AFRICA MONTH KEY MESSAGE

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BRIEF: 

South Africa will mark Africa Month in May under the theme: “The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World”. The month is an opportunity to promote African unity, deeper regional integration and recommit Africa to a common destiny. 

Planned activities over the month by the Department of Arts and Culture will culminate with Africa Day celebrations on 25 May 2017. The annual commemoration of Africa Day marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. 

Today known as the Africa Union (AU) the organisation promotes greater unity and solidarity between African countries. The AU is at the forefront of peace, security and stability on the continent. 

South Africa plays an active role in the organisation as an integral part of the African continent. The country’s national interest is intrinsically linked to continental stability, unity and prosperity of Africa. 

A focal point of this year’s Africa Month programme is to create discussion platforms for South Africans, in particular local communities, to engage in conversation within the broader theme of decolonisation. 

This year Africa Month celebrations coincide with the centenary of struggle stalwart Oliver Reginald Tambo who epitomised the struggle for liberation. Tambo was instrumental in rallying support, assistance and solidarity against the oppression of colonialism and apartheid on the continent.