By: Matsobane Manaka
Calls to strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity with fellow Africans were intensified during the spectacular and colourful African style celebration.
In his keynote address, Limpopo Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha said, “The African Union anthem calls on all of us to unite and celebrate together. To celebrate the victories won for our liberation and dedicate ourselves to rise together to defend our liberty and unity. To fight together for lasting peace and justice on earth. Basically, the anthem says to us that ‘everything for Africa, and nothing against Africa’”.
“From Cape to Cairo, from Madagascar to Morocco, Africa is one, however diverse our continent may be, we are one. Africa remains a common heritage that we all share. Africa remains a pride that can never be taken away from us”, said Mathabatha.
Mathabatha was speaking during the commemoration and celebration of the historic day on Africa’s continent calendar which was held at University of Limpopo on 25 May 2022.
Mathabatha continued that in South Africa, Africa Day presents an opportunity to reconnect and recommit ourselves in support of all interventions to develop a better Africa for a better world. He calls upon children of African soil to engage each other on the route to deliver Africa to its promised land – that is the land of Africa’s rebirth. Africa that is free from hunger, malnutrition, starvation; free from ethnic conflict, tribal wars, and genocide; free from haunting diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS and free from illiteracy across all age groups.
He reiterated that it is everybody’s responsibility to play a role in rebuilding the African continent. Young people were urged to work hard in finding scientific solutions to Africa’s socio-economic challenges. “We must find African solutions to African problems”.
Africa day celebrations were characterized by a beautiful blend of colour, dance and music. This is because our province represents a fusion and melting pot of Africa’s diverse cultural heritage. The evidence was carried out by various cultural performances in the celebrations displaying the tantalizing sneak-preview of Limpopo’s cultural and artistic riches.
Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture under the banner of National Department of Arts and Culture led this spectacular and colourful African style celebration.
