We are determined to foster an Africa-wide solidarity and unity of purpose of the Peoples of Africa
to build the future we want – a right to peace, social inclusion and shared prosperity.
Extract from the Kilimanjaro Declaration, written and adopted at the
Africans Rising Conference
23rd & 24th August 2016
MS – TCDC, Arusha, Tanzania
The Africans Rising Conference held in Arusha, on the 23rd and 24th August was a critical manifestation of the movement to join forces across the African continent and in the Diaspora, to call for and plot a path towards the Africa we want.
The energy and enthusiasm of the 272 delegates, from 40 countries carried with them was a wonderful inspiration and affirmation of Africa and her people. Participants carried the hopes and aspirations of the people of their countries in readiness to share their experiences and knowledge, learn from others and, add their voices towards the co-creation of a truly African movement. Unanimous in supporting each other on the issues that bind us together as the peoples of Africa rather than those that separate us by the artificial boundaries segmenting our continent into 54 entities.
Africans, civil society organisations, people’s movements and others are ready to rise and take responsibility, to work with and for one another as agreed to in the unanimously adopted Kilimanjaro Declaration.
In the course of being the volunteer Launch Director of Africans Rising, I have seen and heard many powerful manifestations of why this movement is timely and necessary – few more inspiring and personal than my trade union colleague and Interim Working Group member, Hilma Mote’s words in her blog post just before the conference:
I am joining this movement because I believe that Africa can and should be its best version.
I am joining this movement because I want my children to seek “their better future” right here on the continent.
I want my grandchildren to sing and rejoice in the fact that the ‘Grass is Greener’ right here on the continent and nowhere else.
Hilma’s words remind us of the organising principles of past movements like the anti Apartheid struggle and, the energy of present movements for climate justice that put people at the centre of the process to build a better society – a more just, peaceful society where people can access and enjoy their inherent human dignity – we must build a system that serves the 99%. Anything less would be a failure of not just civil society – but with unchecked negative climate impacts – a failure of our very ability to exist and survive as human beings.
Kumi Naidoo
Launch Executive Director
Africans Rising
