Update 2004
ACCRA 2004,
FIRST DIASPORA AFRICAN FORUM
- photo gallery for Accra 2004
Following its endorsement, the first Diaspora African Forum was held in Accra, Ghana - tagged ACCRA 2004 - from 26th to 29th February 2004, with the theme: LINKING TOGETHER FOR UNITY AND EMPOWERMENT. Over 300 delegates, or "diasporas" as it were, thronged the city of Accra with the sole purpose of getting to know each other, as well as discussing issues that would make them impact more positively on the development of their continent.
The main objectives of this Forum were to:
* Provide a viable support network for diaspora Africans who are returning to work and live in Africa, the mother continent;
* Create and promote positive development initiative for the African world by way of a Diaspora think-tank or task force;
* Provide a harmonious voice and intelligent representation for the Diaspora Africa Nation in all exercises aimed at the health, empowerment and enlistment of the African world
DAKAR, SENEGAL 2004
FIRST CONFERENCE OF INTELLECTUALS OF AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA
The success of this first DIASPORA AFRICAN FORUM prompted the Commission of the African Union to "bring back to the table" the first meeting of African Intellectuals and Personalities of Culture which took place in 1996. At the instance of His Excellency Maitre Abdoulaye Wade of the Republic of Senegal, and in acknowledgement of the efforts of the DIASPORA AFRICAN FORUM, the First Conference of Intellectuals of Africa and of the Diaspora was convened from 6th - 9th October 2004 in Dakar, Senegal, with its theme: AFRICA IN THE 21st CENTURY: INTEGRATION and RENAISSANCE.
The theme was further divided into six (6) sub-themes including:
* Pan-Africanism in the 21st Century;
* Contributions of intellectuals of Africa and the Diaspora to the strengthening of African Integration in the global context of the 21st century;
* Relations between Africa and its Diasporas
* The African Identity within a multi-cultural context
* The Place of Africa in the world
* Africa, Science and technology: Stakes and Prospects
The conference itself brought to the table over three hundred (300) intellectuals, and men and women of culture from Africa and its Diasporas in Central and South America, NOAH, the Caribbean, Europe and the Arab world. It was also graced by the presence of Heads of States of South Africa, Cape Verde, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, the Gambia representatives of member States" Governments and International Organisations of the United Nations system.
Molefe Asante, who delivered a paper on Relations between Africa and its Diasporas put forward a five-point submission for the integration of the Diaspora and the continent:
1. The Provision of curricula information from the African diaspora in African Schools;
2. Assigning responsibility to people in the ministries of African States to interface with the Diaspora;
3. Operations from a perspective of strength, rather than of weakness;
4. The need for African leaders to have precise knowledge of Diaspora communities as a basis for strengthening relations;
5. Acceptance of the Right of Return for the African Diaspora
The key issues that were subject of recommendations under this sub-theme of the conference include:
* Creation of a specific structure of coordination as a follow-up mechanism:
- The African Union should establish a secretariat as a follow-up mechanism to engage in advocacy and to promote a permanent policy dialogue between intellectuals and policy makers in Africa and the Diaspora;
- The African Union should set up or adopt existing institutions, to serve as "Africa Houses" within strategic global and African locations to promote African interests abroad, improve awareness and knowledge about Africa, and support commercial as well as other links between the Diaspora and Africa.
* Promotion of an African Citizenship Initiative:
- In recognition of the importance of identity as a mobilising factor for development, the African Union should develop a framework for a wider African Citizenship Initiative
* Establishing the Diaspora as the sixth Region of the African Union:
- Taking into consideration the continuing participation, the critical contributions and the consistent commitment of intellectuals in the Diaspora to the African Renaissance, the committee endorses the establishment of the Diaspora as the sixth region of the African Union.
By the end of this conference, the delegates fully appreciated the need to establish a mechanism to allow Diaspora experts to come back to help, regardless of their national origins. It was recommended that the African Union should create an AFRICAN DIASPORA DEVELOPMENT FUND to strengthen contacts with the Diaspora.
The African Union Commission also recommended that each African country sets
up a Diaspora Protocol that would look into relations between our nations
and all our people in the Diaspora. In particular, the Commission recommended
that countries consider the right to automatic return for nay people from
the Diaspora who may wish to return.