May 20, 2003
By Tendai Dhliwayo
A CHAIN of activities and entertainment, serving as a build-up to Africa Day celebrations on Sunday, 25 May, has been lined up for Johannesburg this week in Newtown.
The theme for this year's Africa Day celebrations - a day when the continent rejoices with the entire world in its quest for a better life - will be "From 40 years of solidarity in struggle to a century of unity, peace, prosperity".
Poetry, art, food exhibitions, music videos by artists from across the continent, an exhibition about the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), African fashion shows and film festivals are some of the activities taking place daily at Mary Fitzgerald Square, Museum Africa and the Film Theatre in Newtown.
A street parade will start from Mary Fitzgerald Square on Sunday, 25 May at 8:30am, with themes encouraging unity and enhancing campaigns against xenophobia and other related intolerance.
Paraphernalia like the African Union (AU) logo, the logo of the Organisation of African Unity, the South African coat of arms and floats representing diverse African Day interpretations will be on show. School bands including drum majorettes will take part in the parade that will end at Johannesburg Stadium at 9:30am.
Musical groups like the Rwanda dance group and other artists such as Kabelo and Bubsy Mlangeni will take over and entertain ministers, premiers and other VIPs as they arrive.
Various dignitaries from across the continent, including former Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella and president Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali, will start arriving from 10:15am.
After the release of doves in a universal symbol of peace, there will be the unveiling of a model of the AU monument by South African President Thabo Mbeki and a posthumous award to Enoch Sontonga, the man who penned the national anthem.
Music will be in store, offered by top South African performers: "Mama Africa", Miriam Makeba, Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbuli, jazz musicians Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa, and diva Sibongile Khumalo, with a grand finale by the South African National Defence Force.
Free transport to Johannesburg stadium will be available from all areas of Gauteng from 8am on 25 May. Information regarding pick-up points can be obtained on 0800 00 5175.
