University of Mpumalanga celebrates Africa Day in style
Prof Joseph Diescho urged Africans never to forget their roots.
The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) celebrated Africa Day at its two campuses to honour the African culture, identity and unity.
The two-day event was celebrated under the theme, ‘Show your Africanness’ and featured vibrant performances, traditional displays and insightful discussions, all aimed at highlighting the continent’s diversity and the shared vision for its future.
The celebrations took place on Monday, May 19, in Siyabuswa, and in Mbombela on Tuesday 20. The UMP’s outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof Thoko Mayekiso emphasised the importance of diversity, ubuntu and rejecting xenophobia, which all align with UMP’s vision of being an African university advancing in sustainable development. She encouraged Africans to embrace learning about their continent and commit to transforming the continent through knowledge.
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In an insightful keynote address, a distinguished academic, author and former speechwriter to ex-presidents, Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, Prof Joseph Diescho, drew on his vast experience on the topic of Africanness, offering a deep historical and intellectual perspective on the current state of the continent.
“It as a privilege to live in South Africa, the only country on the continent where people of all races reside together in relative harmony, an achievement he credited to the sacrifices of liberation icons such as Nelson Mandela,” Diescho said.
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He urged the public to reconnect with their roots as Africans are shaped, taught and prepared by their circumstances. One of the highlights of the celebration was the cultural showcase by students representing countries such as Benin, Burundi, eSwatini, Somalia, Tunisia and Zambia, through traditional music, attire, cuisine and dance.
