Acknowledge the vulnerable

SOUTH Africa was a founding member of the African Union (AU), but only joined the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1994.

Notable too is that former foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma broke the deadlock as the first woman chair of the AU Commission.

But sadly, on the entire continent of Africa, only Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have a public holiday for the commemoration of Africa Day, despite the significance of the role played by many fallen heroes like Patrice Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta, Kwame Nkrumah and Haile Selassie.

Should women celebrate Africa Day?

Armed conflicts are a constant feature in parts of the continent, and in times of conflict, women bear the brunt of exploitation under conditions of fragility, war and conflict, poverty and underdevelopment, and abusive cultural practices that end with their degradation as inferior beings.

Testimony to this are the recent trends and pandemic of women and children abuses, trafficking and kidnapping that have taken a gruesome centre stage in headlines throughout the country.

As we celebrate this Africa Day, and enjoy the afrobeats and azonto of Ghana, dance the kwasakwasa of Congo, groove to the Mozambican passada, and the maskandi and mbaqhanga of South Africa, let’s all remember that unity is more than celebrating. We should hope innocent and vulnerable souls like women, children and the elderly are given deserved acknowledgement for their pivotal role in society.

Let’s all note that it takes a woman to build a home, and a child to determine the future to be either bright or bleak.

Ernest Nartey Hogah, King William’s Town