CAPE TOWN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- South Africa marked Africa Day on Sunday with a strong call for unity, regional integration and cultural solidarity across the continent.
At the national celebration held at Freedom Park in Pretoria, a designated heritage site, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe called for more efforts to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Africa Day, celebrated annually on May 25, commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, now known as the African Union (AU).
In her speech, Mabe emphasized Africa's immense economic and cultural potential, calling on African nations to strengthen ties through trade, linguistic unity, and historical solidarity.
"With a population of more than 1.5 billion people, we have the markets to trade amongst ourselves first before expanding elsewhere," Mabe said.
Mabe also reflected on the continent's shared struggle against colonialism and apartheid. "Our common history of fighting colonialism and apartheid also brings us together," she said.
The aim of Africa Day is to celebrate unity, peace and cultural diversity in Africa. Meanwhile, civil society groups, human rights organizations and trade unions took part in the Africa Day Solidarity Walk in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The walk spanned from Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown to Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, symbolizing the ongoing journey toward justice, freedom and pan-African cooperation. ■