African Liberation Day Celebrations of the Global Pan-African Movement North American Chapter: Held in Ghana; Syracuse, New York; and Barbados

University of Cape Coast, Ghana (Saturday, 24 May 2025)

The first celebration was held at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana under the theme of “Africa for the African: The Sahel States as a Blueprint for Pan Africanism.” The event fostered meaningful dialogue on liberation, unity, and self-determination among students, scholars, activists, and members of the public and was attended by over 400 people. The Master of Ceremonies was Ms. Ruth Quansah and the event was chaired by Dr. Mario Nisbett. The program began with a powerful and traditional libation, poured by Mr. Atsu Dagadu in honor of the ancestors and African freedom fighters. This was followed by the singing of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) anthem, commemorating Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision in founding the institution. Terese Millet Joseph, the African Liberation Day Coordinator for GPAM, delivered opening remarks, which was followed by the screening of a brief documentary highlighting the historical significance of African Liberation Day.  

The keynote speaker, Professor Moussa Traore, delivered a compelling address on the significance of the Sahel States and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He provided historical context by honoring Pan-African trailblazers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, Thomas Sankara, and W.E.B. Du Bois. He argued that AES represents a turning point in African self-reliance and political reawakening and praised Burkina Faso’s leadership under Captain Ibrahim Traore. Professor Traore called for continental unity through one African army, a unified currency, and borderless cooperation, while condemning ongoing imperialist interference in African governance. Dr. Traore’s remarks were followed by Poet Jahyoung who delivered a powerful spoken word piece honoring Thomas Sankara before moving into Q&A and panel discussion moderated by Mr. Rabbi Kohain (Executive Director, PANAFEST) and featuring  Prof. De-Valera N.Y.M. Botchway (UCC, Department of History and Diplomacy), Dr. Priscilla Obiribea-Addo (Centre for African and International Studies), Mrs. Benedicta Anita Mensah (Cape Coast Chamber of Commerce), and Mr. Richard Shabazz (Photojournalist and Videographer). The discussion centered on the resurgence of Pan-African consciousness, highlighting revolutionary shifts in the Sahel under new leadership. Prof. Botchway stressed that being African is a deliberate political identity, while Dr. Obiribea-Addo emphasized the pivotal role of youth. All panelists agreed that the AES represents a significant step toward dismantling colonial legacies and fostering regional independence.

Celebrations concluded with a performance from the Akoma Pa Cultural Group and remarks from Mr. Fiave Enoch Kwame, President of the African Student Empowerment Group (ASEG), responded to the panel's reflections by asserting that “the future of Pan-Africanism is empowering African students.” He called on students to embrace ideological education, unity, and activism inspired by Pan-African legends. 

 Community Folk Art Center, Syracuse, New York (Saturday, 24 May 2025)

The second celebration took place in Syracuse, New York and honored the life of Malcolm X through various speakers and cultural performances. The event was held with the support of the Africa Initiative at Syracuse University and the Pan-African Community of Central New York and was chaired by Terese Millet Joseph who supported the coordination of all three events (Ghana, Syracuse, and Barbados). The event opened with a short film produced by GPAM and a statement from Terese on the significance of African Liberation Day. The program proceeded with a reenactment of Malcolm X’s speech “By Any Means Necessary” which was performed by Charles Anderson. 

The keynote speakers were Dr. Rosemari Mealy, who spoke on the relationship between Malcolm X and Cuba, and Essam Elkorghli who presented “US Policies at Home and Abroad: What Malcolm X Taught Us”. In her presentation, Dr. Mealy began by quoting from Malcom X’s 1964, Organization of African American Unity (OAAU) speech: “As the 1964 Charter of Malcolm’s OAAU proclaimed: We must unite together in order to go forward together. Africa will not go forward any faster than we will and we will not go forward any faster than Africa will. We have one destiny, and we’ve had one past.” Her presentation recounted the history of the relationship between Malcolm X and Dr. Fidel Castro, and explained why the defense of Cuba is central to contemporary global liberation struggles. She highlighted the role of the African peoples in supporting Cuba and the Caribbean peoples supporting Cuba and the reciprocal relationship between the Caribbean peoples, the African peoples and the Cuban peoples in the struggles against imperialism. 

In his presentation Essam highlighted the class forces that collaborate with US imperialism and how this manipulates populations in Africa and Western Asia in support of the Zionist Entity.  His presentation is published in this issue of Pambazuka News. 

The celebrations concluded with a cultural performance by Vanessa Johnson, one of Syracuse’s community Griots. She performed an African American folktale, The People Could Fly, which was about a group of enslaved Blacks who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. A community gathering of food and fellowship followed. 

Israel Lovett Foundation, Barbados (Saturday, 24 May 2025)

The third and final celebration organized by GPAM took place at the Israel Lovett Foundation in Barbados and lectures and celebrations were centered around the theme of “Seizing the Moment: New Spaces for Liberation and Emancipation.” The main speaker was Professor Hakim Adi, author of the acclaimed book Pan-Africanism: A History. His presentation highlighted the history of Pan Africanism and African liberation struggles and explored crucial moments of political leadership by Pan Africanists, such as the role of the Africa International ServBureau (AISB) that led the coordination of Black revolutionaries against fascism and the Fifth Pan African Congress and its significance for liberation during that time period.

Dr. Adi was followed by Yanet Stable Cardenas, the Cuban Ambassador to Barbados, who spoke of the bond between Cuba and the Caribbean and Cuba's role in supporting African liberation. She affirmed the Caribbean Solidarity with Cuba and explained the consequences of US imperialism in Cuba. The next presentation was by the Venezuelan Ambassador to Barbados, Martha Ortega who talked about the question of racism in Venezuela and US imperialism against the Venezuelan process, why the Venezuelan process stands in solidarity with the Caribbean, and the African liberation movements.  

The presentations concluded with Rodney Worrell, an activist from Barbados, who spoke about the links from George Padmore to today in African Liberation. The crowning statement at the celebration was that of Tennyson Joseph, who spoke about main tasks of the liberation process in the Caribbean. He proposed that a program of Pan-African liberation for the Caribbean in the Twenty-first century should address: 

1. The Local Economic Empowerment and Transformation Question

2. The Political Institutional Reorganization Question

3. The Question of the Remaining Colonies in the Caribbean and:

4. The Caribbean Unification Question

5. The Africa-Caribbean Pan-African Economic and Political Relations Question

6. The Reparations Question

Joseph’s presentation is reproduced in this issue of Pambazuka News.

Reflections

These African Liberation Day celebrations represented the new energies that are alive in the face of authoritarianism and insecurities generated by the right-wing leaders in North America, Europe, West Asia, Africa and East Asia. The modest efforts of GPAM represent the push to hold the line and inspire those who are resisting oppression and white supremacy. Special thank you to Terese Millet Joseph and the rest of the GPAM team who worked hard to pull off these celebrations.

The Global Pan-African Movement (GPAM – USA) educates and discusses with the general public on issues pertinent to Global Africa and African Descendants through public forums and all relevant media with the intent to mobilize, galvanise and empower Pan-Africans and visionaries dedicated to the emancipation of Africa and the transformation of our planet.