conference of Independent African States, convened in April 1958 by Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, president of newly independent Ghana. Nkrumah was regarded as the leading light of the Afrikan independence era and set out his stall as soon as Ghana attained independence on 6th March 1957: (1)
“The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.” (2)
In the decade that followed Nkrumah’s declaration 30 countries attained independence. (3) Yet, not everyone shared the Osagyefo’s enthusiasm for a continental union. Some states advocated continental political unification or federation at the earliest possible time, while preferred a more gradualist approach. The former became known as the Casablanca Group or Bloc and included Ghana, Guinea and Mali several north Afrikan states such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco. The more moderate Bloc was the known as the Monrovia Group and included Liberia, Nigeria and most of Francophone Africa, including Senegal and Cameroon. (4)
Before these blocs became too entrenched, the vision of Kwame Nkrumah and the statesmanship of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I combined to organize the Conference Of Independent African Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 22 to 25 May 1963. It was here that the Organization of African Unity was formed. (5)
The new organization was a triumph of sorts but also regarded as a compromise, particularly for those agitating for a federated state. As P. Olisanwuche Esedebe, associate professor of history at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka asserts:
Nkrumah’s case for African union… was well founded. Put simply, Africa abounds in the resources needed for economic development on a continental scale.
No doubt Africans can still advance economically if they prefer to remain appendages of their former colonial masters. But their rate of economic progress will be at the mercy of the foreign senior partner…” (6)
The OAU aims and objectives coming out of the conference were:
to promote the unity and solidarity of the African States;
to co-ordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa;
to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence;
to eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa; and
to promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (7)
But without a coherent programme to extricate the presence and influence of the colonial power would plague the fledgling body. Interestingly, the charter doesn’t mention the word ‘liberation’ all at and ‘freedom’ only once. ‘Independence’ manages six mentions in the charter’s 32 articles. (8) By 1999 ‘liberation’ was taken out of the day itself when the African Union replaced the OAU. (9)
Brought to the UK by the Pan-African Congress Movement in 1975, ALD (as it is still referred to in the UK) has provided an arc of mobilisation for the likes of the PACM and the All Afrikan People’s Revolutionary Party (AAPRP) that have consistently organised ALD events for several decades. (10).
Perhaps as an indication ant the general level of consciousness, ALD in the UK was an immediate success. Within two years 25,000 attended the PACM event Handsworth Park, Birmingham. (11) A key feature during this period was highlighting local and global liberation strategies and campaigns, while engaging those in attendance to get involved.
In more recent times attendances have been rather less and there has been suggestions that there has been greater emphasis on well-known “big-name” international speakers, who may not necessarily be grassroots organisers, in a bid to re-capture audiences. This line of argument also suggests there is less focus on local programmes and initiatives and recruitment.
Nevertheless, given that Afrika and Afrikans are still not free, ALD is one the singular forums that has (or should have) this as its explicit focus. The main events this year are:
AAPRP / PASCF: 21/05/16. Theme: African Women & Youth on the front line; Revolutionary Pan-Africanism is the only solution.
Park View Academy, West Green Road, London N15 3QR
Keynote Speakers: Sister Affiong – Moya Wa Taifa and Invited President Luthando M Mbinda – PAC of Azania (S.Africa) Other Speakers: Bro Phila (Middx Univ) & Femi Nylander (Oxford Univ); Moises Nvumba Mañana (E.Guinea); Sis Cheryl Pheonix – Black Child Agenda; Sis Abiola (Afrocanist magazine); David D’Anguilar (Tivoli Committee); Bro Robbie (Queen Mary University).
PACM: 29-30/05/16. Theme: Africa In The World Today
Saint Geroge’s Community Hub, Great Hampton Row, Newtown, Birmingham, B19 3JG.
Speakers: (International) ZaZa Ali (USA), Sis Moureen Minto (Jamaica), Bro. Benny Wenda (West Papua); (National) Dr Majeena Lynch (PACM, iNAPP), Sis Mayemi Olufemi (PACM), Br Taharkah Teranga (PACM, ACSHO, MGF), Bro. Robin Walker (The Black History Man), Bro Cecil Gutzmore (PACM, HAITI 1st HAITI NOW, PASCF), Bro Bini Butuakwa (PACM, ACSHO, MGF).
(1) Mbandaka, Tafadzwa. ShakaRa (25/05/14) ShakaRa Speaks On It – Afrikan Liberation Day (ALD) What’s It All About? http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-afrikan-liberation-day-ald-about/
(2) Pan-African-Quotes (2013) Independence Speech – Kwame Nkrumah March 6, 1957, Accra, Ghana.https://panafricanquotes.wordpress.com/speeches/independence-speech-kwame-nkrumah-march-6-1957-accra-ghana/
(3) About.com African History (2015) A Chronological List of Independence Dates for Africa. http://africanhistory.about.com/library/timelines/blIndependenceTime.htm
(4) Esedebe, P. Olisanwuche (1994) Pan-Africanism: The Idead and Movement 1776-1991. Howard University Press. p. 178-181
(5) Esedebe, p. 192
(6) Esedebe, p. 193-4
(7) OAU Charter. http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/treaties/7759-sl-oau_charter_1963_0.pdf
(8) OAU Charter.
(9) Mbandaka.
(10) Mbandaka.
(11) https://www.facebook.com/pacm2015/photos/gm.816516685102887/471206873035605/?type=1&theater.
(12) Dennett, Daniel C. (25/04/15) Why the Future of Religion Is Bleak. http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-future-of-religion-is-bleak-1430104785.
(13) Mbandaka.
So we ask the question:
How is Afrika Liberation Day linked to Afrikan liberation?
1. Will you be attending an ALD event this year?
2. If not why not?
3. Given the absence from the its charter was liberation really a focus for the OAU?
4. Why did so many attend in the early days?
5. Why do less people attend ALD event these days?
6. Can the trend be reversed?
7. Is the too much focus on “big name” international speakers?
8. Is ALD still fit for purpose? Was it ever?
Our special guests are:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence.
ALD event organiser (invited)