Africa Day: What does it celebrate?
AFRICANS across the world are today celebrating Africa Day in grand style, dressed in beautiful traditional outfits and putting on a colourful display of culture, food and diversity. Africa Day was first held in 1963 in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, when 32 countries formed the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU).
The OAU’s original mission was to bring freedom to African countries that were still under colonial rule in the 60s, defend their sovereignty, uphold human rights and restore the dignity of the African people.
Nowadays, Africa Day is a national holiday in a handful of countries and is widely celebrated by Africans.
Each year the Day has a different theme and this year theme is “African Union Agenda 2063” The AU decided to adopt this theme to celebrate “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”
Manicaland joins the rest of the continent in celebrating this 55th Africa Day anniversary with residents in Mutare expressing their appreciation on the importance of the annual commemorations.
In a snap survey by The Manica Post in Mutare, some residents expressed pride in being African.
Mrs Evelyn Gwatidzo (43) a tailor said: “I am proud to be African and I am also happy to celebrate this day. I wish for African women to work hard to achieve what they want in life. I am a successful tailor who specialises in African attires which is a good business here in Zimbabwe because through African dressing, Africans are encouraged to embrace their roots and identity.”
Mr Edward Gava (54) said: “To me Africa Day means peace and harmony and it is worth celebrating because it is an achievement that the African Union was formed and that African countries are working together in a peaceful manner.”
Mr Tendai Sithole (28) from Chikanga 2 had this to say: “The holiday is a reminder of what it means for me to be African. It is a day where I express pride in my African identity. This is a day where I also join the rest of the continent in celebrating my heritage and my history. This is also when I wear my African attire with pride in celebration of this holiday.”
Mrs Emilia Chiwanda (35) of Gimboki: “Africa Day is just like any day because nowadays we have forgotten what it means to be African as we are increasingly becoming Westernised. Look at three quarters of the women in this city most of them have artificial weaves and dress like Americans which affirms that the day is no longer relevant. As Zimbabweans we do not even have traditional attire.”
Mrs Clara Chiguni (28) of Morningside: “Africa day has lost all relevance and I will spend it resting at home. Being a public holiday I will take time to rest and maybe spend the whole day sleeping. Being a Friday I am happy that this will be an extension to my weekend.”
Miss Ruvimbo Sithole (24): “To me Africa Day is a day of embracing African identity. As a young woman I will encourage women to embrace their African identity and treasure their melanin. It brings my heart great joy to see black women embracing their blackness, natural hair, distinctive features and beautiful brown bodies. Africans should be proud of their melanin.”
Richard Kamba ( 45) said: “For most Zimbabweans however, Africa Day or most public holidays observed in the country have become days of rest from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world. For others it has become a day of maximizing production in the informal sector in a bid to make ends meet. This has actually led to the day losing its true sense of meaning.”