Category Archives: Africa

Female resilience in traditional African oral literature (Sociotexte journal)

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Fabula

Studies assembled and coordinated by Béatrice Kakou Assi, Department of Modern Letters, UFHB, Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire.

Contrary to popular belief, the genres of traditional African oral literature are not fossils of our current literature and human sciences. Nor are their themes intended to be relegated to the residue stage of outmoded civilizations. On the contrary, traditional oral genres are anthropological universals and indicators of social mutations. They thus help to problematize the progress of man, in the sense that Seneca understood it, in the form of processual stations. They also help to understand and perfect human societies.

This is why Amadou Hampathé Bâ recommends that man “constantly return to the story during significant events in his life”[1]. Therefore, tales, legends, proverbs, myths, and other corpora relating to oral traditions – here, particularly African – should be read as authoritative sources for current issues: sustainable development, ecology, climate and the environment, human rights, the culture of peace and conflict management, the protection of biodiversity, women’s struggles, etc.

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(Click here for the original in French.)

Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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This last theme about feminine and feminist discourses in an oral and traditional African context validates the relevance of this thematic call from the journal Sociotexte. It will be a question of reflecting on the resilience of female and/or feminist figures in our oral texts, whether they are illustrious by their fame or anonymous by their invisibility. Contributions should therefore include:
`
– The struggle of women in tales, myths, legends and epics

– Figures of women, resistant or revolutionary

– Maxims and proverbs to the advantage of a shining image of women

– (Ancient) stories of the power of women (the myth of the mother goddess for example)

– Model figures for current feminist movements

– Stories of protection, celebration or deification of the “woman-mother”.

– Rebellions and revolts of women against the conventional places and roles assigned to women (warrior women or Amazons, etc.)- The female-male

– The mother or single woman (single, widowed or divorced)
—
Proposals are received at the following address:
kakousociotexte2024@gmail.com

The deadline is set for February 16, 2024.

— [1] Amadou Hampaté Bâ, Petit Bodiel, NEI/EDICEF, 1987, p.86.

Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Women, Peace, and Security Conference underway in Juba, South Sudan

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from the Catholic Radio Network

The Annual National Conference on Women’s Peace and Security began in Juba on Wednesday 25th October 2023, calling for civic education and preparation for anticipated general elections in 2024.

The Conference focuses on women’s political participation, the constitution-making process, federalism, electrical, the role of media, and many other topics. More than two hundred women across the country are taking part in the conference.

Minister of Interior, Hon. Angelina Teny says this is the high time for women to start engaging in preparation for the elections.

“So we need to now think consciously, how we are going to be part of all these instruments and mechanisms that are going to be involved in ensuring a safe environment, for all the women and all the candidates to campaign.”

Hon. Angelina encourages the women to work hard to ensure their internal democratic processes contribute to a free, fair, and credible election in 2014.

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Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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“You have to work hard to ensure that your internal democratic processes contribute to a free, fair, and creditable election that will ensure the participation of the women and other sectors of society.”

Hon. Teny revealed her Ministry role to promote free, fair, and credible elections through maintaining security across the areas in South Sudan.
`
Eve Organization for Women, representative, Jacqueline Natepo, says this is a moment for women to position themselves and effectively contribute to shaping the future of South Sudan.

“This period presents an opportunity for all women in South Sudan to position themselves and effectively to the shaping the future of South Sudan, for us, our children in the future generation to come especially peaceful stable inclusive and developed South Sudan.”

Natepo adds that women need to participate in the coming election as it’s getting to the end of the transitional period. She calls on women to take the conference seriously because women are a key part of democracy.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Miriam Choppers says much has been achieved since the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution.

She is worrying that the implementation of women’s peace and security is left behind. Choppers believes that a real measure of the strength of democracy is to measure the strength of women.

The two-day annual National Conference on Women is organized by Eve Organization under the theme, “Building Inclusive Democracy: Women’s Leadership and Political Participation.

Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

The 3rd Edition of the Biennale of Luanda THEME: “Education, Culture of Peace and African Citizenship as tools for the sustainable development of the continent”

. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

A media advisory from the African Union

INVITATION TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What:  The 3rd Edition of the Biennale of Luanda   THEME: “Education, Culture of Peace and African Citizenship as tools for the sustainable development of the continent”

When: 22-24 November 2023, Luanda, Angola.

Who: The event is organized by the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Angola (the National Biennale Management Office) in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Why: The Biennale of Luanda – “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace” aims to promote the prevention of violence and conflict resolution, by encouraging cultural exchanges in Africa and dialogue between generations. It is held every two years in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.

The 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, 6 & 7 February 2021, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, underlined the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa – Biennale of Luanda, as a privileged space for the promotion of cultural diversity and African unity, provides a unique platform for governments, civil society, the artistic and scientific community, the private sector and international organisations to discuss and define strategies for the prevention of violence and conflict with a view to building lasting peace in Africa.

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Question related to this article:

The Luanda Biennale: What is its contribution to a culture of peace in Africa?

Can the African Union help bring a culture of peace to Africa?

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Objectives:

The aim of the Biennale of Luanda for the Culture of Peace in Africa is to work towards a daily and sustainable individual and collective appropriation and implementation, on the continent, of the concept of a culture of peace. 

This initiative reinforces the implementation of Goals 16 and 17 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 7 Aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, in particular its ”Silencing the Guns by 2030″ initiative. 

Background:

The first edition of the Biennale of Luanda, “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace” was held from 18 to 22 September 2019 in Luanda, which was a celebration of various African values, beliefs, forms of spirituality, knowledge and traditions that contribute to the respect of human rights, cultural diversity, the rejection of violence and the development of democratic societies. 

The second edition of the Biennale of Luanda took place from 27 November to 2 December 2021 and was celebrated under the African Union’s 2021 theme, “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”.

For more information, visit the Biennale of Luanda webpage.

Journalists are invited to cover the 3rd Edition of the Biennale of Luanda.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Ebba Kalondo | Spokesperson to the Chairperson, African Union Commission | E-mail: kalondoe@africa-union.org
Mrs Christiane Yanrou-Matondo | Principal Communication Officer, Cabinet of the Chairperson | E-mail: Yanrouc@africa-union.org
Ms. Limi Mohammed | Web Administrator, African Union Commission, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate E-mail: shashlm@africa-union.org
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org


Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

African Union: Leveraging Arts for Peace – Training on Silencing the Guns

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from the African Union

As a follow-up to the December 2021 Seminar for African Artists on Silencing the Guns, the African Union (AU) Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), convened a five-day virtual training for another cohort of artists from 18 to 22 September 2023, under the theme: ‘Leveraging Arts for Peace’.  The training was grounded in the belief that Art helps prevent conflict in communities by raising awareness and inspiring tolerance around societal differences.

Held during the Africa Amnesty Month, the training, organised by the AU Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), through the Silencing the Guns (STG) Unit, brought together 25 African artists from all the regions of Africa, to not only raise their consciousness about promoting peaceful co-existence in communities, but also to sensitize them against the use of the art to incite violence, promote hate speech, hate crimes or other forms of conflict.

In his opening remarks at the start of the training, the AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, underscored the need for artists to champion and advocate for peace with an enhanced understanding of efforts undertaken towards a cohesive society – through conflict prevention, resolution and reconciliation. “As artists, you have the power to not only bring people together, but also inspire a sense of community”, said Dr. Chambas.

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Question for this article:

Do the arts create a basis for a culture of peace?

Can the African Union help bring a culture of peace to Africa?

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On her part, Ms. Svenja Vollmer, on behalf of Mr. Evariste Karambizi, the Director of the Division for Peace at UNITAR, applauded artists for their unique ability to translate complex emotions, experiences and societal issues into tangible and relatable forms. Ms. Vollmer called upon the artists to use their creative energy to bolster the common goal of silencing the guns in Africa. “Through music, dance, visual arts, literature, theatre, and more, your guilds have historically challenged injustice, promoted dialogue, and kindled the flames of social change”, she stated.

During the five-day training, discussions centered around the role of artists in advancing peace advocacy through arts; principles for effective advocacy and outreach; AU’s work in advancing peace and security; and the existing approaches and frameworks to silencing the Guns in the continent, among others.  Furthermore, the training guided participants with the knowledge and skills to advance peace and security through artistic expression; heighten awareness and promote ownership of the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative to campaign towards supporting country-level interventions to achieve a conflict free Africa and create favourable conditions for the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

The artists were also taken through the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa – the guiding document for the Silencing the Guns initiative, which highlights interventions that need to be taken in the political, economic, social, environmental and legal aspects; as well as an introduction to concepts of conflict and conflict analysis; and the role of artists in advancing peace, among others. In this regard, participants exchanged views and brainstormed on creative ideas that would heighten public awareness on Silencing the Guns and the negative impact of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons on the continent.

In December 2021, the Silencing the Guns Unit organized a continental seminar on “Art, Culture and Heritage, as Levers to Silence the Guns in Africa”, in Accra, Ghana with the aim of sensitizing African Artists on the importance of promoting a culture of peace.

Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Yemeni peace laureate to deliver keynote speech on the matter in Cape Town today

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article from Independent Online

As the global community faces incessant threats to peace and stability – and there is more violence within communities in South Africa – the voices at a Peace Dialogue and Youth Conference taking place this weekend should be amplified.

Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman, a human rights activist, journalist and politician from Yemen, will be a keynote speaker at the Power of Peace Dialogue in Cape Town today.


Tawakkol Karman, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Picture: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelinio

The 7th Annual PeaceJam South Africa Youth Leadership Conference will start today and runs until Sunday. It is hosted by Mentoring PeaceBuilders South Africa, an affiliate of the PeaceJam Foundation.

At the age of 32, Karman is the youngest Nobel Peace Laureate as well as the first Arab woman and the second Muslim woman to receive the prestigious recognition.

The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Karman in recognition of her “non-violent struggle for democracy” and advocating for women’s rights in Yemen.

During the Arab Spring, referred to at the time as “The Mother of the Revolution” and in the face of increasing threats made to her life, Karman led peaceful protests for democracy and freedom of speech in Yemen.

She is also the founder of Women Journalists Without Chains and was imprisoned and persecuted as a result of her active engagement, according to a Nobel Prize statement.

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Questions related to this article:

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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A Power of Peace Dialogue, in partnership with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, will start at 6pm today at the Old Granary Building, Buitenkant Street, Cape Town.

The dialogue session will take the form of a panel discussion and will include Karman, PeaceJam Foundation vice-president Lauren Coffaro, Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation CEO Janet Jobson, Mosaic Training Services and Healing Centre for Women executive director Tarisai Mchuchu-Mac Millan, and community leader and advocate Talethia Edwards.

The Peace Conference tomorrow and Sunday is expected to see hundreds of young people, aged between 14 and 24 years, who are interested in becoming agents of positive change in their communities and world gathering at the Chrysalis Academy in Cape Town.

Approximately 400 learners from 19 different high schools and youth organisations, along with over 50 university mentors, will attend.

Mentoring PeaceBuilders South Africa NPC is a non-profit organisation that aims to create a culture of peace by empowering young people to become leaders and peacemakers.

The organisation is part of the PeaceJam Foundation, a global movement of 14 Noble Peace Laureates who mentor young people to change the world through service and education.

“The world is in need of new ideas and approaches and this new generation of young people is uniquely qualified to understand and address the complex problems of violence facing humanity.

“Our Youth Peacebuilding Conferences and Lectures offer engaging and safe spaces to nurture young people and help them realise their potential to tackle issues head-on,” Mentoring PeaceBuilders South Africa NPC co-founder and director Earl Mentor said.

“We want to build awareness of the Power of Peace in the light of the ongoing violence in our high-conflict communities in South Africa. We want to also discuss peace to help transform our collective consciousness through the courageous pursuit of healing our nation through dialogue and action.”

Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Montpellier: Euro-Africa Biennial and Water Days

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

Extracts from the web sites of Entreprendre-Montpelier – Biennale and Entreprendre-Montpelier – Water Days

In 2021, Montpellier hosted an innovative event promoting a desire to reinvent the links between the African continent and the French territory: the New Africa-France Summit. A Summit highlighting the links between civil societies, in which the participants were not heads of state or ministers, but artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, or even researchers and African academics and French.

Today, we must urgently innovate and together forge the conditions for a sustainable future for all. As you know, our metropolis is still in the running to become European Capital of Culture in 2028, as such, I wanted this first edition of the Euro-Africa Montpellier Biennale to be the highlight of our candidacy. For a week, we will bring together a wide range of actors from our two continents to discuss together the subjects that connect us. Whether by addressing the theme of water, a crucial subject for our territories and so central to our MedVallée strategy, or the importance of changing views on the African continent, Montpellier creates, through this Biennale, a framework conducive to innovation and the collective implementation of concrete solutions.

Michaël Delafosse Mayor of Montpellier
President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole


Click on image to enlarge

The Euro-Africa Biennale will have two parts:

A general public cultural component

The program includes events of national and international influence to promote existing and future cooperation between Montpellier and the African continent (general public festival, screening evenings, concerts, dances in the halls and emblematic places of the city as well as ‘in the open air”, artist residencies in places of art, culture and knowledge in the city) We hope to transform the public’s outlook on the reality of current African cultures, particularly in the field of Cultural and Creative Industries (ICC).

An exposition of African fabric will be displayed at the Halle Tropisme and in the city’s spaces, as an extension of the Africa Past Forward Forum which will be held at the Gaîté Lyrique in Paris on October 6 and 7, 2023.

A development and innovation component

The “Euro-Africa Montpellier Water Days” will take the form of a multi-stakeholder congress around issues linked to water resource management and cooperation between territories, scientists and civil society.

Another highlight will be the “Young African Entrepreneurs Campus” which will open its doors for its second edition in Montpellier from October 1 to 11. This offers a support program to innovative African entrepreneurs operating in the fields of technology and innovation, global health, cultural and creative industries and sport in Africa.

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(Click here for the original article in French.)

Question related to this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

Solidarity across national borders, What are some good examples?

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And three axes:

Axis 1: The water that connects us,

Axis 2: Future plans for other modes of cooperation,

Axis 3: Transforming the views of European citizens on the reality of the African continent.

Water Days

Water is a major issue within the framework of the MedVallée strategy, the water which connects us is at the heart of the issues of health, environmental preservation and agriculture which constitutes the basis of the strategy and image of the triptych “Heal, Protect, Nourish”. Responding to the challenges of these days, the scarcity of precipitation, over-demanding resources and lack of infrastructure, we want to createa dialogue between state and private stakeholders, scientific or from the field, to solve the geopolitical and economic problems posed by the lack of water in a context of global warming, increasing urban demography and supply inequalities.

October 9 to 10: 2 days of discussions to explore reality and find solutions between stakeholders involved in the following themes:

° Climate change and hydrological risk
° Urbanization of Mediterranean and African megacities
° Access to water
° Sanitation and health
° Urban and peri-urban agriculture
° Governance
° Water and gender
° A look back at the United Nations Water Conference (March 2023)

To address these themes, the planned round tables and workshops will bring together:

° Scientists: 40 Mediterranean, African and European scientists.

° Mediterranean, European and African private sector companies: 30 company representatives.

° Institutionals and decision-makers: 40 representatives of local, regional, national, Mediterranean, African or European governance
.
° International organizations: 40 representatives from various international organizations and associations
.
° UNESCO Representatives and Chairs: 20 people are invited to participate in the round tables.

(Thank you to Emanuelle Defossez, the reporter for this article.)

Africa, Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Togo participation in the Luanda Biennale, or Pan-African Forum on Culture, to take place in the Angolan capital from November 22 to 24

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Republic of Togo

The Luanda Biennale, or Pan-African Forum on Culture, will take place in the Angolan capital from November 22 to 24.

Three young Togolese were invited, Komlan Nestor Kotchadjo, Samson Ayi Kouevi and Lidaw-wè Fabienne Dontema.


Samson Ayi Kouevi © republicoftogo.com

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(click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question related to this article:

The Luanda Biennale: What is its contribution to a culture of peace in Africa?

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This meeting is a joint initiative of UNESCO, the African Union (AU) and the Angolan government which aims to promote the prevention of violence and the resolution of conflicts, by encouraging cultural exchanges in Africa and dialogue between generations .

As a space for reflection and dissemination of artistic works, ideas and good practices linked to the culture of peace, it brings together representatives of governments, civil society, the artistic and scientific community and International organisations.

The Forum is participating in the implementation of the “Action Plan for a Culture of Peace in Africa/Agissons pour la Paix” adopted in March 2013 in Luanda.

Samson Ayi Kouevi, the Togo national coordinator of the Pan-African youth network for the culture of peace, is pleased to be on the list of participants.

‘Peace and living together are our priorities. We believe in human dignity, social justice, international cooperation and the harmonious coexistence of peoples. These values are necessary if we want to build a better future,’ he said on Tuesday.

For the Luanda Biennale, it is a question of working towards daily and lasting individual and collective appropriation and implementation, on the continent, of the concept of culture of peace.

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

How to promote the culture of peace in the DRC?

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Radio Okapi

The Democratic Republic of Congo is still facing numerous challenges, particularly the risks of security instability and conflicts, during this electoral period. For experts, it is essential to promote the culture of peace and non-violence in the minds of men and women. It is in this context that Gospel artists decided to come together to promote peace through songs during the Festival called “100 voices for peace, Gospel Mass Choir for Peace” scheduled for next October in Goma (North-Kivu).

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(Click here for the French original of this article)

 

Question related to this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

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Nearly 20,000 festival-goers are expected at this great celebration of peace. How are the preparations for this event going? How to promote the culture of peace through the Gospel?

Jody Nkashama talks about it with Ludovic Kalengay, coordinator of the Multisectoral Popularization and Awareness Program (PMVS), Marlon Mateta, Deputy Manager of the Festival “100 voices for peace » and with Mrs. Annifa Vahavi, President of Divine Gracia and member of the organizing team of the 100 Voices for Peace Festival

Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Towards an African renaissance through culture and history

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from La Depeche d’Abidjan

Through oral tradition and knowledge of history, African culture can convey peace and creativity on the continent, beyond, and throughout the world.

In West African folklore, Anansi was a charming prankster with the appearance of a spider. He realized that human beings were sad, because they had no reason to hope or envisage a bright future. He then remembered that Nyame, the sky god, had magical things called stories. These stories could make humans happy, Anansi thought.

He visited Nyame and asked to buy his stories. However, the sky god told him that they were not for sale. “I won’t sell them for anything in the world, except for Onini the murderous python, Osebo the elusive leopard, Mmoatia the mischievous fairy and Mmoboro, the swarm of deadly hornets,” says Nyame. This mission was a feat, but not for Anansi, who managed to capture these four out-of-reach targets using his genius. When he delivered them to Nyame, the latter was not satisfied. However, having made a deal with Anansi, he had to honor his promise.

“Bring these stories back to earth and give them to humans,” Nyame said. They will be eternally grateful to you. Besides, they will name all the great tales “spider stories” in your honor. »

Thus, Anansi the joker became the god who knew all stories. The myth of Anansi illustrates the need for every society to create and share stories.

Netflix and UNESCO have joined forces to launch an innovative short film competition on the theme “African folk tales revisited” throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The winners of the competition will be trained and monitored by professionals in the field and will receive a production budget of $75,000 to produce short films which will be broadcast for the first time on Netflix in 2022, in the form of an Anthology of African folk tales. One of the main objectives of this competition is to discover new voices and give international visibility to young directors from sub-Saharan Africa.

From spider tales to African history

Stories such as those shared by Anansi have been at the heart of human life for thousands of years, a kind of cognitive game that stimulates the human mind, allowing us to understand natural and social phenomena, and to imagine different strategies for living in a complex world. It could be assumed that the more we collect and share these stories, the more we will be able to understand ourselves, others, the world around us, respective and common values and traditions. UNESCO’s work over the past decades to document, collect and write down these stories from around the world is not only a much-needed effort to protect and preserve precious heritage, but also an effort to develop knowledge of the world as well as our collective capacity to understand ourselves.

Spider tales are widespread in West Africa,. The Ghanaian tales of Anansi are among the best known, in the Akan language the name Anansi comes from the word “spider”.

Today, Anansi symbolizes the wisdom, creativity and complexity of the entire African continent. Oral traditions — messages, songs, fables and proverbs — are passed from one generation to the next without writing, allowing people to make sense of the world around them and teaching them essential aspects of their culture.

Like the tales of Anansi, told since the dawn of time, the history of the African continent has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Although historical writings have existed in West Africa for many centuries, the majority of people on the continent were unable to read them. Oral tradition allowed Africans to share their common history, whether they came from the north or the south of the continent, however Europeans considered that the latter had no history, because they were incapable of reading and understanding it. to understand. Thus, the history of Africa that was shared with the rest of the world began with the story of colonialism and that of Europeans in Africa.

Decolonizing African history

In the early 1960s, as Africa entered a phase of rapid decolonization, intellectuals and leaders of newly independent countries worked to liberate their history as well as that of their nation. In order to put an end to the general ignorance of African history, UNESCO launched the “General History of Africa” in 1964. The Organization invited African intellectuals to write, for the very first time, the history of their continent using sources often ignored by Western historians, such as folklore, traditions and culture, to provide an African perspective, free of the racial biases emanating from the slave trade and European intervention.

This ambitious project, intended to renew scientific approaches to the history of Africa, had immense repercussions on world history, and offered a new global perspective on the history of all continents. It placed Africa at the heart of the history of humanity. For the first time, we attempted to go beyond the borders of national stories in order to construct a true “general history”, highlighting the common points between peoples and cultures, revealing trends and exchanges over the centuries beyond borders. national, and highlighting identities like never before.

The African continent has the longest history in the world: it is the cradle of humanity. In the 19th century, Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that the common ancestor of human beings was most likely African, an idea that alarmed many at the time. “The fact that we could have evolved in Africa was anathema to many, who were unable to believe that the pure white, blue-eyed, flaxen-haired northern populations could have originated on the ‘dark continent’. ”. However, all the major events linked to our history date back to Africa,” explains the Kenyan paleontologist, Richard Leakey, one of the first contributors to the General History of Africa project. “We are an African animal, an African species that has colonized and recolonized the world at different times and in different ways. Today, no human being can say that Africa is not their motherland.”

The General History of Africa

The General History of Africa (HGA) is a pioneering, unprecedented project, aiming to cover the history of the entire African continent, from the beginning of humanity to the contemporary challenges faced by Africans and their diasporas around the world. A story which brings to light the pre-colonial period and intertwines the destiny of Africa with that of humanity by highlighting its link with other continents and the contribution of African cultures to the general progress of humanity. In recent years, UNESCO has begun the preparation and editing of three new volumes of the HGA (volumes IX to XI).

Starting from the example of Africa, UNESCO has led other vast historical projects on a regional scale, such as the General History of Latin America and the Caribbean, the History of Civilizations of Central Asia, the different aspects of Islamic culture as well as the History of humanity. These volumes and their thousands of pages, written well before the birth of online platforms such as Wikipedia, represent one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors aimed at building a common understanding of the human history we share. The General History of Africa has since changed the global perspective on how history is written and constitutes a historiographical shift in scale that modern “world history” and contemporary “connected histories” continue to explore .

The General History of Africa in video

The General History of Africa (HGA) launched by UNESCO in 1964 has entered a new phase with a nine-part documentary series, produced by BBC journalist and producer Zeinab Badawi. The latter traveled to the four corners of Africa, interviewing historians, archaeologists and African citizens whose testimonies and stories paint a vivid picture of their continent’s past and its influence on their lives today.

Teaching the General History of Africa

In March 2009, UNESCO launched “Pedagogical Use of the General History of Africa” to respond to requests made by African countries concerning the adaptation of the content of the volumes of the General History of Africa. Africa to school education. To do this, UNESCO has developed educational content to teach to children in African primary and secondary schools in order to improve the knowledge of African pupils and students on the way in which African societies have evolved through time and space. and on the impact of these changes on the present and the future.

Celebrating a common culture: from north to south, from west to east

There is an expression common to many Southern African languages: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, which literally means “a person is a person through other people”.

In African culture, the “self” is not separate from the world, on the contrary, it is one with the natural and social environment. Although there are different ethnicities and nationalities — each with their own language, gastronomy and artistic expressions — all Africans share a common culture. This African wisdom echoes John Donne’s famous quote “no man is an island”, which reminds us that human beings do poorly when they are isolated from others and need to be part of a community to thrive.

The end of colonization at the beginning of the 1960s was no guarantee of lasting peace on the continent.

On the contrary, violent political events, rooted in ethnic conflicts, have hit sub-Saharan Africa since independence, causing millions of deaths and slowing economic development.

To ensure peace on the continent, regional communities understood that they needed to strengthen their ties and interact with each other, celebrating their common culture.

Let us draw together from our values, our traditions, our culture in order to find the path to prosperity and peace. Denis Mukwege, Congolese gynecologist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018

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(Click here for the original French version of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
Can popular art help us in the quest for truth and justice?

(Article continued from left column)

Building peace in Africa

Every two years, Luanda, the Angolan capital, transforms into a global center for peace in Africa, as the city hosts the “Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace”, also known as the Luanda Biennale. More than 60 countries are represented, attracting representatives of governments, international organizations, NGOs and artists. They share ideas, enter into new partnerships and take part in cultural events, with one common goal: to strengthen the culture of peace on the continent.

The Biennale is the result of the joint efforts of the Angolan government, the African Union and UNESCO. It is organized to overcome the various obstacles to growth and prosperity in Africa.

It also constitutes a platform of choice for taking stock of and encouraging some of UNESCO’s most important initiatives in favor of education, science, press freedom and equality. genres across the continent. According to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), at least half of young people aged 15 to 17 in sub-Saharan Africa were out of school before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the situation is not only got worse. This is the highest proportion of any region in the world. More than half of those who should now be honing the skills they need for the job market or to access higher education are not even in school. As an example of concrete action, the UNESCO Global Education Coalition provided free internet access to Senegal and other African countries to facilitate immediate distance learning for a half-million learners, with the goal being to enroll an additional 3.5 million in the program.

The Luanda Biennale Partners Forum focuses on how to build innovative partnerships for inclusive democracy and peace across African countries. It brings together international organizations, the private financial sector, foundations and media as well as civil society, artists and cultural entrepreneurs.

This forum of ideas provides a platform for dialogue on the future of Africa, and focuses on solutions to prevent and resolve conflicts using culture, education and the free press. It addresses the protection of displaced people and migrants, the contribution of the African diaspora and the concerted management of the continent’s natural resources.

The women’s forum focuses on ways to end all forms of violence against women and the role of women’s networks in achieving peace in Africa. “I think it is important for us as a continent to come together and have a discussion about the paths we want to take and how we are going to get there,” said Xoliswa Phenya, Deputy Director of the development of crafts with the South African Department of Arts and Culture. Our leaders spoke of the African renaissance. Perhaps it is time for younger generations to step in to make this dream a reality. »

When African history helps us understand today’s societies

The Anansi spider has become the symbol of African finesse and wisdom in expression and its stories have survived through oral tradition. They have also traveled all over the world. This same oral tradition spread Anansi tales to the rest of the world, particularly to the Caribbean, through populations enslaved during the colonization of Africa.

For enslaved Africans and their descendants, Anansi became a symbol of resilience and survival. Tales recounting the spider’s ingenuity and trickery helped slaves survive the ordeal of captivity, perpetuate the link with their African past and assert their identity.

Today, nearly 200 million people across the American continent consider themselves of African origin. Several million more live in other parts of the world, outside the African continent. Understanding these historical and cultural connections is a prerequisite for meeting the contemporary challenges of social cohesion and the many forms of cultural belonging in modern multicultural societies. It is also an opportunity for all countries whose populations are made up of millions of citizens of African descent to encourage international dialogue and build links with other societies around the world. Citizens of African origin often represent some of the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, with limited access to quality education, health services, housing and social security. Understanding the past is perhaps one of the conditions for breaking the vicious circle and the legacy of racism, discrimination and exclusion.

During the transatlantic slave trade, some four million slaves were brought to American shores in Salvador de Bahia, in what is now Brazil, to work on sugar plantations. Some slaves managed to escape and settle on free land. Among them, the ancestors of Sandra de Santos, who created the agricultural community, Quilombo do Dandá, 250 years ago. Yet Sandra had to fight to preserve the land her family had lived on for generations.

“Tractors came to destroy our crops. There were conflicts. Overnight all our plantations were destroyed,” she says. After months of legal battle, she was allowed to stay on her land.

To help descendants of African slaves and people of African descent, UNESCO supported the International Decade for People of African Descent. Launched in January 2015, it will continue until December 2024. This decade aims to celebrate the importance and contributions of populations of African origin around the world, to advance policies of inclusion and social justice , to eradicate racism and intolerance, promote human rights and create more prosperous communities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

African culture and art around the world

Aged 19 and originally from the Dominican Republic, Eveline Murmann is one of the young Afro-descendant activists who fight every day for recognition of their roots and an end to discrimination, trivialized in daily exchanges: “straight hair is more formal” and “pale skin is prettier”. Others use artistic expressions such as songs, rap, poetry and dance to tell their stories, as their ancestors did with the tales of Anansi.

“This is the starting point for ending the structure of racism that permeates our society. Being Afro-descendant implies accepting our origins, loving our culture and taking part in our history,” she says. It means being proud of this beautiful skin and this hair so full of freedom. It is recognizing our value and highlighting our contribution to the development of societies.

See us ! Hear us ! Count us in! » [Regardez-nous ! Entendez-nous ! Incluez-nous !]:

Voices from the Decade for People of African Descent

Video celebration of the first part of the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2014-2025): musical performances, mini-documentary produced in Latin America, conversations with experts and inspiring voices of young people of African descent African people from all over the world sharing their testimonies, their hopes and their dreams through dance, poetry, singing, rap, slam and other creative expressions.

Indeed, the voices of the African diaspora and its young representatives have become loud enough to be heard around the world. Like that of Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, a 31-year-old Senegalese author, who has won numerous literary prizes in recent years for works on contemporary themes such as racism, discrimination and Africa’s relations with Europe. Thanks to his latest novel, The Most Secret Memory of Men, he became the first author from sub-Saharan Africa to receive the most prestigious French literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, and one of the most young winners of all time.

Just like African history, African literature has never stopped living. The growing recognition of its authors is an important first step towards redefining Africa’s relationship with the world. UNESCO forms of recognition such as International Jazz Day or the inscription of the Congolese rumba as an element of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity are part of the numerous initiatives recently taken to highlight and raise awareness of the importance of artists and creators of African origin. By combining the musical tradition of their ancestors with arrangements and improvisations, artists of African descent created new musical codes, which led to the birth of blues and jazz on the banks of the Mississippi Delta in New Orleans. Congolese rumba singers and dancers have also been at the forefront of all struggles and aspirations for Congolese independence.

Focusing on Africa means improving our world. Recognizing and sharing the many ramifications of African history helps us understand today’s societies and live together. This is the driving force behind UNESCO’s commitment to Priority Africa, and the reason to believe that African culture is an accelerator of mutual understanding, creativity and innovation, allowing us to harness the field of possibilities. This is how UNESCO delivers on Anansi’s promise and writes the next chapter in the spider’s story.

UNESCO and its development partners are closely monitoring 54 African countries, using a stronger and more focused strategy. The African renaissance is underway: the adoption of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development prepare the ground for action by the African Economic Community.

The African heritage

UNESCO firmly believes that sustainable peace and development are intrinsically linked to the capacities and skills of individuals as well as their dignity and rights. It is about taking advantage of this momentum by strengthening the assets of Africa, whose heritage represents a prodigious source of creativity. The richness of the continent’s heritage encourages us to safeguard it for future generations. Although Africa is under-represented on the World Heritage List with only 12% of the sites registered throughout the world, almost half of these sites are on the list of world heritage in danger.

Agenda 2063: the Africa we want

Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and blueprint for Africa aimed at transforming Africa into the global power of the future. It is the strategic framework of the continent which aims to achieve its objective of inclusive and sustainable development. It is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African desire for union, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued within the framework of Pan-Africanism and African renaissance.

The African Cinematic Heritage Project (AFHP)

AFHP is a long-term project carried out in partnership with the Film Foundation, chaired by Martin Scorsese, and the Pan-African Federation of Cinematographers (FEPACI) to contribute to the localization, restoration and preservation of films made on the African continent. It will identify 50 films of historical, artistic and cultural significance and will subsequently undertake the restoration process. UNESCO plans to include these films in the “Memory of the World” register.

Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Africa: International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .
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A survey by CPNN

The following 59 actions in 26 African countries include those listed in Google during the weeks of September 16-28 this year under the key words “International day of peace” and “Journée internationale de la paix.” The events also include some listed on the facebook page for the International Cities of Peace and the website of Campaign Nonviolence.

About 52 events are listed on the maps of One Day One Choir and Montessori schools singing for peace, but with the exception of 14 listed below, there is no indication which took place this year and which took place only in previous years.

For events in North Africa see the page of actions in the Arab States .


Planting trees in Kenya

Here are excerpts from the articles.

AFRICAN UNION:
Statement from the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye: On the occasion of International Day of Peace, I join our Leaders in wishing all the world of peaceful coexistence in which differences are resolved through dialogue without resorting to violence; a world in which the strength of our differences is harnessed as a rich tapestry of resources; a world of sustainable resource management that inclusively serves the needs of the present generation and ensures a legacy for future generations; and for our African continent, a world of good governance that enables us to use our rich endowments for the benefit of our people. . . .

ANGOLA: The Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace, also known as the Biennial, returns to Luanda for the third time. The state of preparation for this edition, which aims to educate for a culture of peace, was presented today in Luanda, at a time when the international day of peace is celebrated. The third edition will highlight youth as promoters of peace. Young people will have the opportunity to speak directly with the Heads of State and government. Women’s participation will also be analyzed.

BURKINA FASO: This is a message from the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, responsible for relations with institutions, Keeper of the Seals, on the occasion of the joint commemoration of the International Days of Peace and Tolerance (JIPT) 2023 edition. . . . I am taking the opportunity of these days which is offered to me to launch a vibrant appeal to all Burkinabè, whatever their age, their profession, their religion, their rite and their political affiliation to become aware of the situation we are experiencing, taking a step back from the events we are experiencing, experiencing a moment of awakening together and realizing that our only salvation is peace. . . As is the spirit of these days, in Burkina Faso, the joint commemoration of the International Days of Peace and Tolerance will be marked by a series of activities for the benefit of populations in general and young people and women in particular in the Central-East region. These will include conferences in schools, exchange meetings with local communities, slam and poetry competitions, awareness sessions followed by a women’s cycling race, radio broadcasts, parenting days joke and the official commemoration ceremony followed by a panel.

BURUNDI EU TEAM: The European Union team in Burundi celebrated the International Day of Peace on Thursday September 21, 2023 in Bujumbura. These ceremonies saw the participation of different executives from Burundi from different ministries. In her speech for the occasion, Elisabetta Pietrobon, delegate of the European Union to Burundi, said that the latter and its member states are sparing no effort in the fight for peace.

BURUNDI PROJECT INSIDE-OUT: On the occasion of the International Day of Peace this September 21, Mr. Jérémie BLIN, Ambassador of France to Burundi, and Ms. Elisabetta PIETROBON, new ambassador of the European Union (EU) inaugurated the exhibition “United for peace “. Created by French photographer Jean René (JR) as part of the “Inside Out Project”, this work is made of portraits, affixed to the facades of the Old East building in Bujumbura. As the French Ambassador indicated: “These 289 portraits bring together refugees, returnees and people involved in welcoming these communities in the different neighborhoods of Bujumbura. Choosing to treat this subject through the prism of art demonstrates our desire to highlight our common desire to live in a peaceful world. This work makes it possible to democratize culture and make it accessible to all. »

CAMEROON, GAROUA: The Alliance Francaise of Garuoua proposes to children to celebrate the International Day of Peace in workshops to design a dove of peace and to construct a wall of peace

CAMEROON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: The Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) appeals to separatist fighters in Ambazonia to lay down their weapons for 24 hours to commemorate the International Day of Peace, celebrated every September 21. On its official Facebook page, the CHRC asked the combatants to “respect twenty-four hours of non-violence and to refrain from any exaction” and to “make a significant gesture in favor of lasting peace, a vector of development”

CAMEROON, YAOUNDE: Festival International Ecran Slam, Friday Sept 15, a hybrid event online and live to promote peace on the International Day of Peace.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: The Minister of Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation, Virginie Baikoua, and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, chaired the celebration of the International Day of Peace in Bouboui, 45 km from Bangui. It was an opportunity to discuss the benefits of peace resulting from the signing of good neighborly agreements and the consolidation of intercommunity cohesion, initiated with the support of local Peace and Reconciliation Committees as well as MINUSCA. . . . To close the ceremony, the participants and officials present were invited to plant trees to symbolize the peaceful resolution of conflicts (palaver tree) and sustainable development.

CHAD, MOUNDOU: It is through the theme “Action in favor of peace: our ambitions for the global goals”, that the Ministry of National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion and the United Nations system in Chad, celebrated the 2023 edition of the international day of peace. In his speech, the acting United Nations resident coordinator in Chad, Ouattara Yafflo , emphasizes that the path to peace requires patience, vigilance and Chad needs peace and this is the wish of the Chadian people. . . . For the Minister of National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion Abdramane Koulamallah , Chad engaged in the process of returning to constitutional order needs the effort of its children in favor of peace. The minister calls on administrative and political authorities, civil society and associations to increase collective peace actions in favor of Chadians.

CHAD, SALAMA PEACE INITIATIVE: The president of the Salama peace initiative association, Josiane Djikoloum Darwatoye launched, this Saturday, September 16, 2023, through a press briefing, the first edition of World Peace Week in Chad. As part of its activities, explains Josiane Djikoloum Darwatoye, Salama Peace Initiative is organizing World Peace Week for the first time in Chad, from September 16 to 23, 2023 under the theme “Actions for peace: our ambition for the objectives of sustainable development with a view to contributing to national, regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening lasting peace in Chad”. The general objective of this first edition of World Peace Week is to strengthen the commitment of young people and their role as leaders in the promotion of lasting peace, dialogue and social cohesion in their communities and in the world.

COMORES: The International Day of Peace was also celebrated in Moroni yesterday, September 21. On this occasion, a peaceful march was organized in the capital to warn of the dangers of conflicts and violence of all forms. Organizations such as Youth and Women Leaders for Peace, the non-governmental organization CAP and Respir-Comoros celebrated World Peace Day yesterday morning. . . . Akim Saïd Mchangama, coordinator of the NGO CAP, showed that the fight against violence against women and children is a fight that our organizations are committed to leading.

COTE D’IVOIRE: Côte d’Ivoire commemorated Thursday, September 21, 2023, in Abidjan the celebration of the International Day of Peace (IPD 2023), around the theme: “Youth, peace and sustainable development”. . . . The Minister of the Interior and Security, Vagondo Diomandé, who represented Prime Minister Patrick Achi at this ceremony, indicated that peace is a noble aspiration, in addition to being the guarantor of the march of States towards development. He noted that peace is not a given and that we must continue to build and consolidate it, through reconciliation and the strengthening of national cohesion.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, KINSHASA YOUTH: Like every year, the world celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 21. This day is particularly dedicated to a ceasefire in conflict zones. On this occasion, former scholarship holders from YALI/RDC, an active network of young African leaders, organized, in Kinshasa, for young people working in digital technology, an online seminar on the impact of speeches of hatred on national cohesion in the DRC.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, KINSHASA FORUM: Every year, the International Day of Peace is celebrated around the world on September 21. On this occasion, the National Forum of Positive Youth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, organized on September 21, 2023, the African Youth Dialogue for Peace #2023, in the third level master building of the Kinshasa Higher Institute of Commerce ( ISC-Kin), under the main theme “Youth, lasting peace and peaceful elections in Africa-DRC”.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, NORTH KIVU: The ASBL Young Patriots Consolidators of Peace (JPCP), which expressed itself in a declaration made public this Thursday, September 21, invites the various actors of peace, including the population and the authorities to live together . Its coordinator, Benjamin Asimoni, remains convinced that the peaceful resolution of conflicts is one of the avenues for the return of peace to Beni. Still on the sidelines of this day, Samuel-Don Katembo Sekanabo, president of the Youth Parliament in the town of Beni, who spoke, remains confident that unity and good collaboration between different peace actors will facilitate the return of peace. peace, which until then remains a utopia in the Beni region. . . . In Lubero territory, the active participation of women in the search for peace in the east of the DRC is very important. Message from Madame Mbambu Nzavake Mwamini, woman leader in Lubero territory on the occasion of World Peace Day this Thursday, September 21, 2023. For her, it is absurd to talk about the search for peace without involving the woman who is the first victim of insecurity.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, SOUTH KIVU: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) officially launched the Young Peace Ambassadors program in South Kivu this Thursday, September 21 to mark the celebration of the International Day of Peace. This program consists of making around 400 young people ambassadors of local peace committees installed in all the communes, neighborhoods and avenues of the city of Bukavu and the territories of South Kivu.

GABON: The whole world celebrated the International Day of Peace. Gabon was not left out of this celebration. The women leaders of this country came together to show their attachment to the values ​​of peace, sharing and above all Love. The event took place in the Lumière Chrétienne Church, in Libreville, on September 21, 2023. It was organized by CSOs: Women of FIRE; Gabon Group R. 1325; Cry of Women; Women’s Democracy Challenge. . . . In her presentation, the Peace Mediator, Caleopie Elloue, continued to recall the importance of peace and its necessity in a country like Gabon. While saluting the genius of the army which, without bloodshed, liberated the Gabonese as a whole, this women’s rights lawyer defined peace as “a relationship of well-being, of living well, of living together , living together based on respect for others, living in harmony, promoting peace. Promoting peace is being human.”

GUINEA BISSAU: Under the theme “Peace Begins with Me”, the Peace Observatory project – Nô Cudji Paz, in partnership with the National Popular Assembly and the Coordination of the United Nations System in Guinea-Bissau, celebrates the International Day of Peace – September 21st , with a special session alluding to the anniversary. This initiative aims to contribute to social cohesion and consolidation of peace, through debate and reflection on the role, by all national actors, in preventing radicalism and violent extremism in Guinea-Bissau. It is also intended to call on Guineans to the importance of recognizing the individual and collective responsibility of the Guinean people in promoting the values of national cohesion and peace. The event will bring together the worthy deputies, representatives of sovereign bodies, members of the Government, Defense and Security Forces, Diplomatic Corps, Traditional and Religious Leaders and civil society organizations.

KENYA: In a remarkable display of commitment to environmental sustainability and the celebration of peace, the Global Peace Foundation Kenya, in collaboration with the Chandaria Foundation, the Standard Group, and the Nairobi Primary, spearheaded a tree planting campaign to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Under the theme “Action for Peace; Ambitions for Global Goals,” the 2023 celebrations witnessed the planting of over 2000 trees at Alliance High School and Alliance Girls High School. The event also marked the official launch of Chandaria Tree Nurseries, each with a capacity of 100,000 seedlings, at both institutions. Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Ms. Beverly Moss, Secretary of Peace Building and Conflict Management in the Office of the President, commended the Global Peace Foundation and the Chandaria Foundation for their invaluable support in government-led efforts to mitigate climate change through tree planting. The creation of the tree nurseries aligns with the Million Tree Growing campaign, a joint effort between the Global Peace Foundation Kenya and the Chandaria Foundation. As part of this campaign, nine tree nurseries have been established in primary schools, secondary schools, and universities. With the aim of growing 15 billion trees by 2032, as called for by President William Ruto, this campaign serves to enhance Kenya’s forest cover and contribute to environmental sustainability

LAKE CHAD: Hello and welcome to your weekly radio show Kura Bari. We will exchange peace this week. Indeed, every year around the world we celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21. . . . The culture of peace is a culture of dialogue and prevention and, in this context, the role of the United Nations has never been so crucial. . . . But what does this day mean for the countries of the lake basin which have jointly faced insecurity for more than a decade? In any case, this is the question that will be the subject of discussions today. We are talking about it with Nodjigoto CHARBONNEL, President of the youth association for peace and non-violence and Désiré Oubadjimdehba, Independent Consultant, program manager and coordinator of activities of the YOUTHCONNEKT-CHAD program.

MALAWI: Center for Enlightenment and Development. Action for Campaign Nonviolence. September 30, 2023 – October 04, 2023. We will hold workshops to empower female youth in decision-making in their lives and teach them ways to counter harassment. . . . These trainings will be geared towards female youth who are currently married. We will teach skills that they can demonstrate at family and community levels. The issues of property grabbing, date-rape, and various relationship dynamics will be addressed.

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2023) for the International Day of Peace?



Comores

(Survey continued from left column)

MALI NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK: “Meeting the challenges of an inclusive and lasting peace” is the theme of the 2nd edition of the National Week of Reconciliation (Senare) launched last Friday by the Minister of Reconciliation, Peace and National Cohesion, in charge of the Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation, Colonel-Major, Ismaël Wagué. It was during a press briefing held on the premises of his department. . . . The Senare began on Friday with the reading of the Koran at the Great Mosque of Bamako, followed by the purchase of oxen for the benefit of the needy. A conference on security was hosted last Saturday at the Alioune Blondin Bèye peacekeeping school by the authorities of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection in collaboration with those of the Ministry in charge of Reconciliation. Sports activities at the sports palace followed Sunday’s masses. The rest of the program will be devoted to a women’s day of reflection, a youth conference, the delivery of various donations and a conference of economic operators.

MALI CONFERENCE DEBATE: On the occasion of this International Day of Peace, a conference debate was organized on the theme “Digital technology, disinformation and peace: the role of African youth”. According to the speakers, the aim was to understand and address the challenges posed by the interaction between digital technology, disinformation and peace. Abdoulaye Guindo, Coordinator of Benbere is one of the speakers.

MAURITIUS: Global Peace Chain Mauritius, an organization aiming to promote living together and social inclusion, organized an event this Thursday which highlighted Mauritius as an example of peace in the world. . . . . Precisely, during this ceremony, several personalities were present, including the Vice-President of the Republic, Eddy Boissézon. Click here for video.

NAMIBIA: This past week the Windhoek International School celebrated our Namibian Heritage Week alongside the International Day of Peace (IDP) on 21 September. . . . So on this International Day of Peace and during our Namibian Heritage Week, let’s all do our part – within our families, within our school, within our social/religious groups, and within our countries–to build peace.

NIGER: In Niger, particularly in Agadez, several actors in the social life of the region, inspired by the declaration of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the International Day of Peace, spoke out on the occasion of this day. . . . In his address, His Highness Oumarou Ibrahim Oumarou reiteated the commitment of the Sultanate and all the Ulemas of Air to continue the initiatives for peace. . . . the group of young ambassadors for peace from Agadez in collaboration with the Youth Action Movemet made a donation and a tree planting session. “The message that we wish to leave through these actions is that of promoting the values of peace and solidarity.”

NIGERIA, ABEOKUTA: A group, Aviary Association Worldwide, has called on parents to revive the norms and value system in the training of their children. The group said the incessant cult clashes were due to lack of peaceful orientation from home. This form part of the group’s communiqué, while marking the 2023 International Peace Day held at the NUJ secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Abeokuta. The vice president of the group, Adebayo Oniyide, noted that once Nigerians internalise the virtue of patience, cultivating peace will be simple. . . . Meanwhile, the Ogun state president of Gateway AVIARY, Abiodun Abiodu, expressed concern over the negative reports on cultism clashes that led to the killing of scores in Sagamu area of the state.

NIGERIA, ABUJA: Rotary International District 9125 and Peace Corps of Nigeria have stressed the need for peaceful co-existence among people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds in the country. They said this at a peace awareness walk, organised to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Peace on Thursday in Abuja. National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson Akoh, called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another and shun social vices that might make the country ungovernable. “In Nigeria today, we have a couple of challenges, leading to needless loss of lives and property, but the fact that we still remain united as a nation deserves celebration. We want to use this day to call on some of the youth who have taken up arms against one other or the state to stop it in the interest of development.”

NIGERIA, ASABA: Delta State Government has said it would continue to strengthen the ideals of peace among the ethnic nationalities in the state by ensuring equity, fairness and justice for all Deltans. Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Edwin Uzor, stated this in Asaba, when be briefed newsmen on the commemoration of the 2023 International Peace Day, Uzor said government was conscious of the fact that only peace and security could engender growth and development in the communities and the state at large, pointing out that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration was keen on resolving lingering intra and inter communal crisis in the state, including the one between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh.

NIGERIA, IBADAN: As part of its activities to mark the year 2023 World Peace Day, the Rotary Club of Ibadan engaged stakeholders across the geo-political zones of Oyo State on the need to sustain the peaceful coexistence enjoyed among all and sundry in the State. Stakeholders that gathered at the House of Chiefs Parliament Building, Agodi Secretariat Ibadan for the year 2023 World Peace Day organized by Rotary Club of Ibadan include the representative of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat, the representative of Myyetti Allah Cattle Dealers and Breeders Association Oyo State chapter,, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, a representative from the state Ministry of Judiciary, representative of Amotekun Corps, the religion leader, Transport Unions and workers, among others.

NIGERIA, KADUNA: Government agencies and non- governmental organizations involved in working for Peace and harmony in Kaduna state have commenced celebration of the International Day of Peace with dialogue ahead of the September 21st 2023, UN World Peace Day (WPD). Representatives of the various bodies which cut across different faith based organizations and religious leaders commenced the celebration with opening addresses and interactive session on ways to achieved peace in Kaduna state and Nigeria in general at the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMF), Kaduna. Speaking, Kaduna State Peace Commission representative, Didam Bobby Swam, expanded that activities line up for the September 21st 2023 international day of Peace, includes IDPs education at Maraban rido concert, football March final, symposium, cultural dancer. . . . Stakeholders in attendants includes Action Aid, Kaduna Network for Peace, Doma Peace Devt. IMC- host, CIPP structures, religious leaders. Christian and Muslims among others.

NIGERIA, KANO: Kano state government is planning big for this year’s International Peace Day holding on September 21. The state Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Baba Halilu Dantiye has also reiterated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s determination towards ensuring peace, order, and security of lives and property of residents in the state. Dantiye made this known when he received members of the Committee for International Peace Day and launch of Peace Magazine headed by the Managing Director of Radio Kano, Comrade Hisham Habib.

REUNION: Festival for Peace from September 22 to 24, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Verger de Mahavel at Ravine des Cabris. Every year, around the world, we celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21. It is within the framework of this day that Zétinsèl is organizing its first edition in Reunion this year. It will be celebrated in the form of a Festival from September 22 to 24, 2023 at the Verger de Mahavel.

SEYCHELLES UNIVERSITY: The International Day of Peace Committee (Seychelles) has organized two events September 21 under the United Nations’ chosen theme: ‘Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals.”
1) “My Sustainable Tree” Planting Venue: Playing Field, Mont Fleuri
2) Peace Day Ceremony. Venue: Peace Park, Victoria

SEYCHELLES ISIS: The International School Seychelles (ISS) came alive with the spirit of unity and peace as students and staff enthusiastically celebrated International Peace Day. Primary activities: As the sun rose on this special day, primary pupils wrote a peace message on a heart-shaped template and lovingly affixed it to a vibrant peace banner, which adorned the school’s lobby. . . .Year 3 and Year 4 students showcased their musical talents by learning and performing ‘Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream’ by Simon and Garfunkel. . . . The grand culmination of the primary activities was when the entire school gathered in the main play area, each class assembled with a letter drawn to spell out ‘Peace Day’. Secondary activities: The secondary students at ISS engaged in creative activities that reflected their commitment to peace. They crafted beautiful peace doves, symbolising hope and unity. Additionally, they created intricate paper plate wreaths, showcasing their artistic talents while embodying the spirit of harmony.

SIERRA LEONE-ICPC: In commemorations of the World Peace Day, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) in partnership with Talking Drum Studio, UNESCO and Agiamondo has on Thursday 21st September 2023 commemorated the World Peace Day, with the theme: “Action for Peace; Our Ambition for the Global Goals, Ensuring the Right”

SIERRA LEONE – CARITAS: In his message to mark the International Day of Peace, the Executive Director of Caritas Freetown commended Sierra Leoneans for recovering from the ravages of civil war, noting that the West African nation has a room for maneuver to ensure lasting cohesion. In a message sent to ACI Africa on Thursday, September 21, when the entire world observed Peace Day, Father Peter Konteh said the commemoration was particularly important for Sierra Leone, which experienced a 20-year civil war. 11 years which ended in 2002, leaving behind much destruction. He adds: “While progress has been made in healing, justice and reconciliation after the war, challenges remain. It is essential to tackle poverty, inequality and governance issues, to promote a inclusive development and encourage social cohesion to ensure lasting peace.” In his message, the clergyman from the Archdiocese of Freetown highlights the need for continued efforts “to build a future where peace and stability are firmly established, allowing Sierra Leone and its people to prosper.”

SOUTH SUDAN, JUBA: Stirring speeches and cultural performances were aplenty as South Sudan marked International Day of Peace at the Nyakuron Cultural Center in the capital city, Juba, in the presence of communities, government officials, and international partners. Click here for the video.

SOUTH SUDAN-UNMISS: In the bustling capital of South Sudan, a symphony of voices converged, setting the stage for this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Peace. . . . Organized by the Central Equatoria State’s Ministry of Peace Building in collaboration with the Community Outreach and Advocacy Unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the forum was attended by state Minister of Peacebuilding, Francis Gerald, religious leaders, academia, civil society, state government officials, businessmen, students, the media, and senior representatives from the UN Peacekeeping mission. Speaking at the event, Professor Julia Duany, an educator from the University of Juba’s College of Education, called on South Sudanese citizens to embrace a shared national identity. . . Reverend Martin Ocaya, the Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese in Juba, added his voice to this chorus of hope, underscoring the pivotal role played by faith-based groups in South Sudan’s journey towards peace, advocating for a method rooted in inclusivity, consultation, and grassroots engagement.

TANZANIA: Zanzibar Peace,Truth & Transparency Association. INTERNATIONAL WORLD PEACE DAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2023. Our actions support the values of True Culture of Peace (Positive Peace), possible to achieve the level of trust, and cooperation, Empowerment and Poverty reduction in Zanzibar Community and Tanzania.

TOGO WILPF: Each year, September 21 is celebrated as the International Day of Peace. The Togolese section of WILPF commemorated September 21, this day by declaiming poems in favor of peace. It was in the conference room of the national commission to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Lomé. Several members of this association therefore read various poems in order to call on the world to safeguard this rare commodity that is peace.

TOGO, DAPAONG: The celebration of the International Day of Peace was marked by the animation of socio-cultural events in support of municipal and regional initiatives for social cohesion and peace. It is an awareness caravan and a football match coupled with the presentation of honorary prizes. . . . The participants in this celebration started this demonstration with a caravan in the arteries of the town of Dapaong. On motorcycles and cars, dressed in t-shirts, equipped with banners and accompanied by a brass band, they drew the attention of the populations to the merits of peace, living together and social cohesion without which there is no development. This caravan went to the municipal field of Dapaong, where a gala football match pitted the team – made up of members of the project team and CSOs – and that of the media from the Savanes region.

TOGO-UNIC: The whole world celebrated World Peace Day on September 21, 2023, with the theme: “Action in favor of peace: our ambitions for the Global Goals”. To mark this edition in Togo, the United Nations Information Center (UNIC-Togo) organized a public health activity in collaboration with the neighborhood development committees (CDQ) of the tokoin Tame, Wuiti and Aviation districts in the Gulf 2 commune.

UGANDA: Video September 21.·Kangulumira Kayunga district Uganda feast day, International Cities of Peace.

***** MONTESSORI *****

In addition to the events listed above, there were 14 new events in Africa to celebrate the International Day of Peace on the website of the Montessori Schools, i.e. events that were not listed last year:

Namibia : Walvis Bay
South Africa : Cape Town (2), Eastern Cape, Gonubie, Johannesburg, Northern Cape, Pretoria (2), Radioikop, Senekai, Western Cape (2)
Reunion: Saint-Andre

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION