Observing Africa Day

Celebrating The Continent's Strong Cultural Identity and Common Heritage

By Shumirai Chimombe

The month of May is recognised as Africa month – a time when the continent commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963. Through establishing the OAU, Africa became a pioneer in being the first continent to focus on continental unity and to encourage nation building, The organisation was the precursor to what we now know as the African Union (AU).

Africa Day on 25 May is celebrated throughout the continent and internationally. It is intended to take stock and acknowledge the continent’s fight against colonialism and apartheid, as well as to celebrate the progress that Africa has made in its development, while reflecting on the common challenges that the continent faces.

The day is also used to celebrate the continent’s rich heritage, diverse languages, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds that make up its people. With 54 countries and over 2000 languages spoken, one can imagine the richness of this diversity and wealth of history, knowledge and traditions.

An Explosion of Colour, Culture and Cuisine

In many countries the spotlight is set on celebrating and exploring African music, art, and cuisine, learning about history and culture, and engaging in activities that promote unity and understanding. This is a time to celebrate what it means to be African.

In South Africa, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture hosts a series of events to celebrate Africa Day and throughout May for Africa Month. Businesses, organisations, schools and higher education institutions among others include the day in their calendar to organise events. Activities to celebrate African culture and heritage range from the visual arts, music, fashion, poetry, craft, song, storytelling and film. Schools can play a vital role in celebrating Africa Day and promoting cultural awareness among students and fostering a sense of global citizenship.

The website AfriKindness suggests various activities that schools can undertake, however, they are also excellent ways for businesses and organisations to commemorate Africa Day.

Cultural showcases: where students can display various aspects of African culture, such as traditional music, dance, art, and fashion; or research and give presentations on different African countries and their unique traditions.

Guest speakers: such as African artists, musicians, storytellers, or community leaders to share their experiences and knowledge about African culture and history. Food and cuisine featuring traditional dishes from different countries and discussions about food traditions and cultural significance.

Film screenings: Screen documentaries or movies that explore African history, culture, or current issues. This can spark meaningful conversations and broaden perspectives on Africa’s diverse realities.

Art and craft activities: Engage students in creative projects inspired by African art, such as mask-making, beadwork, or fabric painting.

Storytelling and literature: Encourage students to read African literature or listen to African folktales and stories. This can promote cultural understanding, empathy, and appreciation for African storytelling traditions.

Exploring The Vibrancy Of Continent’s Art and Culture

Africa Day is an opportunity to be curious about the diversity of this continent and learn something new about the people and places. Here are some ideas:

Immerse Yourself In The Visual Arts

There are thousands of iconic museums, galleries and cultural sites on the continent. Take some time to visit a place you have not been to before and immerse yourself in history and culture through the visual arts. You may be surprised at what new things you learn in a gallery or museum in your own city. And, thanks to technology opening up the world, it is now possible to experience these collections, cultural sites and landmarks online.Through an immersive experience you can discover and be inspired by taking a virtual tour or walk through a 3D virtual gallery. Some examples: ‘Artology’ by the University of Pretoria Museums; and ‘Interwoven Horizons: Bridging generations’ by Terra Kulture.

Learn About Different African Communities

Discover the wealth of tradition and heritage behind the lifestyles, rituals and crafts of the different communities on the continent. Meet the Maasai people of East Africa and find out about their beadwork and traditional Adamu dance (also known as the ‘jumping dance’). Travel into Southern Africa and visit the Ndebele village of ‘Mapoch’ outside Pretoria, be awed by the mystical wooden sculptures carved by the Makonde people of Mozambique, or the beautiful stone sculptures of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.

Discover The Magic of Mali’s Manuscripts

Mali is known for its treasure trove of the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu - some 400 000 pages of text detailing everything from the Koran to mathematics to astronomy and astrology. Central to the heritage of this country, they represent the long legacy of written knowledge and academic excellence in Africa, and hold potential to inspire global learning from the actions of the past in confronting modern day issues. More than 40 000 of those pages are digitally available for the first time for the world to explore on Google Arts & Culture. “In the dark night of our present existence, manuscripts are the searchlights that probe our past” - Dr Abdel Kader Haïdara, founder of the cultural preservation organisation SAVAMA-DCI which is the custodian of the manuscripts.

Travel Back In Time Through Africa’s Creative Expression

The continent has an abundance of rock art, which the people of the past used as an expression of their creativity. You will find a stunning array of South African rock art in the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu Natal and the Cederberg region of the Western Cape. It is the legacy of the San people, the original inhabitants of southern Africa. South Africa’s oldest museum, the Iziko SA Museum in Cape Town, has an extraordinary rock art display – including whole sections from caves. The Bushman Cave Museum, an open-air site in the Giant’s Castle Reserve in the Drakensberg, has 500 paintings, some of them thought to be thousands of years old. Iff you are curious about ancient Egypt, try out an online experiment using machine learning to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics on the Google Arts & Culture website.

Source: South African Government | SABC News | Google Arts & Culture | AfriKindness