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African Liberation Day

African Liberation Day (ALD) is an annual observance celebrated on May 25, marking the date in 1963 when the Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed in Ethiopia. This day originated from a summit of thirty-one African heads of state, with a primary goal of liberating African people from European colonialism and white supremacy. ALD serves as a platform for individuals and organizations across the African continent and the diaspora to unite in their shared struggles against oppression, exploitation, and racism. It emphasizes the importance of solidarity among African nations and encourages a dialogue focused on peaceful solutions to common challenges. The day is sponsored by groups like the All African People's Revolutionary Party and aims to revive and strengthen liberation movements across Africa. Participants reflect on their shared history and contemporary issues, fostering a sense of community and resilience among Africans worldwide. Overall, ALD promotes advocacy for fundamental human rights and aims to inspire action towards a more equitable future for all African people.

Full Article

In 1963, thirty-one African heads of state convened in Ethiopia for the Summit Conference of the Independent African States, with the overall goal of freeing African people from European domination and White supremacy. On May 25, 1963, the Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed, and it was decided to celebrate African Liberation Day (ALD) yearly on May 25. Sponsored by the All African People’s Revolutionary Party, ALD has led to the concerted action of the member states of the Organization of African Unity to pool financial aid to revive, strengthen, and intensify liberation movements throughout Africa. As much as possible, the goal is to end the exploitation and oppression of Africans at home and abroad by finding peaceful solutions through deliberations and the frank exchange of views among the nations that are involved.

ALD has become an institution throughout the African world, being a day when all African people rally for unity and denounce racism, neo-colonialism, capitalism, and Zionism. On ALD, African people focus on what they share—their common past, set of problems, and future—as they pause to think about the plight of their African brothers who are under foreign rule and who are seeking to win their freedom and fundamental human rights. ALD often has a major theme each year. For example, the theme in 2024 was "Same Struggle: Smash Settler Colonialism in Occupied Palestine, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania!” The theme was crafted in part in response to the solidarity among African nations around Israel's war in Gaza and in response to the presence of Western nations' troops in African countries.


Bibliography

Ahluwalia, Pal. Politics and Post-Colonial Theory: African Inflections. Routledge, 2012.

Davidson, Basil. Modern Africa: A Social and Political History. Routledge, 2014.

James, Cyril Lionel Robert, and Robin Kelley. A History of Pan-African Revolt. PM, 2012.

Martin, Guy. African Political Thought. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Moorehead, Monica. "African Liberation Day: Smash Settler Colonialism in Occupied Palestine, Africa, the Americas and Oceania." Workers World, 24 May 2024, www.workers.org/2024/05/78863/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

Nugent, Paul. Africa Since Independence. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Full Article

In 1963, thirty-one African heads of state convened in Ethiopia for the Summit Conference of the Independent African States, with the overall goal of freeing African people from European domination and White supremacy. On May 25, 1963, the Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed, and it was decided to celebrate African Liberation Day (ALD) yearly on May 25. Sponsored by the All African People’s Revolutionary Party, ALD has led to the concerted action of the member states of the Organization of African Unity to pool financial aid to revive, strengthen, and intensify liberation movements throughout Africa. As much as possible, the goal is to end the exploitation and oppression of Africans at home and abroad by finding peaceful solutions through deliberations and the frank exchange of views among the nations that are involved.

ALD has become an institution throughout the African world, being a day when all African people rally for unity and denounce racism, neo-colonialism, capitalism, and Zionism. On ALD, African people focus on what they share—their common past, set of problems, and future—as they pause to think about the plight of their African brothers who are under foreign rule and who are seeking to win their freedom and fundamental human rights. ALD often has a major theme each year. For example, the theme in 2024 was "Same Struggle: Smash Settler Colonialism in Occupied Palestine, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania!” The theme was crafted in part in response to the solidarity among African nations around Israel's war in Gaza and in response to the presence of Western nations' troops in African countries.


Bibliography

Ahluwalia, Pal. Politics and Post-Colonial Theory: African Inflections. Routledge, 2012.

Davidson, Basil. Modern Africa: A Social and Political History. Routledge, 2014.

James, Cyril Lionel Robert, and Robin Kelley. A History of Pan-African Revolt. PM, 2012.

Martin, Guy. African Political Thought. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Moorehead, Monica. "African Liberation Day: Smash Settler Colonialism in Occupied Palestine, Africa, the Americas and Oceania." Workers World, 24 May 2024, www.workers.org/2024/05/78863/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

Nugent, Paul. Africa Since Independence. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

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