Afrika Liberation Day is May 25th and there are a number of observances happening in the UK:
23rd May
Kuumba Centre, 20-22 Hepburn Road, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8UD.
1PM, Free Entry. Donations Welcome. Speakers: Sis. Alesia Greenidge, Empress Ayiko, Bro. Kofi Ayih.
PACM TV (Online). 6PM-8PM
Host: Bro. Taharka Kush. Panel: Dr. Kridikel Desir TruthBey, Bro. Wendopayangde Alain Rouamba, Ras. L (Paulos) Ho-Shing, Bro. Glenroy Githukia.
25th May
PACM. Legacy Centre of Excellence, 144 Potters Lane, Birmingham, B6 4UU. Registration: 10AM. Main Programme: 12PM-8PM. Admission: £15, Under 16s Free.
Theme: The Grand African Renaissance Part 5 – Africa’s Time Is Now: The Roadmap To Unity. Host: Bro. Taharka Kush. Panel: Bro. Wendopayangde Alain Rouamba, Dr Asher Sefanit-Wudasse, Prof. Patricia Daley, Bro. Washington Alcott.
The Ouagadougou (Sahel) region is seen by many as the leading edge of the Afrikan Renaissance. This view will likely be bolstered by it’s decisive thwarting of an internationally backed terrorist attack late last month. If it did nothing else, it reminded us of the breadth of scope of our enemies – in this case France, Germany, Ukraine and Algeria. Yet a review of the European and Arab media would indicate that Mali is still in crisis. (1)
France in particular is smarting at this defeat as it continues to suffer at home from its loosening grip on the motherland, especially the western, so-called Francophone region that it used to dominate. (2) It is now trying to switch to the east, a more so-called Anglophone region, while laughably trying to cast itself as “Pan-African” while gaslighting about it’s own record. (3)
The attack on Mali highlighted the adversarial posture within the continent, notably the northern region. These antagonists from the north also have their compadres further afield, most infamously the United Arab Emirates and its “destabilising role in African conflicts” like Ethiopia, Libya, Somalia and supporting the heinous RSF in Sudan. (4) Not content with this state of affairs, the UAE is also pursuing policies that could affect Afrikans in the diaspora, namely supporting white-nationalist movements in Europe, leveraging existing Islamophobic and anti immigrants tropes. Something Israel already has a track record in. (5) In addition the gulf monarchy has been cosying up to Israel, encouraging it’s neighbours to do likewise as well as agitating support for the breakaway Somaliland area where Israel wants to build a military base. (6)
Of course there is the global bully USA that has an insatiable appetite for destruction as continues to bomb boats in the Caribbean while trying to strangle Cuba into submission. No one knows who will invoke their next. (7)
The challenge for the AES is embedding a revolutionary ideology among the population at large and crucially young people. Niger took a step in the right direction last year with the appointment of “fearless Pan-Africanist” Sis. Nathalie Yamb as special advisor. In a recent address she certainly speaking in terms of renaissance: (8)
“The only way out of this is for Africans to rediscover ourselves, to respect our tradition, to stop demonizing our own spirituality and to build governance models that align with our own customs, not with frameworks imported from somewhere else. Because, and this is the deeper point, if the framework you accept is foreign, the war is already over before the first bullet flies. The fighters in Kidal can be defeated. The drones in Tesar can be shot down. But if the mind is not free, the territory means nothing. African traditions deserve respect, not demonization as evil or satanic. That is the real revolution here.” (9)
This may or may not come to pass in the AES. However, there are few signs of this high level sentiment being expressed elsewhere on the continent.
(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (18/05/26) Who’s behind the attack on Mali? https://alkebulan.org/2026/05/10/aswag-588-whos-behind-the-attack-on-mali/; Samira Elsaidi (06/05/26) Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked fighters combine to cause havoc in Mali. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tuareg-separatists-and-al-qaeda-linked-fighters-combine-cause-havoc-mali; Frontline Africa (17/05/26) Day 22: Mali Dismantles Jn!M From The Air — Base Destroyed, Commander Neutralized, Kidal Under Siege. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jr588bIgoI&t=1083s
(2) Donovan Martin Sr (03/01/26) The Bill Comes Due: France’s Debt Crisis and the End of Africa’s Silent Subsidy. https://www.thedailyscrumnews.com/the-bill-comes-due-frances-debt-crisis-and-the-end-of-africas-silent-subsidy/
(3) Mustapha Bature Sallama (14/05/26) “We Are the True Pan-Africanists”: France, Macron, and the Audacity of a Claim. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1493065/we-are-the-true-pan-africanists-france-macron.html
(4) Gerrit Kurtz, Wolfram Lacher & Stephan Roll (13/05/26) The Destabilising Role of the United Arab Emirates in African Conflicts. https://www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/the-destabilising-role-of-the-united-arab-emirates-in-african-conflicts
(5) Jonathan Fenton-Harvey (20/01/26) The UAE’s increasing courtship of Europe’s far right. https://www.newarab.com/analysis/uaes-increasing-courtship-europes-far-right; Sharon Pardo & Yonatan Touval (16/12/24) A Dubious Alliance: Netanyahu’s Israel and Europe’s Far Right. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/a-dubious-alliance-netanyahus-israel-and-europes-far-right/
(6) AFP and ToI Staff (15/05/26) UAE chooses to deepen ties with Israel amid war with Iran, risking rift with Saudis. https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-chooses-to-deepen-ties-with-israel-amid-war-with-iran-risking-rift-with-saudis/; Dan M. Ford (12/03/26) Israel’s push for Somaliland base raises fears of wider war. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/somaliland-israel-2676088620/
(7) Associated Press (05/05/26) U.S. kills 2 during latest strike on alleged drug boats traveling in the Caribbean. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-kills-2-during-latest-strike-on-alleged-drug-boats-traveling-in-the-caribbean-sea; Ruaridh Nicoll (14/05/26) Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil, energy minister says, as US blockade pushes island to brink. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/14/cuba-us-energy-blockade-oil-fuel-petrol-runs-out; Kimbunga Media (25/02/26) What’s Happening in CUBA • w/ Fernando Cardenas & Vlad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIM-8axPrs
(8) Oluwasegun Sanusi (25/08/25) Niger’s Tchiani Appoints EU-Sanctioned Pan-African Activist Nathalie Yamb As Special Advisor. https://westafricaweekly.com/nigers-tchiani-appoints-eu-sanctioned-pan-african-activist-nathalie-yamb-as-special-advisor/; Sulemana Mohammed (19/05/25) A Fearless Pan-Africanist Woman. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1401713/a-fearless-pan-africanist-woman.html
(9) Frontline Africa (15/05/26) Day 20: Kidal Turns Into K!Ll Zone — Mali Breaks The Fla As Macron Runs Out Of Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnGtte1ddx0&t=1403s
Is the “Afrikan Renaissance” Achievable?
1) What role does ALD play in the liberation fight?
2) Where can we find reliable news coverage about Afrika ?
3) What does a UAE/Israel alliance mean for Afrika & the diaspora?
4) Are able to “build governance models that align with our own customs”?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Taharkah Kush: is a researcher and a long standing active member of the Pan-African Congress Movement, one of the pioneer Black Nationalist organisations in the UK. Bro. Taharka is the author of Goree Island – Doof of No Return.
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