AFRICAN CROSSROADS: Africa forges ahead
The Nation Newspaper | AFRICAN CROSSROADS: Africa forges ahead
Published on: 12/3/07.

BY IKAEL TAFARI

THE LONG-AWAITED AFRICAN UNION (AU)-African Diaspora Ministerial Conference was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 16 to 18 this year, preceded by a technical meeting of senior officials from the two regions. Both events were characterised by a spirit of cordiality as well as a sense of urgency, and in the case of the ministerial gathering, by growing evidence of political will.

The AU's executive council, convened in Khartoum, Sudan, in January 2006, wisely endorsed South Africa as the host of the second African-Caribbean Diaspora Conference. In carrying out its mandate, South Africa decided on a three-phased participatory approach – keeping a series of regional consultative conferences (RCCs), leading up to a ministerial conference, to culminate with a summit of Heads of Government from the continent and diaspora, scheduled for early 2008.

The objectives of the upcoming summit are to:

(a) create sustainable partnerships between the African diaspora and the African continent;

(b) engage in sustainable dialogue, partnerships and solidarity for a better Africa at home and abroad; and to

(c) promote South-South cooperation for the development of Africa and its diaspora.

The RCC agenda is guided by sub-themes from the first RCC in Jamaica in 2005:

(a) global dialogue, peace and stability; (b) integration of the two regions; (c) economic, social and political cooperation; (d) historical, socio-cultural and religious continuities; (e) women, youth, children and other vulnerable groups; and (f) knowledge sharing.

Most significant, especially from the diaspora's viewpoint, is the momentum gathering around the pivotal issues of reparations and the Diasporan African's right to return to the Motherland.

At the ministerial conference we had borne witness to the progress the African National Congress government was making in South Africa's new democratic dispensation – against formidable odds – to eradicate the lingering socio-economic legacy of apartheid.

We were inspired by the incomparable oratory of the AU Commission's chair, President Oumar Konare of Mali, who – without a script – sketched our uncharted journey into the rebellious imperatives of building a concrete edifice of global black unity; by the simple, stark sincerity of CARICOM Assistant General-Secretary, Ambassador Colin Granderson; by the magic of South Africa's ambassador of song, the evergreen Miriam Makeba.

By a nostalgic evocation of the Pan-Africanist legends of yesteryear by one of their contemporaries – Jamaica's living Pan-African icon, Ambassador Dudley Thompson; and by President Thabo Mbeki's cameo presentation, against a Shakespearean background of thunder, as the heavens opened, bringing an end to a drought which held his country in its grip for some time. As an omen foreshadowing the future of the Africa-Diaspora reconnection, it certainly was most welcome.

After intense caucusing, a draft programme of action for the summit's ratification crystallised, with solid consensus on those platforms for closer, effective collaboration that must be created if the AU-Diaspora mission is to be fulfilled. Foremost among these is a joint AU-CARICOM Commission to implement a programme centred around new corridors of trade, tourism and business, as well as exchanges in health, the arts, education and the media, between Africa and the diaspora – which is being designated the Sixth Region of Africa, despite protest from the AU's Arab bloc. In this context, the overriding priority of a direct Africa – Caribbean air-link was repeatedly affirmed by delegates.

Notably, the Rastafari were singled out by many speakers for their pioneering vision and culture of African resurgence. Pan-Africanism was confirmed as the glue – the single idea – that has proven capable of uniting the sons and daughters of Africa everywhere.

Africa is today in transition from the Africa that was to the Africa that is to be. Immense challenges therefore remain, but led by a strategic alliance between black African leadership on both sides of the Atlantic at this outset of the Ethiopian Millenium, our Mother Continent is forging ahead.

*Dr Ikael Tafari is director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs.

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