Africa-Press – Eritrea. African embassies in Italy celebrated Africa Day in Rome on Sunday, which this year marks the 62nd anniversary of the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is currently called the African Union (AU).
A press release on Tuesday, the event was marked by a video message from President João Lourenço, in his capacity as acting President of the African Union, who emphasized the need for solidarity, integration and endogenous development of the African continent, in the face of the multiple contemporary challenges.
In the message, he recalled the legacy of the founders of African unity, such as Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Julius Nyerere, Agostinho Neto, Amílcar Cabral, among others, stressing that their ideals continue to guide the African project of peace, development and cooperation.
“We must believe and renew our faith in an African future based on solidarity, peace and cooperation between peoples”, he declared.
The note states that, on the occasion, the Eritrean ambassador, Pietros Fessahazion, dean of the Group of African Ambassadors in Rome, highlighted the importance of intra-African cooperation and partnership with friendly countries such as Italy.
The diplomat also highlighted African cultural diversity as a strategic asset and recalled the AU’s motto for the year that is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”.
The festive event held in a convivial atmosphere, included a display of the cuisine of each African country represented, where guests were able to taste typical dishes and discover the richness of the continent’s cuisine.
The cultural moment of the event was enriched by a musical performance by singer Taxa Rodrigues, a member of the Angolan community in Rome, who delighted the audience with a repertoire that celebrated African identity through traditional and contemporary songs.
With a large turnout of diplomatic representatives, Italian authorities, members of the African diaspora and friends of Africa, the event reaffirmed the spirit of pride, resilience and hope which characterizes the celebration of Africa Day.
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