“Uniting Hearts, Inspiring Minds”- Embracing Africa’s Heritage

“Uniting Hearts, Inspiring Minds”- Embracing Africa’s Heritage

Exploration, engagement, and celebration of Africa’s rich culture, creativity, and potential took centre stage at a UKZN one-day event which featured captivating musical performances, diverse panel discussions as well as thought-provoking presentations.

Event Coordinator, Dr Mabuyi Gumede of the School of Social Sciences, said this event celebrated diverse groups co-existing at UKZN and also sought to align activities with UKZN’s African Scholarship trajectory as well as unpack the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and showcase the opportunities and challenges for African development.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize, welcomed esteemed guests who were part of this prestigious event in partnership with the KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and African Call for Cooperation and Integral Advancement (ACCIA). In attendance was the Head of Department for the KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr Thobile Sifunda, as well as ACCIA’s Executive Director, Mr Jean-Daniel Kabati and his team. This event was also attended by the Namibia’s Youth Ambassador, Ms Christ Laolange Shameulu.

The programme – designed for students, academics, artists, entrepreneurs, youth leaders, and individuals interested in African culture, development, and creativity – also aims to increase understanding of and encourage participation in Agenda 2063 and Africa’s history whilst offering a forum for discussion and introspection on the prospects and difficulties facing African development.

Agenda 2063 is Africa’s development blueprint to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development over a 50-year period.

Consequently, the keynote speech was delivered by the South African Ambassador to India, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, with expertise on Agenda 2063 presented under the theme: Africa is Not Just Our Heritage, It is Our Future, pointing out that Africa is dedicated to a shared development but has long been blamed for failing due to a weak policy framework that impedes growth and development.

‘The origins of the African Renaissance have been able to enjoy some macroeconomic stability over the past 20 years while reducing the negative economic effect of economic partnership agreements and bilateral investment treaties,’ he said. Ndebele spoke about African Renaissance as a struggle for quality of life, human personality, standard of living, respect for human rights of human dignity, economic wellbeing, good governance and human security in a developmental sense.

Mkhize said: ‘The responsibility to free the African continent is incomplete, with forefathers and foremothers who have played a significant role in this process leaving our generation with the responsibility of multi-phased project and the need for the continent’s total emancipation as the first stage, followed by the emancipation of wealth and prejudices against the continent and humanity.’

Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Vivian Ojong, delved into the importance of understanding the potential of the African continent and her vast size of the landmarks for planning resources, production, consumption, and market strategies for economic development purposes. She added that Africa, despite misrepresented information from colonial education, has a significant size of 37 million square kilometres of landmark and knowledge of this would result in effective resource planning and consumption.

She also urged against stereotypes and negative portrayals in mainstream media about Africa by showcasing the continent’s achievements, innovations, as well as potential progress and contributions to the world.

Apart from honouring African voices, inventiveness, sustainability, creativity, and the promotion of cultural appreciation, the event brings about more exposure via exhibitions and showcases organised by students to establish a welcoming and lively environment for networking and community involvement.

Watch the event here.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photographs: Supplied