Africa Day 2008

By The African Union May 28, 2008

On Africa Day 2008, our theme was entitled: “ Africa: The Future is Ours! It celebrated the Organization of African Unity (OAU) founded on May 25, 1963, to promote self-government and social progress and to act as a collective voice for the African continent; On July 9, 2002, the OAU was disbanded and it was replaced by the African Union (AU). Its vision is an “Africa conscious of its potential and determined to exploit it, particularly by pooling resources; an Africa critical of its own weaknesses and geared to actively participate in global trade; an Africa which cannot afford to wait until tomorrow to have its problems resolved; and an Africa determined to offer to its peoples, basic goods and services at affordable prices.”

“Africa: The Future is Ours!” took place on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 in the prestigious General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters in New York between the hours of 4 to 6pm; There was live entertainment reflecting Africa’s diversity and rich cultural heritage and a special music presentation by a Harlem youth choir, including a narration highlighting key historical achievements of continental Africans.

“Africa: The Future is Ours!” was intended to show that Africa has a significant role to play in the world arena, that we are intrinsically interconnected with our global family of nations; This initiative by the African Union in partnership with the United Nations African Ambassadors’ Spouses Group (UNAASG) was to encourage a better appreciation and understanding of the African continent and the significant role it has and does continue to play in the rest of the world. This event encouraged Americans and the rest of the global community to learn more about Africa, its people, its potential.

Due to our past success, the United Nations community, the Secretariat, and Ambassadors from nations around the world, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s ) and members of the general New York community were extremely excited about the event, “Africa: The Future is Ours!”

In this regard, UNAASG carried out Print, TV and Radio interviews to publicize this high profile program which generated positive publicity for our beloved continent in our efforts to commemorate the founding of the OAU, now African Union (AU).

UNAASG and the African Union Permanent Mission to the United Nations were sincerely committed to producing the right results via “Africa: The Future is Ours!”  This commitment to present cross-cultural programs brought understanding, cooperation and awareness of
opportunities in Africa, while at the same time educating the world community about the many wonderful aspects of our continent despite our well-publicized challenges.

UNAASG has made this commitment and intends on showcasing " the immense human and natural resources, the diversity and vitality of our cultures, our languages, our sense of solidarity and our readiness to dialogue” with the rest of the world.

“Africa: The Future is Ours!” gave us this welcome opportunity to commemorate the founding of the African Union, and much, much more . . . all in our  well-intentioned efforts to continue to educate the world community about Africa, and to present a positive image of our wonderful continent, the birthplace of humankind and one which is at the forefront of playing a strategic role in all of our future.

UNAASG understands that Africa’s natural and human resources will be the key to future markets, with its natural and dynamic human resources and so much more.