LONG LIVE 25TH MAY, THE AFRICA DAY!
Lusaka, 25 May 2020. As we celebrate together the African Unity Day, it is time to reflect on the historical past as well as the new challenges ahead, in favour of peace, dignity and justice for all Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora.
Many countries of the world are endowed with African roots since the colonial times, and the new generations are descendants of the culture, values and spirit of that rich and cruel past.
That is why the Africa Day is not only celebrated in Africa and by Africans abroad, which form today many communities of different nationalities, but in other countries as well. Cuba is one of them.
The African component of the Cuban Culture is so huge and deeply rooted and it manifests in so many sectors of the society, that makes it impossible to write the history of Cuba without the African ingredient, not only in the cuisine recipes, the music, the arts and culture in general, but also in the fight against colonialism and during the Revolution for final liberation.
Today, based on the Organization of African Unity (later rebranded in 2001 as the African Union) on May 25, 1963 by 32 free nations, led by Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Sékou Touré of Guinea, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and many others. Every year since then, Africa Day has been celebrated on May 25, except this year when it has coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, which prevent big public gathering for celebrations.
On this occasion and more than ever before,
Unity is tantamount not only to face this pandemic, but also to look and face the challenges deriving from it in the economic and social spheres in order to avoid a devastating effect for the majority of the African countries and peoples. As in the past, it is time for a collective platform to find solutions to those common threats.
On this important Day it is opportune to say that Cuba is ready to share with Africa her experiences and modest resources in the fight against Covid-19, as it is already doing in many countries with the presence of 25 Medical Brigades in 23 countries of the world, some of them in Africa. Together we can win!
Our contribution in this sense is only part of our traditional policy of solidarity and sharing what we have with our brothers and sisters in all parts of the world, particularly in Africa, whose challenging efforts in favour of unity, peace, development, economic integrity, free trade and cross-border flexibility are part of the genuine and fair aspirations of the African countries for their own benefit, which is very commendable.
Cuba has been and is in favour of developing relations, cooperation and trade with all African countries and on this auspicious occasion it is time to reiterate our deepest thanks for the continuous support from Africa to the Cuban Resolution at the UN as well as the African Union against the hazardous economic, financial and trade blockade imposed by the United States of America since 1961.
On this outstanding anniversary of the Africa Unity Day and in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is right time to mention that the historical links between Cuba and Africa were forged in the common struggle for emancipation, therefore the friendship, solidarity, cooperation and understanding will last forever.
Long live Cuba-Africa friendship and cooperation!
Written by: Francisco Javier Viamontes Correa Ambassador Embassy of Cuba in Zambia