By Asafu Mamlaka Etandala

On May 20, the university hosted its first ever Africa Day celebration bringing together representatives from over 30 African states, including ambassadors from Burkina Faso, Somaliland, Barbados, representative from Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) along with other policymakers in Kenya and across the continent. Also, in attendance were students from various universities and high schools as well as the entire USIU-Africa fraternity and the community at large. This day ushered in one of many celebrations to come in commemoration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, celebrated annually on May 25.

During his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mwenda Ntarangwi expressed his hope for the spirit of African unity. “We have already reached the stage where we must unite or risk sinking into that condition which has made many countries in the Global South the unwilling and distressed prey of imperialism,” he said.

Gracing the event was Professor PLO Lumumba who acknowledged a poem presented earlier by Sibongile Tsosane, a USIU-Africa student from Lesotho titled ‘Welcome to Africa,’ that impeccably stirred an emotional call for the spirit of unity. Additionally, Professor Lumumba challenged young Africans to read beyond modern political vocabularies and reconnect with classical African history that inspired the Pan-African spirit and ultimately the OAU that eventually laid the foundation for the independence of many African states. In one of his metaphorical lines, he strongly condemned Africans suggesting that we are occasionally looking for ‘a Moses with a rod and staff to part our red seas.’

Professor Lumumba stressed that Africa’s predicament, is an intergenerational pandemic that should incentivize collective action. He further argued that just like the daring Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Transition, Head of State, and Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso and other epic African leaders are intentionally playing their parts, so must everyone else. “You cannot afford the luxury of doing nothing! You cannot afford the luxury of thinking that this is not your battle! You cannot afford the luxury of saying you are too young to transform Africa!” He stated. As he concluded, these words breathed a new sense of hope in the minds of practitioners and scholars alike.

H.E. Dr. Fatma Adan, the IGAD head of mission to Kenya, echoed Professor Lumumba’s sentiments. She discussed regional gender-inclusive and called on African women to rise boldly into different political roles. She praised the milestone achieved by Ethiopia noting that it is the only IGAD state that has made enormous strides after achieving gender parity in its cabinet. She encouraged the rest of Africa to replicate Ethiopia’s model.

The event also featured two panel discussions. The first, themed ‘a borderless Africa with one currency, one military, one common market, and free movement’, featured policymakers, and delegates from across Africa and Barbados. The second panel discussion entailed a student-led dialogue by five African students from various African regions who dug into governance in Africa drawing from the experiences from their countries of origin.

The day also featured entertainment sessions such as African culture display in which student representatives of different African states marched to the stage, showcasing the rich heritage of Mother Africa. USIU-Africa Burundian drummers and student community then surprised the audience with magnificent traditional African drum beating and dances.

Africa Day celebrations that culminated with a cake cutting ceremony, reignited the true spirit of Pan-Africanism with attendees adorned in beautiful Afro-wear ranging from Kitenge and Kanzu to Dashiki, Kente, Shuka, Ndop, and Agbada.