May is commemorated as Africa Month, with Africa Day landing on the 25th. During this auspicious month, we celebrate the founding of the African Union (AU), which took place on 25 May 1963. The organisation was founded with the intention of unifying African states and eradicating colonialism across the continent, among others.
This is the 10th year of Africa Month and this year the theme is: “Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom: Building a Better Africa and a Better World’’. With this in mind, many events are running nationwide to celebrate our Africanness.
WATCH the launch of Africa Month courtesy of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture:
Here is our round-up of events taking place for the month of May in South Africa:
Joburg
Volley Nchabeleng: One Night in Africa
Join Volley Nchabeleng, a percussionist of global acclaim and an award-winning artist on a musical journey exploring African instruments, heritage, and culture. He was recently awarded the 2024 Cultural and Creative Industry Awards (CCIA) winner.
This one-day concert is an opportunity to experience the Pan-Africanist approach to celebrating Africa Month through music.
Date: Thursday, 16 May 2024
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: The Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, Braamfontein Campus East
Tickets: Get your tickets at Webtickets.
Image credit: Wits University / (website)
Cape Town
Africa Day & Africa Night B2B Xchange
Leading Women of Africa in collaboration with WESGRO, the Western Cape Government and the Department of Agriculture will be hosting a B2B xchange to facilitate conversations between South African businesses and their African counterparts.
Image credit: Quicket / (website)
Here is what the B2B Xchange will include:
Day 1 & 2 (21 & 22 May): Arrival, welcome, leisure and business site visits
Day 3 (23 May): Business presentations & B2B meetings with South African companies
Day 4 (24 May): Africa Day business networking seminar (In-person)
Day 4 (Evening of 24 May): Africa Night Gala Dinner.
The LWA Africa Night Gala Dinner will include:
- Live African music
- Dance
- Live African fashion show
- African cuisine
Get your tickets on Quicket.
Free State
The University of the Free State will be hosting a number of events.
5km Fun Run & Walk
The Faculty of Health Sciences will host a 5km Fun Run & Walk, featuring live music, fitness sessions by KovsieFit, and exciting prizes.
Date: 11 May 2024
Time: 06:00
Venue: Francois Retief Building, Bloemfontein Campus.
World citizenship and African higher Education
The Office for International Affairs will host an event on World Citizenship and African Higher Education focusing on preparing students for a globally connected world.
Date: 22 May 2024
Time: 16:00-18:00
Venue: Centenary Complex, Bloemfontein Campus
Livestream to Qwaqwa Campus: https://events.ufs.ac.za/e/events.ufs.ac.za/e/africa2024
Africa Month book launch
The Centre for Gender and Africa Studies (CGAS) will host the launch of a book titled “Migration, Borders, and Borderlands꞉ Making National Identity in Southern African Communities”, edited by Dr Munyaradzi Mushonga, Prof John Aerni‑Flessner, Prof Chitja Twala and Dr Grey Magaiza.
Date: 22 May 2024
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Venue: E0014, Education building, Qwaqwa Campus
Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/
Africa Day Memorial Lecture
The CGAS on the Qwaqwa Campus will also host the Africa Day Memorial Lecture titled “Peacebuilding in Africa: Challenges, Trends, and Futures” presented by Prof Ismail Rashid.
Date: 22 May 2024
Time: 16:00-18:00
Venue: E0014 Education Building, Qwaqwa Campus
Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/
Panel discussion on technology and the law in Africa
The Faculty of Law will host a panel discussion on technology and the law, featuring guest speaker Professor Sizwe Snail ka Mthuzi, along with an event on African Union Law and South Africa’s obligations with guest speaker Prof Ntombizozuko ‘Zozo’ Dyani-Mhango.
Date: 24 May 2024
Time: To be confirmed
Venue: To be confirmed
Faculty of Theology and Religion Africa Day celebration
The Faculty of Theology and Religion on the Bloemfontein Campus will host an Africa Day Celebration.
Date: 24 May 2024
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: 10 H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall, Bloemfontein Campus
ALSO SEE:
Introducing Africa’s first interior design podcast: My Stylish Life (MSL)
Feature image: Photo by Mpumelelo Macu on Unsplash
