Africa-Press – Tanzania. AS part of a week-long build-up to the 15th Africa Day Lecture, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation partnered with AngloGold Ashanti to convene an engaging Town Hall forum at the University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) historic Nkrumah Hall.
Themed “Reigniting the African Renaissance,” the series of events brought continental leaders, thinkers, and citizens together to engage in critical reflection on Africa’s path forward.
The Town Hall featured reflections from former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the South African National Assembly, and Simon Shayo, an alumnus of UDSM.
Students from the university shared perspectives on youth empowerment, emphasizing the importance of inclusive approaches to addressing their unique challenges. and a participatory approach to their contributions captured the urgency of rekindling Africa’s self-belief and the need for structural transformation.
President Mbeki challenged attendees to interrogate the relevance and visibility of key continental policies, particularly those on youth development, and questioned how many young Africans are even aware of their existence. He noted that bodies like the AU’s ECOSOCC remain inactive in countries like Tanzania, revealing a troubling gap between institutional frameworks and practical impact. He called for Africa’s political leadership to renew its sense of responsibility, guided by the ethos of self-sacrifice that once defined the continent’s liberation struggles.
Highlighting UDSM’s intellectual legacy, he reminded the audience of the university’s historic role in shaping post-independence discourse across the continent.
President Kikwete praised the Foundation’s vision for an Africa that does not stand on the sidelines of global progress. Echoing the day’s theme, he affirmed that the flame of the African Renaissance had been reignited, urging stakeholders to embrace deep reform rather than cosmetic change.
Dr. Ndlozi spoke to the importance of continental consciousness and commitment, while Simon Shayo questioned Africa’s continued underestimation of its own potential in comparison to other advancing regions. Their sentiments reinforced the need to invest in Africa’s intellectual and leadership capital to chart a more self-defined future.
The Town Hall is one in a series of engagements leading up to the Africa Day Lecture, which will culminate in a high-level roundtable hosted by AngloGold Ashanti with President Mbeki on Friday, 23 May, and the Lecture itself on Saturday, 24 May at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
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