By Angele V. Onyie

New York, May 26, 2021 – Africa Day Celebration – African Union
Theme “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want”.
The AU was celebrating the Africa Day this year on May 25, 2021. Theme : “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want”. The Africa Day this year is very special because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, as all organizations, institutions and African countries are marking the date. Africa Day, also known as African Unity Day, is celebrated in commemoration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the African Union (AU), on this day in 1963. This day is the opportunity for people from all backgrounds to showcase their diversity and celebrate their difference globally. This is also the opportunity highlight cultural contribution of the African Diaspora in New York and Worldwide.
Celebrating Arts, Culture and Cultural Heritage.

2021 theme : “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want”. means a lot for me, as my very 1rst Africa Day in New York was build under this same theme. I was not only honored to be among the distinguish speakers of this event, representing UNAMA’s President, but also, I had successfully negotiated in person with H.E Ambassador TETE Antonio, the former Permanent Representative of African Union to the United Nations in New York, the UNAMA Fashion Show that I was also coordinating. This have been a tremendous experience and a great memory that I have the pleasure to share with you now to continue to stress the importance of Fashion, Culture and our cultural Heritage. (You can read my letter to H.E TETE Antonio here)
Africa Day 2017
This yearly event was organized at the Manhattan Center in New York by the African Union (AU) in partnership with UPF (Universal Peace Federation ) the United Nations Ambassadors Spouses Group (UNAASG) on May 25, 2017.

The program was opened by the permanent observer of the African Union to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Tete Antonio, who seized the opportunity to express a warm thank you to all the participants and organizers for creating this festive party. The vice president of The Universal Peace Federation UPF Vice President Mr. Taj Hamad, who has been a key person for the organization of this event for years, was referred as the “icon of Africa Day” . UPF is an international and interreligious network of individuals and organizations, is dedicated to achieving world peace.

H.E Ambassador Tete Antonio speaking on behalf of Mr. Moussa Faki, Chair African Union Commission, conveyed a message of “unity, embracing our youth and ending marginalization of Africa.” H.E. Mamadi Touré, the permanent representative of Guinea to the UN, declared that Africa has all the resources needed and, with a united commitment to “our common values and destiny,” Africa’s emergence is entirely possible.

The other distinguished speakers included Mrs, Amina J. Mohammed, Under Secretary General to the UN, Madame Elise Andrianarivelo, the president of UNAASG and the wife of the permanent representative of Madagascar to the UN; and H.E. Marcel Amon Tanoh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation of Cote D’Ivoire.

The United Nations African Mothers Association (UNAMA) was also part of this event, as sponsor of the Fashion Show. » I was proud to successful negotiate this partnership on behalf of Unama, and I thank H.E Ambassador TETE Antonio to take time in his busy schedule to meet me. African Fashion is part of our Cultural Heritage and we must protect it » said Angele Ventugol Onyie, Unama’s Communications Chair of Communications and Show Director, speaking on behalf of Mrs Tommo Therese UNAMA’s President and spouse of the Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the United Nations, and member of UNAASG. The program was followed by a buffet of meals cooked by ambassador’s spouses, and live entertainment and a dancing party.


























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