This year's Africa Day follows hot on the heels of the success of Marvel Studio's Black Panther, which has grossed over $1,334,929,992 since its initial release in Hollywood in early 2018, becoming one of the highest grossing films ever made.

The blockbuster has succeeded in showcasing the richness of the African culture, while at the same time embracing Africa's diversity. The film encourages pride and celebration of our 'africaness' and shows how important it is for African states to unite in order for the continent to grow and develop.

This is the very ethos on which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded.

On 25 May 1963, the OAU was constituted in Addis Ababa, with 32 signatory countries. The organization was subsequently replaced by the African Union, which was launched in South Africa on 9 July 2002 under the leadership of former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who was the chairperson at the first session of the Assembly of the African Union. 

The establishment of this organization is commemorated every year on 25 May, with this year marking its 55th anniversary. Africa Day was previously known as African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day. It is a public holiday in some African states and some have argued in favour of the day being declared a public holiday in all member states.

So why is the African Union important, and why should we celebrate it on Africa day?

What is the African Union?

The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of all the countries on the African continent, and it was established ‘to facilitate the achievement of greater continental integration (economically and socially), for the development and growth of African states and economies (individually and as a continent)’. Geographically, it is largest union of states on any one continent.  

The AU comprises of both political and administrative bodies. It is headed by the Assembly of the African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of member states of the AU. This Assembly is chaired by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, and is responsible for the most important decisions taken by the AU, at its semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. 

The Pan African Parliament is the representative body of the AU, and is made up of 265 members elected by the national legislatures of the AU member states, under the leadership of its president, Roger Nkodo Dang. 

The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which is also the main administrative capital of the AU.

The objectives of the African Union and how these objectives have been furthered

The AU has a codified set of objectives, which it has set out to achieve through debates and discussions at the summits which are convened every year. There are on average two to three summits a year. The following are some of the objectives, many of which have already been the subject of debate and discussion at various summits.

• To advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and technology. - January 2007 (Summit on Science, Technology and Scientific Research for Development)
• To coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union.
• To promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples.
• To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies. – June 2014 (Summit on the Year of Agriculture and food security) 
• Youth empowerment for sustainable development – July 2011
• To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations.
• To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
• To promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other relevant human rights instruments. – January 2016, African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women

So has the AU been a success?

The AU has had many challenges over the years, and is not without its problems. However, on an anniversary it is important to focus on and celebrate the successes, and these are not insignificant. Here are just some of the principal achievements of the AU:

• The OAU was founded with the initial aim to encourage the decolonisation of Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia. The organisation pledged to support the work conducted by freedom fighters, and remove military access to colonial nations. All countries have now become democratic states.
• The AU has been active in addressing the AIDS pandemic in Africa, which has plagued the continent for years. In 2001, the AU established AIDS Watch Africa to coordinate and mobilize a continent-wide response.
• In the area of peace and security, the AU has played a key role on the continent. One clear example was seen in response to the on-going Darfur conflict in Sudan, where the AU deployed 7,000 peacekeepers, many from Rwanda and Nigeria, to Darfur.

With all that it has achieved, and the work it continues to do, the 55th anniversary should be commemorated with major celebrations. Here's to many more years of growth and advancing change and development!

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