| Africa Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Member states of the African Union |
| Type | International; cultural and historical |
| Significance | Anniversary of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity |
| Date | 25 May |
| Next time | 25 May 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day |
Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity on May 25, 1963. [1] It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent as well as around the world. The organization was replaced by the African Union on July 9, 2002, but the holiday continues to be celebrated on 25 May.
The First Congress of Independent African States was held in Accra, Ghana on 15 April 1958. It was convened by the Prime Minister of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and comprised representatives from Egypt (then a constituent part of the United Arab Republic), Ethiopia, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon, and the host country, Ghana.. The Union of South Africa was not invited. The conference showcased progress of liberation movements on the African continent in addition to symbolizing the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation. Although the Pan-African Congress had been working towards similar goals since its foundation in 1900, this was the first time such a meeting had taken place on African soil. [2]
The conference called for the founding of an 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." [3]
The conference was notable in that it laid the basis for the subsequent meetings of African heads of state and government during the Casablanca Group and the Monrovia Group era, until the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. [4]
Five years later, on 25 May 1963, representatives of thirty African nations met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted by Emperor Haile Selassie. By then more than two-thirds of the continent had achieved independence, mostly from imperial European states. At this meeting, the Organization of African Unity was founded, with the initial aim to encourage the decolonization of Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia. The organization pledged to support the work conducted by freedom fighters, and remove military access to colonial nations. A charter was set out which sought to improve the living standards across member states. Selassie exclaimed, "May this convention of union last 1,000 years." [5]
The charter was signed by all attendees on 26 May, with the exception of Morocco. [lower-alpha 1] At that meeting, Africa Freedom Day was renamed Africa Liberation Day. [3] In 2002, the OAU was replaced by the African Union. However, the renamed celebration of Africa Day continues to be celebrated on 25 May in respect to the formation of the OAU. [6]
After Morocco's official return to the African Union at the Addis Ababa Summit on January 30, 2017, with the support of 40 countries, and following the Moroccan parliament's ratification of the African Union Charter, [7] [8] Morocco has been actively participating in this occasion. The country sets up a Moroccan pavilion showcasing a variety of products representing the rich and ancient heritage of the kingdom in the field of traditional crafts.
On May 29, 2024, Africa Day was celebrated in the Bronx neighborhood of New York, with the participation of representatives from African countries, including Morocco. This event, organized by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, was marked by a ceremonial raising of the African Union flag at the borough's municipal headquarters, home to the largest African community in the United States. [9] [10] [11]
By the way, the meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was held on May 25, the day of Tito's birthday celebration, according to the agreement of Haile Selassie and SFRY President Josip Broz Tito. So, in fact, the celebration of Africa Day is at the same time the celebration of Tito's birthday.
Africa Day continues to be celebrated both in Africa and around the world, mostly on 25 May (although in some cases these periods of celebrations can be stretched out over a period of days or weeks). [12] [13] Themes are set for each year's Africa Day, with 2015's being the "Year of Women's Empowerment and Development towards Africa's Agenda 2063". At an event in New York City in 2015, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson, delivered a message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in which he said, "Let us... intensify our efforts to provide Africa's women with better access to education, work and health care and, by doing so, accelerate Africa's transformation". [14] The slogan of the 2023 Africa Day celebration was "Our Africa Our Future". [15] The theme of 2024 Africa Day celebration is "Education Fit for the 21st Century". [16]
The Organisation of African Unity was an intergovernmental organization established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with 33 signatory governments. One of the main heads for OAU's establishment was Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. It was disbanded on 9 July 2002 by its last chairman, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and replaced by the African Union (AU). Some of the key aims of the OAU were to encourage political and economic integration among member states, and to eradicate colonialism and neo-colonialism from the African continent.
Saadeddine Othmani, sometimes translated as Saad Eddine el-Othmani, is a Moroccan politician. He served as the 16th prime minister of Morocco from 17 March 2017 to 7 October 2021. Previously he served as foreign minister from 2012 to 2013.
Botola Pro 2, commonly known as Botola 2, is the second division of the Moroccan football league, behind the Botola, the highest football league in Morocco. It features 16 teams across the country that compete for the top two positions in the competition which at the end of the season allows them promotion to the Botola. Each season as well, the 3 bottom teams are all relegated to the third-level, Division Nationale.
Maghreb Association Sportive de Fès is a Moroccan professional football club based in Fez, that competes in Botola, the top flight of Moroccan football.
The Morocco national basketball team represents Morocco in international basketball competitions. The team is governed by the Moroccan Royal Basketball Federation, also known as the FRMBB. The team has appeared at the FIBA AfroBasket 20 times and has won the gold medal in the 1965 tournament. In 1968, Morocco finished as runners-up.
Renaissance Sportive de Berkane commonly referred to as Nahdat Berkane or RS Berkane for short, is a Moroccan professional football club based in Berkane, that competes in Botola, the top flight of Moroccan football.
The Morocco national beach soccer team represents Morocco in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Morocco.
Ayoub El Kaabi is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Super League Greece club Olympiacos and the Morocco national team. He started his professional career playing for Racing de Casablanca.
Soufiane Rahimi is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a forward for UAE Pro League club Al Ain and the Morocco national football team.
The AfroCan is a men's basketball continental competition in Africa, which is played quadannually under the auspices of FIBA, basketball's international governing body, and the FIBA African zone thereof. Unlike the AfroBasket, AfroCan is only opened to all players who play for basketball clubs based in Africa.
Abdelmounaim Boutouil is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for South African Premier Division club Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Shaykh al-Kamil Mausoleum, romanized as Cheikh Al Kamel Mausoleum also known as the Mausoleum of al-Hadi ben Issa is a historic religious complex located in Meknes, Morocco.
The Association's Sports of Forces Armed Royal, , is a Moroccan professional women's football club based in Morocco's capital (Rabat-Salé), that competes in Moroccan Women's Championship, the top tier of Moroccan football.
al-Amīn al-Hajj Mustafa an-Nakīr is a Moroccan chef specializing in barbecue. He worked as the chef of the former King of Morocco Hassan II, inheriting the position of palace chef from his forefathers. He specializes in and is famous for meshwi lamb and the traditional Marrakshi dish called tangia.
Rikia Magha is a Moroccan singer and actress.
Ethiopia is one of founding African states of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963 under Emperor Haile Selassie, headquartered in Addis Ababa. At the time the organization evolved up to 54 African states, except Morocco.
The Moulay Bouazza plot was a 1973 conspiracy by members of the National Union of Popular Forces to overthrow King Hassan II of Morocco.
Sid Zouine is the urban center of the rural commune of Sid Zouine of the prefecture of Marrakech, in the Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco.
El Mehdi Benabid is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Botola club AS FAR.
The African Lion Maneuvers are joint military exercises held between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco in the region of Tan-Tan, Morocco, which began in 2007.
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