CIAD II calls for a global African identity

A new and beautiful global African identity is emerging according to the prestigious panelists that were convened to reflect upon the “need for a political pact between Africa and the Diaspora for peace, democracy and development” at the closing session of CIAD II organised under the auspices of the African Union.

Wangari Maathai, Kenyan Nobel Laureate of Peace, Gilberto Gil, Brazilian artist, Co-President of the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora (CIAD II) and Minister of Culture and Frene Ginwala, Co-President CIAD II and former Speaker of the South African Parliament, among other presenters made strong statements in which they called intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora to take responsibility in the African Renaissance project.

Wangari Maathai noted that access and control of environmental resources is an important element in peace building. Further, she reasserted the need to “encourage ourselves to achieve participation in demanding democracy, good governance, good management of resources, pre-empting conflicts and promoting peace in Africa”

As for Gilberto Gil, Africans must “develop networks of teaching and of knowledge production” in which “academics, artists, writers, film makers” will play a key role in “implementing of worldwide diasporic communication centres”.

That mission, as put by Frene Ginwala, rely mainly on the intellectuals that, “as part of the social body of the continent, should not only be writing in academic journal”, but also be involved in the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens by interacting with the media and the grassroots organizations.

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