Africa Day

25 May

The South African Government celebrates 2010 Africa Day on Saturday, 29 May 2010, in Pretoria in cooperation with the African Union (AU) under the theme “Building and Maintaining Peace through Sport in Africa”.

Africa Day celebrates the day when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the African Union (AU), was formed in 1963.

Africa Day celebrations acknowledge the progress that we, as Africans, have made, while reflecting upon the common challenges we face in a global environment.

The AU is at the centre of the continent’s renewal process, aimed at making a break with a past that characterised by political instability, poverty and underdevelopment.

Africa Day 2010

The AU Commission organises Africa Day as an annual event and the South African Government, host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, has accepted to also host this event in this historic year for Africa.
Africa Day is also celebrated in member states (in many as a public holiday) as it is an important milestone in the history and development of Africa.
Africa Day provides an opportunity to promote the culture of peace and security through the participation of African political leaders, sports personalities and the people at various sporting and cultural events in South Africa .
The celebrations are aimed at demonstrating that without peace and security no development and prosperity can be achieved on the continent and equally that without development and prosperity, no peace and security can be accomplished

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is a major opportunity for South Africa and the rest of the continent to showcase Africa’s progress

The celebration of Africa Day 2010 will send a clear message that Africa’s time is now and communicate a welcoming message to visitors.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa presents a unique opportunity to harness the power of sport for the promotion of peace and security in diverse communities, in environments where personal security is a challenge and in countries with conflict and post-conflict situations.
The 2010 World Cup bid was packaged, proclaimed and pronounced as an African World Cup and it is therefore befitting to celebrate the 2010 Africa Day in South Africa just two weeks before the kick-off of the biggest sporting event in the world.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will ensure that Africa takes advantage of the opportunity to encourage a developmental legacy across the continent, speed up economic growth and halve poverty and unemployment by 2014.

“Ke Nako: Celebrating Africa’s Humanity”

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Last modified: 25 May 2010 12:39:53.