2010 Africa Day celebration under the theme:
“Building and Maintaining Peace through Sports in Africa”

Keynote Address
H.E. AMELIA MATOS SUMBANA
Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique

1. It is an honor and a privilege for me to be here today in the State of Georgia, the Peach State, and join you to this distinct gathering. On the occasion of the celebration of the 2010 Africa day, my country, Mozambique, and the entire African continent join the organizers in welcoming all African Diaspora, particularly from Atlanta, to this important occasion. This is certainly a very important event as it marks another critical but reassuring milestone in the quest to involve the African Diaspora in Africa’s renaissance.
2. We acknowledge the work of the organizing Committee under the leadership of Chief Tunde Adetunji, the President of the Africa Heritage Foundation, for their inspiring efforts, dedication and support for organizing the Africa day celebration, and express appreciation to the Government and people of the State of Georgia for proclaiming “May 25, 2010, as Africa Union Day in Atlanta, to celebrate Atlanta’s affinity for African initiative, unity and progress.”
3. It is not by chance that the 2010 Africa day’s theme “Building and Maintaining Peace through Sports in Africa” coincides with the FIFA World Cup in 2010. For us, as Africans, sport is part of our life. We believe this critical moment will make another history, while the whole world is looking at Africa with different eyes – eyes of hope and opportunities.
4. Beyond 2010 Africa Day’s theme, the Africa Heads of State and Government proclaimed, during the Special Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) on the Consideration and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa, held in Tripoli on 31 August 2009, 2010 as the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.

5. We believe that today’s celebration of Africa presents a unique opportunity for Africans in the Diaspora, especially the huge African Diaspora here in Atlanta, the land of wisdom, justice and moderation, to review past efforts and to chart new ways of responding to the challenges of peace and security, amongst others. It also offers another chance to African Diaspora to strongly and with tangible actions bridge the gap across the Atlantic as a step in addressing and increasing the cooperation and partnership to overcome the many challenges that confront the continent of Africa especially in the critical areas of development, peace and security.
6. My country, Mozambique, and the entire Africa humbly use this opportunity to reaffirm its conviction in the strength and capacity of the African Diaspora and its belief that collaboration between Africa and the African Diaspora remains a major instrument to reinforce our African heritage on brotherhood as well as for achieving sustainable development in the continent.
7. I am very glad to publicly declare that African countries are moving towards inter countries collaboration. The continent is forging a united front in setting and maintaining its own agenda, guided by its own needs and the imperative of using the available resources. We praise the friendship and assistance that we obtain from the international partners, with the special reference to the United States of America, but we also stress that support can only be sustainable if added to our own hard work and commitment to change the African economic situation. African Regional Economic Communities constitute a strong reality, as a solid base for an integrated development. As you all know, resources in Africa are huge in terms of people’s wisdom, natural resources, mineral resources…Those are opportunities that African Diaspora, with your important expertise can use to develop the motherland.
8. It is with these expectations in mind that I join the African Diplomatic Corps and the African Union to wish you a useful and memorable 2010 Africa Day celebration.

Long Live Africa
Long Live African Diaspora

24 May 2010

Africa Day Celebration Atlanta   2010

Events Make History

Hon. Ambassador Amelia Matos Sambana vists the brthplace of Civil Rights Legend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With her is CEO/ Founder of Africa Heritage Foundation, Chief Tunde Adetunji.

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