AYA AFRICA – AFRICA DAY STATEMENT

This Africa Day, AYA Africa wants to salute all the Afro-curious globalists that support local SMEs involved in the creative economy on the continent and around the world. These creatives and businesses are the true ambassadors of Africa, as they are the griots of our evolving cultures. By supporting them you are not only empowering people and local SMEs, but helping to transmit a more positive image of Africa and connecting their brands and craftsmanship to wider audiences.

It has been 60 years since the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), this is an opportune time to reflect on the vision Kwame Nkrumah and company had for Africa and the Africa We Want. People of African descent and the African continent as a whole have come a long way since 25 May, 1963. However, localised challenges still persist in the form of conflicts, poor governance, xenophobia, underdevelopment, lack of access to government services, and unemployment.

Africans must agree that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is only workable if freedom of movement and by extension visa free travel is an everyday reality for ordinary Africans. For Pan-Africanism to find genuine expression and legitimacy, it will require people of African descent, be they in Minneapolis, Minnesota or Guangzhou, China organising themselves and believing that our collective dignity is inextricably linked to how we treat ourselves and relate to others.