Latest news with #PanAfricanism
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Message from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Independence Day of the Republic of South Sudan
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extends his warmest congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of South Sudan on the occasion of their Independence Day. This day marks an important milestone in South Sudan's journey toward freedom, unity, and nation-building. The African Union commends the resilience and determination of the South Sudanese people and stands in solidarity with their aspirations for peace, stability, and development. The African Union remains firmly committed to working hand in hand with South Sudan to advance regional integration, promote sustainable development, and uphold the shared values of Pan-Africanism and unity. Happy Independence Day! Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Times of Oman
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
PM Modi pays homage to Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's founding President
Accra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, Ghana, and paid tribute to Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's founding President and a revered leader of the African independence movement. He was accompanied by the Vice President of Ghana, Prof Naana Jane Opoku- Agyemang. Prime Minister laid a floral wreath and observed a moment of silence in honour of Dr Nkrumah's lasting contributions to freedom, unity, and social justice. The tribute paid by Prime Minister reflects India's deep respect for Ghana's rich history and reaffirms the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is dedicated to the prominent Ghanaian leader, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. The KNMP's mausoleum, designed by Don Arthur, houses the mortal remains of Kwame Nkrumah and his wife Fathia Nkrumah. Kwame Nkrumah was a pivotal figure in Ghana's independence movement and a leading voice for Pan-Africanism. He played a crucial role in the Gold Coast's transition to independence in 1957, becoming its first Prime Minister and later its first President. Nkrumah led the Gold Coast to independence from British colonial rule in 1957, renaming it Ghana. This achievement made Ghana the first sub-Saharan African nation to achieve independence, a milestone that resonated throughout the continent. His legacy extends beyond Ghana, as he actively promoted the unification of Africa and inspired movements for liberation across the continent. Nkrumah was a staunch advocate for the unity of African nations. He believed that a united Africa could overcome the challenges of colonialism and neo-colonialism. He co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of states not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc, further showcasing his commitment to international cooperation. Nkrumah was influenced by socialist ideologies, particularly Marxism, and his writings, such as "Neo-Colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism," explored the subtle forms of domination that emerged after formal colonialism. Nkrumah's rule was not without its challenges. He faced growing discontent due to his authoritarian leadership style and economic policies. He was eventually overthrown in a coup in 1966. On Wednesday, PM Modi was conferred with The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, the country's highest civilian honour, by President John Mahama. PM Modi thanked Ghana's President for the honour and called it a "matter of immense pride". "It is a matter of great pride and honour for me to be conferred with Ghana's national award, The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, by the President. I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Mahama ji, the Government of Ghana and the people of Ghana. I humbly accept this honour on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians," PM Modi said. He said he dedicated the award to the youth of both countries. "I dedicate this award to the aspirations of our youth, their bright future, our rich cultural diversity and traditions and the historic ties between India and Ghana," he said. The award was presented during PM Modi's visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than 30 years. During his visit, PM Modi held talks with Ghana President Mahama and the two leaders agreed to elevate their relationship to a "Comprehensive Partnership." This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years. The trip is expected to deepen the India-Ghana partnership and signal New Delhi's continued engagement with Africa and the Global South.
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
African Union Commission Chairperson's Congratulatory Message on Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Independence Day
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extends warm congratulations and best wishes to the government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as they celebrate their 65th Independence Day. This historic occasion marks the liberation of the Congolese people from colonial rule and the birth of a sovereign nation with immense potential. The DRC's rich cultural heritage, vast natural resources, and resilient people remain a cornerstone of Africa's development and unity. As we celebrate this milestone, we commend the DRC's efforts in promoting peace, stability, and regional integration. The African Union remains committed to supporting the DRC in its pursuit of sustainable development, democratic governance, and the well-being of its people. As you celebrate this day, may the spirit of patriotism and Pan-Africanism guide the nation toward a brighter future. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o belonged to an age of prophets – we must honour his teaching
Growing up in post-independence Nigeria in the 1970s, at home you always had access to the Bible if you were Christian, or the Qur'an if you were Muslim, along with books in the Heinemann African Writers Series. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was a staple, and the plays of Wole Soyinka: The Lion and the Jewel, most likely, or The Trials of Brother Jero. Often accompanying them were books by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – I remember we had both Weep Not Child and The River Between. And even if you didn't have them at home, you'd soon encounter them in school – they were standard set texts, from secondary school to college. These three writers belonged to the so-called first generation of African writing, the generation that started publishing in the 1950s and 1960s. The three names stood, like the legs of the three-legged pot, under African literature, while in the pot was cooking whatever fare the minds of these writers conceived of. They shared a similarity of subject matter: pro-independence, pan-Africanist, postcolonial theory, but stylistically they were very different from one another. Kenyan Ngũgĩ, unlike the two Nigerians, was shaped by very stern political obstacles, pushing him to take very radical positions on politics and language. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion In 1955, back home from school on vacation, he found his family home destroyed by the British colonial soldiers. His home town of Limuru had been razed to the ground. This was during the emergency, what the British called the Mau Mau uprising. This incident formed one of the motifs in his early fiction. His early novels, Weep Not Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967) and Petals of Blood (1977), were written in English, under the name James Ngugi, before he stopped writing in English and changed his name to Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. In his time as faculty member in the English department in Nairobi University, in the 1960s-70s, he fought for a curriculum change – in nomenclature and in substance, from English Literature to Literatures in English. It was a very important move that would shape other nascent departments of English Literature around Africa, by insisting upon a parity in all levels between English literature and other literatures in their original languages and in translation – those of African languages in particular. Ngũgĩ's generation saw the role of the writer as that of a teacher to the newly independent Africans, who were struggling to make sense of the modern world forcibly thrust upon them by colonialism. For Ngũgĩ, the teacher was always a Marxist activist, something of a community organiser. His plays, The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (1976) and I Will Marry When I Want (1977), were approached as community theatre, at the level of the people, for the people, and their highly political and critical content caused rioting on the streets when they were staged, for which Ngũgĩ was arrested by the Daniel Arap Moi regime. Arrests and detentions and exile were rites of passage for African writers of the first generation. Ngũgĩ's move into exile introduced his work to a new audience; he went on to produce some of his most important critical essays and polemical works. Decolonising The Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature (1986), in particular, occupies a central position in his body of work because of the early groundwork it laid in the field of postcolonial literary theory. His migration also included a migration away from the English language to his mother tongue, Gikuyu. Even when his position on the importance of writing in one's mother tongue grew less compelling than it was before the rise of world and global literatures, he held on to it, not for any practical value, but for the symbolic purpose of decolonising the mind. Growing up, we saw writers of Ngũgĩ's generation like prophets, figures from the Old Testament. That is why, when they die, we realise that the age of prophets is coming to an end, and we who are left behind must murk about the best we can, while we can.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elie Kamano's Anthem Amplifies Pan-African Reparations Call with Striking New Music Video
DAKAR, Senegal, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Guinean artist and activist Elie Kamano has released a powerful new music video for his single, 'Ils veulent l'Afrique sans les Africains' ('They Want Africa Without Africans'), delivering a bold artistic statement that fuses political resistance, cultural memory, and Pan-African solidarity. Filmed on the sacred grounds of the Thiaroye mass graves in Dakar, the video honors victims of one of colonialism's most heinous massacres. Kamano's visual tribute transforms the site into a defiant stage, linking Africa's historical trauma to the modern reparations movement. With raw lyricism and symbolic imagery, the video makes a clear demand: 'Africa will reclaim what Europe stole.' The release arrives at a pivotal moment. The African Union has declared 2025 as the Year of Reparations, providing institutional momentum to cultural and civic efforts across the continent. In Dakar, a recent high-profile conference reignited demands for justice surrounding the Thiaroye massacre, leading Senegalese authorities to launch archaeological excavations to document the scope of the 1944 French military crime—evidence that may substantiate formal reparations claims to France. The reparations conversation has visibly moved to the streets. Dakar's walls now feature bold graffiti murals demanding €50 trillion in reparations from former colonial powers—vivid calls for justice that cannot be ignored. In Bamako, Malian scholars and policymakers echo the urgency, calling for strategic frameworks that link historical redress with sustainable African futures. Kamano's work stands at the intersection of music and movement—galvanizing Pan-African youth, scholars, and policymakers alike. His anthem doesn't just commemorate the past—it ignites the future. "This is not just a song," says Kamano. "It's a voice for the voiceless. A call for dignity. A battle cry for what is rightfully ours." Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Elie Kamano
