Celebrating Africa and the youth

Under the theme, The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World, Africa Month and Youth Month celebrations are in full swing ahead of Africa Day and Youth Day on 25 May and 16 June respectively.

Joburg Theatre and the Department of Arts and Culture have joined forces to bring the continent trans-African showpiece events that celebrate a unified Africa through song and dance.

With the vision of the African Union in mind, organisers are looking to promote an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. Featuring globally lauded musicians and literary scholars, this year’s Africa and Youth Day celebrations promise not only to entertain but also to feature platforms for important reflection, focus and dialogue on issues facing Africa, its diaspora and beyond.

“Joburg Theatre in their partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture are commemorating Africa and Youth months with a focus on music and a literature education,” said Roshnie Moonsamy, project coordinator at Afro Arts SA, joint event organisers for Africa Day and Youth Day events. “The artists who will grace the stage this year are very famous in their own right and it’s been a major achievement getting all these major bands to perform at these events.”

Moonsamy said educating the youth on contemporary issues affecting South Africa and the continent was a big part of the objective behind hosting these events. “We’ll be hosting workshops with young people to look at issues around race relations and class. The events will tackle contemporary problems while shedding light on its history.

“We hope that it will interrogate what is happening and hopefully stem the socio-economic challenges facing the youth, while educating people on global politics, including issues of migration and immigration.”

Commenting on Struggle stalwart OR Tambo, Moonsamy said a series of commemorative lectures would be held. “Through the various workshops and musical events that will be held, we’re hoping to interrogate serious issues while promoting a non-racial South Africa. By connecting people across class and race, the richness of the continent can be celebrated and also the legacy, the non-racialism and Tambo’s democratic stance in his quest for a united and prosperous Africa.”

Read: Africa Day celebrated

Tell us how you hope to celebrate Africa and Youth Day by posting comments on the City Buzz Facebook page