25/05/2015
Statement on Africa Day by the International Student's Association
Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). On this day, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1991, the OAU established the African Economic Community, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union. However, the name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity.
The International Student's Association would like to reiterate it's stance on unification of the African continent and would like to wish all African students within the university and it's membership a wonderful day and to say that in all the Celebration happening within the country and the continent at large we as Africans must reflect on where our continent has come from and shape it's future correctly. The soul and true independence of our continent lies in our hands and no one else. We derive our existence on the principles of unity and Ubuntu and thus must fight all elements that which to destabilise our unity.
We reject all forms of xenophobic or Afrophobic elements that took place within our country and we will continue our campaign of Africa Friday which seeks to foster unity in diversity and tolerance within our continent. We call upon all students to continue to support this initiative by dressing in African garments every Friday as a symbol towards this campaign. We will continue to hold programs or discussion forums every last Friday of the month on various topics that relate to the campaign and continent at large.
Mayibuye I Africa!!
Issued by International Student's Association
Chairperson: Nkululeko X Makhubu
Secretary: Sandile T Ngcobo
