60 Years of African Unity and Divergence: Reflecting on the Legacy of Pan-Africanism

Join us in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).

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The OAU was established on May 25 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the aim of ending colonial rule, promoting unity and solidarity among African countries, and fostering economic and social development. The AU has taken up this mantle and has made progress towards these goals over the past two decades, albeit with mixed results.

As we celebrate this historic milestone, an expert panel will share their insights on the legacy of pan-Africanism, the evolution of decolonisation in the past 60 years and its current trends, and their views on the AU and Africa's future. We will reflect on the progress and setbacks in African unity and development over the last six decades.

About the speakers

• Dr Yirga Gelaw, Senior Lecturer, multidisciplinary researcher and writer based at Curtin University's Centre for Human Rights Education, Australia
• Dr Foluke Adebisi, Associate Professor at the Law School, University of Bristol. She is the author of recently published book ‘Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge: Reflections on Power and Possibility’ (Bristol University Press, 2023)
• Professor Tim Murithi, Head of the Peacebuilding Interventions Programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town, and Extraordinary Professor of African Studies, at the Centre for African and Gender Studies, University of the Free State, in South Africa
• Achieng Akena, Executive Director for the International Refugee Rights Initiative, Kenyan, and a lawyer and human rights and democracy practitioner.

MODERATOR

• Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam, Research Associate at University of Bristol