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Today marks Africa Day amid pandemic

UHURU?: Amid the global Corona Virus pandemic African are celebrating the day continental uniting body, the African Union, was formed. PICTURE BY Twitter

African countries got their freedom between 1950s and 1994.


Today marks 57 years since the African Union (AU) was founded…

It represents the 55 countries on the continent and was called the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) when it was founded in 1963.

But this year’s anniversary is disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the world.

It was intended to assist African countries fight against European colonialism and marshal the continent’s countries towards independence.

History

European countries met in Berlin, Germany between 15 November 1884 to 26 February 1885 to discuss dividing and colonising the African continent.

Ethoipia was the only country that could not be colonised due to the intensive resistance by its people.

South Africa was the last country on the continent to get its independence – in 1994.

Kwame Nkrumah, the first black African leader to win independence, Ghana. PIC Pulse

The OAU was formed after the 1958 continental congress in Ghana that deliberated on attaining independence for the colonised African countries.

Covid-19 pandemic

Many African countries imposed lockdown as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Madagasca launching the Covid Organics, a herbal medicine that President Andry Rajoelina introduced on 21 April 2020 and said would cure the SARS-COV2 disease.

With the outbreak currently hitting the globe hard, it’s clear Africa Day would be celebrated quite differently this year.

(edited by MLM)

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