Africa Day – Kgalema Mothlanthe in Grahamstown on Africa Day

Former president, Kgalema Motlanthe will present the 4th Pan African Youth Dialogue (PAYD) Africa Day Lecture in Grahamstown on Monday 25 May.

The lecture, entitled “Rethinking 21st Century Pan Africanism”, will take place at 18:00 at the Eden Grove Lecture Theatre at Rhodes.

Xolani Nyali, Executive Director of the PAYD, says of the topic, “There have been quite a number of formal institutions established on the continent that proclaim Pan-Africanism and Pan-African leadership in both the public and the private sectors. It's important for us to stop and ask whether we have a uniform understanding of the concept of Pan-Africanism."

He says that Motlanthe was asked to present the lecture as someone who is not only a strong proponent of the African people’s right to self-determination, but who also sacrificed his youth for the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.

The PAYD views the question of how young people understand Pan-Africanism as particularly important for a younger generation of Africans whose responsibility it will be to take the continent into the future.

Started in 2009 with an address by former president Thabo Mbeki on "The role of the youth in realising the African Renaissance,” the PAYD Africa Day lecture focuses on topics that challenge young people to study and understand the African continent in order to contribute to the betterment of the lives of its people.

Past speakers have included former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda and former presidant of Mozambique and Chairperson of the Africa Forum, Joaquim Chissano.

Also established in 2009, the PAYD is a youth-led, professional organisation that aims to be the leading continental forum dedicated to achieving the renaissance of Africa and an engaged youth able to assume leadership and share in societal obligations.

The organisation is active in higher education institutions across South Africa, with partnerships around the continent.