“ACTIVE YOUTH PARTICIPATION TOWARDS PROMOTING PAN-AFRICANISM”

ANGOMBE’S SPEECH OF THE 16^TH JUNE 2010 ON THE AFRICAN CHILD DAY AND THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SOWETO UPRISING AGAINST OPPRESSIVE COLONIAL RULE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

June 16^th marks the celebration of the African Child Day, it thus further mark an important youth day in our sister country South Africa when we commemorate in solidarity the Soweto Uprising during the years of the struggle for freedom for all in South Africa by black young South Africans.

The theme for this years’ African Child Day celebration is “Active Youth Participation Towards Promoting Pan-Africanism” this theme serves the purpose to signify the eminent fact that, it is high time that the Youth of Africa takes ownership of the goal to recognise, study, and acknowledge the much desired need for Africans to come together in principle and join forces.

· To revive and preserve the spirit of ubuntu.

· To preserve and defend the African cultural and linguistic identity. And

· To ensure that Africa comes together as one, socio-economically and then politically, for my understanding is that as Africans first we all have similar aims on how to enhance in our own spaces; but does an individual capacity possess the potential to solve problems in isolation?

The answer is, No, because previously, until now, in most African societies once a problem arises in a family, the whole family gathers to devise a way forward, and so my African view is that, Africans are one BIG family that ought to come together and defy all odds levelled against it by the imperialist world. Look at what Europe has done to contend against the stronger US and emerge as an economic block in the driving seat; they have adopted a single currency but not a universal political system because of the persistent existence of the arrogance to power and so-called national purity – identity.

Should our African national leaders of today really entertain the ever ongoing fear of adopting a resolution that would en-act the African Union in practical terms? Obviously adopting universal socio-economic goals and policies from Cape to Cairo – Addis Ababa to Abuja would elevate the malnourished much young population of earths’ most rich and populous continent.

African leaders must put aside their fears of losing power and concentrate on the people whom they represent in their political capacities. In this era, a possible united Africa does not need an Executive President because we understand the era our current leaders are coming from, but a common currency and universal socio-economic policies are a pre-requisite for Africa to rightfully take it’s worldly position in this life and ensure better opportunities for her youths and children.

Today is African Child Day, and as an African Youth – Child I owe and dedicate it to the babies at home and those who can’t speak for themselves to publicly call for African justice from within, for it is a responsibility to my fellow African Children to advocate for an agenda that the current generation knows, is the way forward towards economic emancipation in our African system.

With these few words, I say;

· Say no to violence and abuse against children

· Say no to child labour

· Say no to human trafficking

· Say no to a bleak future for the African Child; and

· Loudly say YES towards Pan-Africanism

I thank you!