Rainbow Nation Africa Day Celebration in Gqeberha
The continent Africa and its cultures are deeply rooted in oral traditions, storytelling, music and art, with a strong emphasis on community and family. Africa is also known for their vibrant music and dance with genres like Afro beats. Although Africa has a long history of resilience, resistance and innovation shaping the continent’s cultural identity and global influence. On 18 May 2024, in Gqeberha Africa Day was celebrated. Various nations across Africa participate in the phenomenal event, held at the Feather Market Centre.
One of the organisers Ms Holomo said the purpose and intention of celebrating Africa Day in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was to promote African unity, solidarity and cooperation. “It was also to honour the struggles and achievements of African freedom fighters and leaders. To Foster economic, political and social development across the continent. To Encourage African nations to work together to address common challenges and goals. To Celebrate the rich history, traditions and contributions of Africa to the world.
Ms Holomo said she firmly believes that cultures should be celebrated and must be appreciated by each ethnic group. Cultural diversity is what makes our world rich and vibrant, and celebrating different cultures helps to promote, understanding, acceptance and inclusivity. She said it is important to recognize and honour the unique traditions, customs and heritage of various communities, as it fosters a sense of belonging and identity among individuals and groups. By celebrating cultures, we can break down barriers, build bridges, and create a more harmonious and diverse society. Plus, it’s a great way to learn about and appreciate the different ways people live, think and express themselves!
The Nelson Mandela Bay Africa Day Celebration has involved our local African Nationals within the metro, who are Zimbabwe, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Somalia, and Ethiopia. It has also extended its invites to various African embassies and governmental officials. It also has involved business stakeholders operating in our municipality, the various business chambers, various governmental departments such as Home Affairs refugee desks, the Department of Labour and the local traditional leaders.
Therefore, Ms Holomo, said that her message to the broader Africa would be, let us come together to build resilient education systems that provide inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning opportunities for all Africans. Let us harness our collective strength and resources to create a continent where every individual can thrive, innovate, and reach their full potential, By investing in education, we invest in our future, our prosperity, and our freedom. Let us rise together to shape a brighter future for Africa, where every learner can access quality education that prepares them for success in an ever-changing world, motivation to that message is the theme of African Union which is building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa.
