Beats of pan-Africanism and cultures steeped in rich tradition were accordingly celebrated for an eclectic audience at the Institute of Afrikology Resource Centre in Inkwali, KwaThoyana, on Africa Day: despite xenophobic attacks still being recorded in South Africa.
Dr Lilly Hlope, of the Migration Project, said that South Africans are ranked as some of the most intolerant to foreigners, globally, despite not being in the top 10 refugee-intake countries. “We understand the social inequalities burdening South Africans but taking out frustrations on foreign nationals, as in the case of xenophobia, holds no use but further distracts us from government’s hand in unemployment and poverty.” Also lending his voice to the call of African unity and social-cohesion was KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, who was among the attendees at the 25 May event. Zikalala urged all of the people of the continent to forge African unity by opposing the scourge of xenophobia whenever “it reveals its ugly and destructive face in communities all over Africa”. “As we speak, our continent is already advancing African integration and promoting intra-African trade through implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) which will allow us, as Africans and the world, to reach more than a billion people.”
Africa Day, this year, was celebrated under the theme ‘The Arts, Culture And Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.’ Dr Yaa Ashantewaa Ngidi, director and founder at the Institute of Afrikology, said, “The aim of Africa Day is to make people understand the importance of their connection to the rest of the continent and how beneficial that has been in our histories and future to come.” The celebrations saw traditional drummers from Burundi, art installations of African creatives and talks on how to better improve solidarity, social cohesion and stimulate competitive markets for trade amongst the continents’ countries. For Africa to prosper, Dr Hlope believes more accessibility and transparency is needed for foreign nationals through the Department of Home Affairs who recently set aside millions to fast-track legal immigration. “There needs to be proper implementation of current migration policies, and creation of new ones, to facilitate legal entry into South Africa. We are hypocrites of Ubuntu, as South Africans, if we turn away foreigners fleeing war, immeasurable poverty and ruin. Instead the negative energy perpetrated through xenophobia should be redirected to government who mismanage funds and defeat the ends of departmental purpose.”
Despite the African Union (AU), formerly the OAU, focusing on issues of gender, peace, economic relations and healthcare, among others, the primary objective is cohesion amongst Africans for continental gain; one which Dr Ngidi, keynote speakers and the Premier believe are well within reach. “We couldn’t be more grateful to all those who educated, danced, sang, created and entertained us on Tuesday. Pan-Africanism, which the Institute of Afrikology and Resource Centre forward, is so important for youth of all races to learn about. We’re built on the Nguzo Saba Principles of One Unity, Ubuntu, collective responsibility, purpose, faith and creativity,” said Ngidi. Dr Hlope added, “Migration is global – countries and cultures are born from such. As South Africans we should understand that someone’s appearance, dialect or accent has no bearing on their morals or intention but can rather enrich our own. Nobody leaves their home country willingly; keep that in mind.” For more information on the Institute of Afrikology and their programmers, workshops and initiatives visit www.instituteofafrikology.org, email institueafrikology@gmail.com or call 061-554-8231.
