Reflecting on the anniversary of the Soweto uprising, ‘lovers of liberty everywhere continue to be inspired by the generations of freedom fighters and the youth who sacrificed to change Africa’, writes Horace Campbell. Although the romance with the old liberation forces is coming to an end, says Campbell, ‘there are renewed energies for substantive change all across Africa’, and it ‘is on the cultural front where the explosive energies are most manifest’.

Boubacar Diop «Buuba»

Olivier Blamangin

Asha Elkarib

Kali Akuno

Edited by Chambi Chachage and Annar Cassam,

A visit to a museum in Nigeria’s Kano state, the contemporary debate on ‘illegal immigration’ in the US and Israel’s attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla attempting to break the blockade on Gaza prompt L. Muthoni Wanyeki to realise how much her contemporary understanding of global ‘dynamics and tensions’ has overtaken her own ‘sense of history and its timelines’.

The 13 June 2010 will be the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Guyanese historian and activist Walter Rodney. In attendance at various groundings held in Nigeria to commemorate Rodney's life and work, Horace Campbell discusses the political climate in the country and sense of optimism around political mobilisation.

Pambazuka Press is pleased to announce the publication of ‘Africa's Liberation: The Legacy of Nyerere’. Edited by Chambi Chachage and Annar Cassam, the book includes contributions from leading commentators, those who worked and fought imperialism alongside Nyerere, members of a younger generation – and Nyerere in his own words.

A reading of Pambazuka Press’s new title, ‘Africa's Liberation: The Legacy of Nyerere’, edited by Chambi Chachage and Annar Cassam, prompts Dauti Kaura to reflect both on the legacy of the late Mwalimu – ‘a towering African leader who will always be remembered and missed for his cracking wisdom, unwavering commitment to African causes’– and the state of leadership on the continent today.

Scholars and activists from all over the world came together on 22–25 May to celebrate Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to Pan-Africanism at an international centenary colloquium held in Accra, Ghana. Conference attendee Horace Campbell finds himself heartened by the recent resurgence of interest in Pan-Africanism among a younger generation, and inspired by ‘the convergence of the energy of the youth’ with the insights of Nkrumah’s contemporaries.

Home-bound money transfers from the African diaspora in Europe and the US are increasing in terms of their developmental contribution to African economies, writes Sanou Mbaye. Mbaye affirms 'the social, economic and financial importance of migrant remittances in recipient countries' and calls for a more advanced facilitation of money transfers.

Fifty years on from the beginnings of liberation in Africa, John S. Saul finds there is still much work to be done, especially in southern Africa where the final triumph over colonial and racial domination occurred. In each of the five sites of the overt struggle against domination – Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa – there are clear signs of recolonisation, this time by capital.

The death of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem one year ago was marked on Tuesday 25 May in Nairobi with the launch of , a collection of his Pan-African Postcards. His legacy was manifest amidst Africa Day celebration and debate. Images from the day accompany this article.

Some say "African Unity Day"
Some, just "Africa day"
Whatever your choice,
here's to a freer, safer
united Africa of our dreams!

And, let's re-member
our dear Taju. The broda who chose
this day. He spoke words with spirits
that grew and stayed longer
than the baobab, inflamed our passion
for this land, spoke truth to power,
unveiled leaders who are dealers
in dream-trade, made history.

The broda who said NO
when a fake yes was a sure path
to our woes, wane and wail…
Here's another, to Taju!

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/483/taju_speaks.jpgWith 25 May 2010 marking the first year of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem's passing, the Pambazuka News team would like to draw our readers' attention to the wave of tributes we received in the wake of his tragic accident. These tributes feature as comments on an article entitled , as well as responses to Tajudeen's final Pan-African Postcard,

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/483/taju4.jpgIn the week of the anniversary of the first year of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem's passing, Amir Demeke reviews , a compilation of Tajudeen's weekly Pan-African Postcards. Describing the book as 'a well-balanced meal', Demeke stresses: 'For those who read for enlightenment, find a copy of the book and turn on the light.'

 Walter Turner speaks to Horace Campbell about Tajudeen's immense contribution and the challenges for a revolutionary world. Campbell is the author of the foreword to the new Pambazuka Press book

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/483/taju.jpgAs part of a Spotlight Africa radio programme broadcast last Saturday 22 May, Assumpta Oturu introduces excerpts of Tajudeen's thoughts on Pan-Africanism, African history and his wishes for Africa in the new millennium. The audio programme is available at [mp3].

As revelations of child abuse by priests rock the Catholic Church to its highest levels, Horace Campbell asks if the scandals will prompt sufficient institutional self-examination for a hypocrisy-riddled church to embrace a theology that administers to ‘the needs of the poor’ and oppressed rather than serving as ‘a religion of state power’. The church has allowed itself to be overtaken by the fundamentalist forces of the past four decades, Campbell argues, helping to stoke ‘the fires of intolerance’ and hate rather than encouraging a ‘gospel of sharing and liberation’ to flourish.

Reflecting on Kwame Nkrumah's pan-African ideas around the necessity of continental integration to enable Africa to move forward on its own terms, Sehlare Makgetlaneng stresses the need for African leaders to demonstrate commitment to a development agenda that is genuinely rooted in their peoples' own interests.

Jointly convened by Fahamu, UN Millennium Campaign, Oxfam International and Kenya Human Rights Commission

AFRICA: 50 YEARS ON, HOW IS PAN AFRICANISM STILL RELEVANT?

Panel discussion 16.00 – 18.00

Occurring each 25 May, Africa Liberation Day has been celebrated as a day for Pan Africanist reflection since 1963. This day takes place in a year when Africa will host the World Cup, some African countries will celebrate 50 years of independence and the world reflects on 10 years of the Millennium Development Goals and 15 years of the Beijing Platform for Action for Women.

Resource-persons include: Charles Abugre, Rachel Shebesh and Irungu Houghton

ONE YEAR ON, WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TAJUDEEN ABDUL-RAHEEM AND HIS IDEAS?

Book launch 18.00 – 20.00
Launch of the late Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem’s collection of writings

Resource-persons include: Anyang’ Ny’ong’o, Firoze Manji, Ndungu Githuku and Sarah Mitaru

This year also marks the first anniversary of the passing away of Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem (1961–2009), who died on the Mombasa road this day last year. Dr Abdul-Raheem served a range of African organisations including the Africa Research and Information Bureau, the Pan-African Movement and Justice Africa before becoming the UN Millennium Development Campaign Africa director in 2006. His weekly ‘Pan-African Postcards’ were published regularly in Pambazuka News and in several African newspapers. This book is the first comprehensive attempt to bring his opinion editorials together. A limited set of copies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the launch.

Both events are open to the public.

The first anniversary celebration of the life and legacy of Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, pan-African friend, comrade, brother and inspiration to so many, is to be held in London on:

Date: Saturday 22 May 2010 Venue: Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre, 17 – 25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA Time: 1pm - 6pm

The celebration is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

The celebration is jointly organised, in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, by friends of Tajudeen, including his widow Mounira Chaieb, Justice Africa, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme, the Royal African Society and Pambazuka News.

The day will comprise speeches on the life and works of Tajudeen, the launch of a book of the compilation of Tajudeen’s postcards entitled , performance poetry and traditional African music and the launch of the Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem Educational Trust.

We welcome all other organisations, groups and persons who wish to join our efforts to honour and continue the work of Tajudeen.

'Forward ever, backward never' Kwame Nkrumah (1909–72) 'Don't agonise, organise!' Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem (1961–2009)