Rwanda, on Wednesday, joined the rest of the continent in celebrating the Africa Liberation Day (ALD). It was the first time the day was being marked in Rwanda.

ALD was founded in 1958 by Dr Nkwame Nkrumah on the occasion of the First Conference of Independent States held in his native Ghana.

This symbolised the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.

Pan Africanism itself means coming together as African people on the continent and the Diaspora to find ways and means to work on common problems and find common solutions in a way that best benefit the African people.

Thus, celebrating Africa Liberation Day reminds us of that long, hard and heroic struggle black people waged to resist and radically reject the imposition of racial superiority in all its savage and subtle forms, and to secure freedom, justice, power, peace and sustained progress in our lives and the world.

It is celebrated by Africans worldwide and is a day for reflection and reaffirmation of our commitment to fight all forms of oppression and exploitation meted out on Africans. It is a day for reflecting on the meaning of true liberation and unity of Africa.

After World War II, the process of decolonisation of the African continent gathered momentum as Africans increasingly agitated for more political rights and independence.

Thus, between 1945 and 1965 a significant number of African countries gained independence from European colonial powers. Although these years represented a watershed in regard to the liberation struggles of peoples of African descent on the continent and throughout the world, the specter of imperialism was very much in evidence until the nineties, and could be to date.

From the very inception of European incursion into Africa in the 15th century to current times the struggle has by no means been confined to Africa, but occurred wherever African people were to be found. The history of the African people’s descent had in short been that of tremendous tribulations at the hands of nearly all the other races around the globe. No human race has gone through such a legacy and possesses such historical indignity!

Nonetheless, Africa’s victory is not yet total and areas of resistance still remain. There are utmost efforts still required despite much being gained. The future of Africa need not only to be free but united without pitfalls of segregation.

The xenophobic attacks perpetrated against fellow African nationals, looting and damaging of property, as it happened a few months ago in Zambia, are some of the setbacks that still befall us. These are actions which sow mistrust and disunity among Africans and must be averted from the word go.

This struggle to liberate Africa from foreign domination and as well create permanent unity amongst us has indeed been a long walk. Probably the journey might not be glorious yet for both Africans living in the continent and elsewhere in the world.

Kwame Nkrumah, a leading advocate in the struggle for liberation and socialism in Africa during the 1950s and 1960s, once said "the total liberation and unification of Africa under an All-African Socialist Government must be the primary objective of all Black revolutionaries throughout the world.

It is an objective which, when achieved, will bring about the fulfillment of the aspirations of Africans and people of African descent everywhere. It will, at the same time, advance the triumph of the international socialist revolution.”

To attain this, we can go on to multiply the advantages of continental unity. Irritating customs and other formalities should cease to be barriers separating brother from brother or sister from sister.

We should think of the great economic advantage of a common currency and a common market. But all these can only be brought about by common aims and ideals under an effective political direction which can come only through a more unified continent.

Therefore, the future of African liberation must be informed by a new mode of politics where ordinary African men, women and children will be able to revel in the idea of Africa for the Africans at home and abroad.

In addition, unified economic planning for development can give Africa the economic security essential for the prosperity and wellbeing of all its peoples. Africa, by pulling its resources together, where the states give helping hand to each other should be one of the endavours.

African Liberation Day should give us a chance to become more politically educated about the history and current reality of Africa. A revolutionary African identity must become the foundation of our independent political consciousness and the struggle to liberate our homeland from poverty and other challenges.

As well, the celebrations should serve an opportunity for African youth to get to know more about who we are, what defines us and what we stand for.

In conclusion, celebrations are worth when we have common purpose and aims as African people. All will be in vain when we bask in the glory of the already won battles and fail to prepare ourselves to tackle the new challenges that continue to pose threats to the wellbeing of the African continent and its people..

oscar.kimanuka@yahoo.co.uk