Africa Day became the annual commemoration of the day the founding charter for the African Union was signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1991, the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) established the African Economic Community, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union. Africa Day celebrates the formation of these organisations.
The name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity. This year’s theme is “Building a better Africa and a better world”.
President Jacob Zuma is to host the South African 2016 Africa Day celebration at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The 2012 theme for Africa Day was ‘Africa and the Diaspora’ and marked a transition from an African celebration to worldwide celebrations. Africa Day is observed as a public holiday in six African countries, which are; Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
