African Renaissance 20th Anniversary Celebrations Promotes African Identity
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe African Renaissance spearheaded by former president Thabo Mbeki has reached a 20 year milestone focusing on African identity. Find out more about the celebration.
Image Credit: Thabo Mbeki Foundation Facebook Page
The Internal Journal of African Renaissance Studies (IJARS) has celebrated 20 years of promoting research, discussion and ideas about Africa’s development and future. The anniversary event was held at the University of South Africa’s Muckleneuk Campus on Thursday, 17 September. The event brought together academics, students and other attendees to reflect on the importance of the African Renaissance and how its ideas can remain relevant in today’s society.
Promoting identity through African Renaissance
The African Renaissance focuses on promoting African identity, culture, knowledge and development. Speakers at the event discussed the importance of Africans understanding their history while finding ways to address the challenges facing the continent.
Edith Phaswana, Acting Executive Dean of the Thabo Mbeki African School, spoke about the importance of preserving African culture and keeping the spirit of the African Renaissance alive. She emphasized the need for people to value African culture and ensure that future generations continue to understand and appreciate their heritage.
Associate Professor Frank Lekaba from the Thabo Mbeki African School also explained the meaning of the African Renaissance and its importance to Africa’s future. He highlighted the need for Africans to continue discussing ideas that can contribute to development and strengthen the continent. The anniversary also provided an opportunity for attendees to share what they learned from the event.
Importance of African culture
Zethu Cakata, one of the attendees, said the discussions helped her understand the importance of African identity, culture and development. The event comes at a time when Africa continues to face challenges such as unemployment, inequality, poverty and limited opportunities for young people. Discussions around the African Renaissance aim to encourage Africans to look at these challenges while considering solutions that are rooted in African knowledge and experiences.
Uniting through conversation
The 20th anniversary of IJARS therefore served as both a reflection on the past and a discussion about the future. It brought people together to consider how African ideas, culture and knowledge can contribute to building a better future for the continent. The anniversary highlighted the continued importance of creating spaces where Africans can discuss their history, culture and development while preparing future generations to contribute to Africa’s growth.
