It’s Afrika Liberation Month. In May 1963, the then thirty-two independent heads of government met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to establish the Organisation of Afrikan Unity, largely under the inspiration of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I and Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. They designated the 25th of that month Afrika Liberation Day (ALD) for the purpose of:
(a) To promote the unity and solidarity of the African States;
(b) To coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa;
(c) To defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence;
(d) To eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa… (1)

While the continent is now nominally independent, most astute observers wouldn’t consider it liberated, hence ALD remains an ongoing project aimed, in the first instance, at attaining its original purposes. It’s a global observance, taking place wherever Afrikans are found and it has a long-established history in the UK. One of the highpoints, captured for posterity by photographer Vanley Burke, was the 1977 observance in Handsworth, Birmingham, “thought to be Britain’s largest gathering ever of black people at that time.” (2)

This year there are two main observances, hosted by long-standing ALD organisers. The All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (AAPRP) along with PASCF and in Collaboration with Sounds Systems Outernational will be having their event on Saturday May 25th itself in London, while the Pan-African Congress Movement’s (PACM) event takes place in Birmingham on the bank holiday weekend of the Sunday 26th and Monday 27th.

The London event on the 25th takes place at Goldsmiths, University of London, 8 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6NW from 2pm to 8pm under the theme: “Africa is ours! Let’s Mobilise and Organise to Take it!”. The keynote speaker will be Dr Kimani Nehusi – Assoc. Professor at Temple University (USA). other Speakers Include: Michelle Yaa Asantewa of Way Wive Wordz, ‘The Investigator’ Andrew Muhammad and Dauda Barry. There will also be a Sistas’ Panel comprising Michelle Yaa Asantewa, Verona Spence-Adofo (Ancestral Voices), Vuyiswa Ngqobongwana (Yanga TV) and Win Afuah Oppong (Alliance of Afrikan Women).

Attendees will also hear updates the work ongoing in the community/African continent and Diaspora and have the opportunity to “deepen our understanding that liberation involves our economics, history, politics, culture, spirituality, wellbeing and our relationships with each other and support and encourage our youth to participate in building our movement and take it forward for our future.” It’s an event for the whole family and the suggested donation is £5.00. Children are free. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-liberation-day-ald-london-2019-tickets-60426639706)

The theme for the PACM’s 44th year of continuous ALD commemoration is: TOTAL LIBERATION OF AFRICA NOW! and takes place at Saint Georges Community Hub, Birmingham, B19 3JG. Guest Speakers include Dr Ashra Kwesi(USA) on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th on the topics: African divinity and spirituality and the origin of Christianity and African history, spirituality and the origin of the Bible and Koran; Dr Kimani S.K. Nehusi (Guyana) on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th on the topics: The reasons and occasion for reparations and African culture and African liberation; Dr Erica Mapule McInnis (UK) on Sunday 26th speaking on The Psychology of Black Youth violence and self-destructive behaviours-Repair strategies from ancient Africa; Professor Patricia Daley (UK) Monday 27th on the topic: Neo – Extractivism and the new scramble for African resources; Bro. Vasco Stevenson (UK) Monday 27th on the topic: “West Indians” and the Panama Canal. Tickets in advance: £10 (One day), £15 (Two Days) Price on the door: £15 (One Day) £20 (Two Days) Under 16s FREE. (https://jus-tickets.com/events/pacm-africa-liberation-day/). International guest Dr Ashra Kwesi will also be appearing on Friday 24th May (7PM – 10PM) @ Maa Maat Centre, 366A High Rd, Tottenham, London, N17 9HT on the topic The African origin of Christianity. Info: 07415482167 / 07956052821

So, some five to six decades after the “independence” era, Afrika is still not liberated and there are, not surprisingly, a range of perspectives of why that is. Some like Mbango Sithole and Paul Nantulya essentially believe that the enemy of Afrika’s liberation movements “is within” founded on “a blatant refusal to progress” (3) coupled with an overarching sense of “entitlement” that supersedes any initial notions of legitimacy once freedom fighters assume the reigns of government. (4) It must be said however, that while there is some degree of acknowledgement of external, inimical factors in this perspective, there is also a tendency to frame Afrikan politics through the lens of Westminster parliamentary democracy. (5)

The western kind of political formulation was one that Kwame Nkrumah sought to move way from at the outset as he attempted to forge a “United States of Africa.” At the time he faced opposition from the more moderate ‘Monrovia’ group of countries that included Nigeria, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Liberia, Sudan, Togo, and Somalia. (6) The “United States of Africa” project has its contemporary critics such as African political economy analyst and a Senior Fellow at African Liberty Ibrahim B. Anoba who cites “five Reasons Why a United States of Africa will not Work”: “1. Africans are Historically Autonomous, 2. The Language Barrier, 3. No practical Administrative System; 4. Different Economic Values and 5. It is a Pathway to Tyranny.” (7)

However, with reports that Afrika has three of the top five of the world’s fastest growing economies (1. Ethiopia; 2. Rwanda; 3. Bangladesh; 4. India; 5. Côte d’Ivoire.), perhaps projects like US of Africa are not necessary is the countries are already doing it by themselves. (8) But while we may laud such seemingly progressive state of affairs, there is also a perspective that statistics like these are merely signals for rapacious international finance capital investment opportunities that bring no benefit to the masses of the people. When these countries are assessed, for example, in terms of the human development index, that is defined as “a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living” (9) they rate as “low” being 158 (Rwanda), 170 (Côte d’Ivoire) and 173 (Ethiopia) respectively out of 189. Indeed, Afrikan countries dominate the lower ranks of the index. (10)

There may also be concern about spiritual development on the continent given that its religious orientation is an estimated 48% Christian, 42% Muslim with just 10% observing “traditional religions.” (11)

Nevertheless, there is a body of evidence that suggests that “The future is African”:
“Beginning in 2035, the number of young people reaching working age in Africa will exceed that of the rest of the world combined, and will continue every year for the rest of the century. By 2050, one in every four humans will be African. At the end of the century, nearly 40 percent of the world’s population will be African.” (12)

While it may be the case that the numbers don’t lie, how they are arranged and formulated (and by whom) may determine whether the continent can push home this advantage towards true liberation.
(1) Tchioffo Kodjo (14/03/12) OAU Charter, Addis Ababa, 25 May 1963. http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/oau-charter-addis-ababa-25-may-1963
(3) Caroline Raphael (17/06/18) The untold story of African Liberation Day. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/untold-story-african-liberation-day.
(3) Mbango Sithole (17/08/12) Africa’s Liberation Movements: The enemy is within. https://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Africas-Liberation-Movements-The-enemy-is-within-20120817
(4) Paul Nantulya. (14/12/17) The Troubled Democratic Transitions of African Liberation Movements. https://africacenter.org/spotlight/troubled-democratic-transitions-african-liberation-movements/
(5) Ibid.
(6) South African History Online (03/04/11) Organisation of African Unity (OAU). https://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/organisation-african-unity-oau
(7) Ibrahim Anoba (17/09/18) 5 Reasons Why a United States of Africa will not Work. https://www.africanliberty.org/2018/09/17/five-reasons-why-a-united-states-of-africa-will-not-work/
(8) Focus Economics (19/03/19) The World’s Fastest Growing Economies. https://www.focus-economics.com/blog/fastest-growing-economies-in-the-world.
(9) United Nations Development Programme (2019) Human Development Index (HDI). hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi (10) United Nations Development Programme (2019) Human Development Reports Table 1. Human Development Index and its components. hdr.undp.org/en/composite/HDI (11) Keren Mikva (17/12/13) Most Popular Religions In Africa. https://moguldom.com/34091/popular-religions-africa/
(12) Focus Economics (19/03/19) The World’s Fastest Growing Economies. https://www.focus-economics.com/blog/fastest-growing-economies-in-the-world.

we ask the question:

ALD: What does “Liberation” look like?
1) Which ALD event(s) will you be attending this year?
2) Is a “United States of Afrika” feasible or necessary?
3) Has “the enemy within” really prevented liberation?
4) Does having the “fastest growing economies” really benefit Afrika?
5) Does the religious profile of the continent affect its prospects for liberation?
6) How can the predicted numerical dominance of Afrika benefit Afrikans.

Our Special Guests:
Sis. Maxine Davis : is a veteran activist and organiser and an AAPRP cadre, Britain Chapter. Sis. Maxine has been instrumental in organising the annual Pan-Afrikan Women’s Day event.
Bro. Tahrka Teranga: is a researcher and active member of the PACM.