Events

AFRICAN UNION HOSTS TV QUIZ SHOW AS PART OF 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Addis Ababa , Ethiopia 21 May 2013- The 50th anniversary of the Africa Union is a celebration of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity/ African Union (OAU/AU). It is a tribute to Africa’s past, a reflection of where it is today as well as a celebration of a bright future ahead.The vision of the AU is that of ‘an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa’.

The year long celebrations will be held under the theme of ‘Pan – Africanism and Renaissance’ in order to ‘enhance awareness of the new generation of Africans about the ideas of Pan- Africanism. In this respcet, a special African Question and Answer quiz show is being produced at the AU Commissionby for screening on Ethiopian television, by Tamesol communications. This Q&A event is one of the occasions to recount the assets that Africa has in its land and in its people. The Directorate of Information and Communication is coordinating the production of the programme.

The game is an eight week show. Each show has four rounds with two pairs of contestants on each round.
At the end of the eight weeks competition, a total price of a 100,000 will be given out as prize to the winners.

The first two recordings of the programme were done on 21 May. The Commissioners of Infrastructure and Energy Dr Elham Ibrahim and that of Rural Economy and Agriculture Mrs Rhoda Peace Tumusiime both addressed the live audience and encouraged everyone to be part of the celebrations. Questions asked during the first show included:
• Other than the founding fathers of the OAU, name two great personalities of African descent that promoted Pan Africanism before the 1950’s?
• Which Pan African leader and founding father of the OAU is related to the movement called “Négritude”?
• Why are the colors red, black, green / green, yellow, red associated with Pan African movement?
• In 1962 PAWO was founded. What does PAWO stand for?

The two shows were hosted by famous Ethiopian artist Meron Getnet and Wynne Musabayana from the AU Commission.

JOINT INVITATION

HIGH LEVEL PANEL ON CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS DURING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY/AFRICAN UNION (OAU/AU)

THEME: THE SCANDAL OF INVISIBILITY IN AFRICA

As part of celebrations to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union, a High Level Panel on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) will be held on Tuesday, 21 May 2013, from 15:00hrs to 17:00hrs, at the Small Conference Room 1, in new AU Conference Centre, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The High Level Panel will comprise the following Panelists:
• H.E. Dr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission
• H.E. Mr. Thomas Pale, Ministre Délégué auprès du Ministre des Affaires Étrangères et de la Coopération régionale, République du Burkina Faso
• H.E. Ambassador Ibrahima Dia, Coordinator, AUC-UNECA-AfDB Joint Secretariat Office
• Mr. Martin Mogwanja, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF New York Headquarters
• Mr. Benyam Dawit, Chairperson, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The discussion will explore:
• With Africa’s population growing quickly, and the child population set to rise by 130 million between 2010 and 2025, why effective civil registration are critical investments to plan the continent’s development, ensure everyone is counted; and put in place effective systems to protect all the continent’s citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
• How the gap between policy and practice can be met through new innovation and map out what can be done to achieve universal birth registration and effective ways to count vital statistics;
• How civil registration systems can contribute to good governance and economic integration as well as central to empower all Africa citizens.

The Panel will be moderated by Uduak Amimo, a prominent African news journalist, who has extensive experience reporting on the continent. A broadcast quality audio recording will be made available to media partners by Channel Africa Radio, part of South African Broadcasting Corporation that is dedicated to the African Renaissance and broadcasts across the continent on shortwave and internet. The debate will be live streamed and web cast by the AUC and an audio- visual coverage of the panel discussion will be done by the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union.

Journalists are invited to attend this High Level Panel on CRVS.

Mr. Dossina Yeo
Economic Affairs Department
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 |
Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 |
E-mail: DossinaY@africa-union.org

Mr. Anthony Mwangi
Public Affairs Manager,
UNICEF Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA
P.O. Box 1169,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Phone: +251-11-518-4223
Mobile: +251-911-513-058
Email: amwangi@unicef.org

Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou
Directorate of Information and Communication
African Union Commission
P.O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel. Off. (+251) 11 5514555
Mobile: +251911361185
E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union (AU)

22nd GIMAC – PRESS RELEASE
10 YEARS OF PROMOTING GENDER IN AFRICA

Prior to the 21st Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26-27th May, the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network will hold a Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union (AU) on 20-21st May. This meeting will be marked by the 10th GIMAC anniversary, which will be celebrated with special festivities.

The meeting will be held under the high patronage of H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, African Union Commission Chairperson, who will officially launch the activities.

In order to fully contribute to the vision “Africa 2063, several women’s meetings have been held since the beginning of May at the African Union Headquarters, under the leadership of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in order to update their agenda, review achievements and identify opportunities.

To mark its 10th anniversary, the network will make a special tribute to African Women Pioneers for their promotion of gender throughout the continent and their unwavering commitment to Pan-Africanism and African
Renaissance.

A dialogue with Rural women will take place as well as an Inter-generational dialogue, with the aim of passing on the elders’ legacy to the youth, to allow them to fully benefit from their rich experiences.

Other scheduled cultural activities include a photo exhibition on GIMAC’s history, achievements and prospects; a documentary on GIMAC’s evolution; as well as the presentation of a book on “Founding Mothers” who have contributed, together with men, to the struggle for freedom and independence in their
countries.

The GIMAC is a network of more than 55 organizations working in different sectors, coordinated by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS). Since 2005, the GIMAC meets on the margins of the African Union Heads of State Summit. Its areas of focus include the protection of women’s rights and the monitoring of the implementation of the Solemn
Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA).

Press Release Nº24/21st AU SUMMIT

AU prepares a memorable celebration of African culture: past present and future

Addis Ababa, 20 May 2013:The African Union (AU) today continued with the rehearsals of what it terms a “memorable tapestry and celebration of Africa’s past, present and future”. The hour long scripted musical and drama piece was written by world renowned Pan Africanist academic Dr Lamko who is currently resident in Mexico. The piece which depicts Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance in the past, present and future, will be performed by 140 dancers, musicians and storytellers pledged and identified by the AU member states. The show will be watched by the 75 attending Heads of State and Government and representatives as well as 10 000 accredited and invited guests at the Millennium Hall.

Head Choreographer, Mr Somzi Mhlongo said “it will be an extravaganza that will be the most memorable celebration, since the formation of the OAU in 1963”. Mhlongo recently jetted in to Addis Ababa for the rehearsals after concluding dress rehearsals for the MTV Base All African Stars Concert in Durban South Africa, which featured Afro American Rap sensation, Snoop Lion. Mhlongo has also choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2013 edition of the Africa Cup Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which were both hosted in South Africa.

The “extravaganza” will be webcasted and will be broadcast by some African broadcasters in partnership with Ethiopian Television (ETV). The piece forms part of the opening ceremony of the Commemorative Summit of the Heads of State and Government, on Saturday 25 May. The piece and messages of support will be concluded with cultural performances from Diaspora reggae sensation Steel Pulse and AU Peace Ambassadors Salif Keita and Papa Wemba (amongst others). The performing artists and headliners are due to jet in on 23 May, and all the events of the day can be viewed at the following public viewing areas:
• Yeka sub city- Megenagnaavenue.
• Akaki sub city- Wereda 8 Genet Menafesha.
• Kolfe sub city- Ayer TenaAvene.
• Nefas Silk sub city Jemmo Avenue.
• Arada sub city- Menelik Avenue.
• Shi-Solomon- Near Ethiopia Hotel.
• Sony Screen- Meskel Square.
• Edna Mall

For further information on the OAU/AU 50th Celebrations visit the African Union website www.au.intand event related information can be received by mailing africa50@africa-union.org.

Joint Media Advisory

UNESCO to elaborate on a 9th Volume of the General History of Africa

INVITATION TO THE MEDIA

WHAT: Expert meeting to prepare the Volume IX of the General History of Africa (GHA)

WHEN: 20th -22nd May 2013

TIME: 9:30-10:45

WHERE: African Union Headquarter, New Conference Complex
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

WHO: The Expert Meeting is organized by UNESCO with assistance from the African Union Commission and funding from the Government of Brazil. Keynote speakers will be Professor Elikia M’Bokolo - Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Pedagogical use of the GHA Project; H.E. Mr Erastus Mwencha - Deputy Chairperson, AUC; Mr. Getachew Engida - Deputy Director General of UNESCO; H.E. Ms. Luiza Helena Bairros - Minister, Secretariat for Promotion of Racial Equality of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and H.E. Mr. Mulugeta Said, State Minister of Culture and Tourism for Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

WHY: To define the methodology, objectives and contents of the ninth volume.

Participants: Participants will be experts and scholars of history from Africa and other continents, Embassy representatives, and governmental representatives.

About GHA
The General History of Africa (HGA) was launched in 1964 in response to the aspirations of the newly independent African states to decolonize their history, and re-appropriate the discourses on their past. Under the scientific and intellectual responsibility of a 39-member International Scientific Committee, two-thirds of whom were scholars from Africa, some 350 authors, translators and volume editors from different regions worked together for more than 35 years on the elaboration of the GHA, resulting in the publication of eight volumes of the main edition in English, Arabic and French. This work was further translated into 13 languages including three African ones (Kiswahili, Fulfulde, and Hausa). In addition, 12 “studies and documents” and 12 volumes on the “Sources of African history” were published to accompany and complement the collection. Volume IX, responds to a request from the African Union and African Member States to complete the collection, taking into account of the new political, social, economic and cultural challenges facing the continent today..

In 2009, and in response to recurrent African Member States’ requests to assist them in developing History curricula and textbooks on the basis of the GHA, UNESCO decided to undertake the 2nd Phase of the GHA : the Pedagogical Use of the General History of Africa Project. It is stated in the Charter for African Renaissance adopted by the African Union Summit in Khartoum in 2006 that ‘The General History published by UNESCO constitutes a valid base for teaching the history of Africa and (we) recommend its dissemination in many languages’.

Media Contacts:

Afrah M. Thabit
Communication Officer
African Union Commission
Tel: (+251) 115-182569
Email: afraht@hotmail.com,Thabitma@africa-union.org

Petra Vytecka Sedinova
Communication Officer
UNESCO Liaison Office
Tel.: (+251) 912 200 144
Email: p.sedinova@unesco.org

Attached the draft agenda of the opening session of the Experts Meeting.

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening ceremony from 9.30 to 10.45.