Sierra Leone Embassy in the State of Kuwait was represented by Minister Counsellor/Head of Chancery (HOC) Mr. Duwai Sellu Lungay. According to Mr. Lungay Africa Day celebration is supposed to be observed on the 25th May every year, but the event was brought forward because of the Holy month of Ramadan. The celebration this year in Kuwait he lamented was at a low key in observance of the passing on of two Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Kuwait, HE Ibrahim Osaya Kamara and the Liberian Ambassador this year.
A minute of silent prayers was observed in remembrance of their two colleagues, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Bakarr Kamara of Sierra Leone and H.E. Mr. Konah Blackett of Liberia, both of whom sadly passed away in February and March this year.
The keynote statements were delivered by the Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Mr. Abdulkadir Amin Sheikh of the Embassy of the Somali Republic and the Chief Guest of Honour, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Khalid Suleiman Al-Jarallah.
The event featured lots of cultural displays – with each African country showcasing its rich tradition and cultural heritage in their respective booths. There were food fair, bonanza, free gifts and traditional dances. The Sierra Leone Mission in the State of Kuwait participated in the exhibition to celebrate the event.
According to Sierra Leone’s HOC in Kuwait, Africa has a lot of economic potentials with lots of investment opportunities and untapped resources. We used this event to promote investments opportunities and also to highlight African achievements as we work to promote peace
The African Union, which comprises about 54 member states, has brought together the continent of Africa to collectively address the challenges it has faced, such as armed conflict, climate change and poverty.
It could be recalled that African Freedom Day was founded during the first Conference of Independent African States, which attracted African leaders and political activists from various African countries, in Ghana on April 15, 1958. Government representatives from eight independent African states attended the conference, which was the first Pan-African conference in the continent. The purpose of the day was to annually mark the liberation movement’s progress and to symbolize the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.
Between 1958 and 1963 the nation/class struggle grew bigger in Africa and around the world. During this period, 17 countries in Africa won their independence and 1960 was proclaimed the Year of Africa. On May 25, 1963, 31 African leaders convened a summit meeting to found the Organization of African Unity (OAU). They renamed Africa Freedom Day as “African Liberation Day” and changed its date to May 25. The founding date of the OAU is also referred to as “Africa Day”.
African Liberation Day has helped to raise political awareness in African communities across the world. It has also been a source of information about the struggles for liberation and development.
