What compelled me to revisit the publication is the news surrounding the recent
inauguration of the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The $200 million
building, reportedly a “gift” from China, is indeed an imposing structure. But, as
many Africans would feel, there is a problem with this “gift”. Why would AU’s
headquarters be financed by a non-African country? Shouldn’t the concept,
design, finance, construction, and management of the offices of the continent’s
flagship organization be entirely African? Given China’s vast economic and
financial interests in Africa, was it wise to even entertain the notion of such a
“gift”? Besides, China is a nation. Africa, on the other hand, is a continent of fifty-
four independent nations. For any reasonable African, the mismatch is
mindboggling and embarrassing. China’s vigorous business involvement in Africa,
moreover, creates a clear conflict of interest when it comes to such a “gift”. I
wonder what today’s African leaders will feel when they gather in that building to
discuss the continent’s challenges and its future. Indifference, I suppose.
Another issue related to the new AU facility is the presence of a statue for Kwame
Nkrumah and the lack thereof for Emperor Haile Selassie. A highly-regarded
African leader and a devoted advocate of Pan-Africanism, Mr. Nkrumah, the first
president of Ghana, certainly deserves the recognition. However, Mr. Nkrumah
himself, I presume, would have disapproved of the omission of Emperor Haile
Selassie from receiving such recognition. The Emperor, a true African and world
leader in every sense of the word, played a key role in the creation of OAU and its
successor, the AU. A statue is the least the current African leaders could have
added to the facility as a tribute to what the Emperor achieved for the stature of
Africa in the global system. Furthermore, as the first host country and the
permanent seat of the organization, Ethiopia should have been recognized by the
presence of a statue of her respected leader, Emperor Haile Selassie, often
referred to as The Father of Africa.
Among the speeches in the 1963 publication is one by Sekou Toure, the noted
president of Guinea. Mr. Toure began his speech with the following words:
Ethiopia is a great people, an African people that has fought bravely for the
independence of Africa, for the preservation of freedom and . . . the right of
our peoples to guide their destiny with no foreign control or interference
and to manage their own affairs in full sovereignty. Because this African
Conference is being held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopians
have become still more closely linked with African history . . . .
Highlighting the need for unity, the first paragraph of Emperor Haile Selassie’s
opening speech at the four day conference reads as follows:
We welcome to Ethiopia, in our name and in the name of the Ethiopian
Government and people, the Heads of States and Governments of
independent African nations who are today assembled in solemn conclave
in Ethiopia’s capital city. The Conference, without parallel in history, is an
impressive testimonial to the devotion of which we all partake in the cause
of our mother continent and that of her sons and daughters. This is indeed
a momentous and historic day for Africa and for all Africans.
At the time of OAU’s establishment, many African states were still under the
control of their colonial rulers. The Emperor was mindful of the role that the
independent African nations must play to make the whole of Africa a free
continent. He, therefore, emphasized the need to advance African identity and
unity. The Emperor concluded his extensive and thoughtful speech with the
following words:
We approach the days ahead with the prayer that we who have assembled
here may be granted wisdom, the judgment and the inspiration which will
enable us to maintain our faith with the peoples and the nations which have
entrusted their fate to our hands.
Emperor Haile Selassie also gave one of the closing speeches at the conference.
Presidents Milton Obote, then Prime Minister of Uganda, and Mr. Nkrumah were
the other speakers at the closing session. Mr. Obote expressed his gratitude to
the Emperor and said the following about him and Ethiopia:
At a time like this and for the problems that are facing us, I cannot imagine
a better host to lead us to the great success we have met within this
conference. Also, on behalf of my colleagues, I pay tribute to Your Majesty’s
Government for the efficient way in which this conference was organized
and conducted. Very often reasons are advanced in parts of Africa, not yet
independent, that the African is inefficient; I think all of us leave Ethiopia
fully convinced that we have seen efficiency at its highest degree.
Mr. Nkrumah also reflected a similar sentiment, thanking the government and
people of Ethiopia, and ending his remarks by reciting a short poem, according to
him, “just composed by a Ghanaian poet” as a tribute to Ethiopia. Here are a few
lines from the poem which is titled Ethiopia Shall Rise:
Ethiopia, Africa’s bright gem,
Set high among the verdant hills . . .
Ethiopia the wise
Shall rise
And remould with us the full figure
Of Africa’s hopes
And destiny.
As AU’s new headquarters symbolizes, real unity and independence for Africa
may not have been achieved at the moment. But, as the poet wrote, Ethiopia —
and Africa—shall ultimately rise.
