Councilman Jim Maddox sports a 2006 World Cup hat given to him by Chief Tunde who is organizing an Atlanta delegation to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Nigerian chief and Atlanta resident, Tunde Adetunji, learned that Germany would host the 2006 FIFA World Cup while attending the 1999 All-Africa Games in South Africa.

“I was really taken aback,” he told GlobalAtlanta of his sinking feeling at the time because he saw that South Africa had the necessary facilities for a successful World Cup and so many people on the African continent were hoping that the country would be selected.

But when FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football, announced in 2004 that South Africa was chosen for the 2010 World Cup, he was overjoyed. “I saw the dream become reality,” he said. “Not just for South Africa but for the entire continent.”

He’s now part of a team to be led by City Councilman Jim Maddox that is organizing a Georgia delegation to attend the event that begins in June.

Although Mr. Maddox is to retire at the end of the year after having served 32 years on the Atlanta City Council, he has no intention of stopping to promote the city that he has served longer than any other elected official in its history.

For years, Mr. Maddox, along with others such as former mayor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young, often have claimed Atlanta is the main U.S. gateway to the continent.

Mr. Tunde, who was born into a royal Yoruba family and earned the title of chief through civic service, founded the Africa Heritage Foundation Inc. here. He arrived in Atlanta for the Summer Olympic Games in 1996 as a cultural ambassador for Africa with his “Celebrate Africa” exhibition consisting of art works from throughout the continent.

Since then, he has been promoting his initiatives “to bridge the gap and build the bridge” between the U.S. and the African continent including a still to be realized educational park featuring its countries.

His Africa World Museum downtown has been a venue for a host of official visits from African dignitaries and a meeting place for local officials interested in learning more about Africa.

Anima Salum Ali of Tanzania, who opened the African Union’s first diplomatic mission in Washington, visited the museum shortly after assuming her responsibilities in 2007. Other AU officials visited the museum later.

In an effort to strengthen the AU’s ties to Georgia, Mr. Tunde presented the Georgia flag at an official meeting of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Other African Union officials followed her later and Mr. Tunde told GlobalAtlanta that he would press forward Atlanta’s bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 with AU officials and during the events surrounding the World Cup in South Africa.

Atlanta City Council passed a resolution supporting the city’s efforts to attract the World Cup here.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tunde’s initiative to organize a delegation to attend South Africa’s World Cup is backed by endorsements from Mr. Maddox; Charles Whatley, director of commerce and entrepreneurship at the Atlanta Development Authority, Dan Moore Sr., president and CEO of the APEX Museum; John Thomas, chair of the board of trustees of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System and Thomas W. Dortch Jr., chairman emeritus of the 100 Black Men of America Inc.

Credits – http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/23602/

Press Release August 13, 2007

The Second International East African Soccer Tournament in Atlanta

The Second International East African Soccer Tournament organized by the KimMedia Group on Saturday August 4th, 2007, was a great achievement for Kenya, Eritrea and the entire East African Community.

Chief Tunde Adetunji the CEO of Africa World Museum and Center and the Africa Heritage Foundation was a special guest of honor and speaker for this event. Chief Adetunji was very appreciative of this, community event by KimMedia Group and Community.

Before the commencement of the official presentation of medal and award, Chief Tunde Adetunji asked for a minute of silence for the three Kenyan homicide recent victims.

The focus point of Chief Tunde Adetunji presentation was on unity of Africa, which has re-echoed to promote development and the Africa initiative, at all levels. Chief Tunde Adetunji was very emphatic on how we can use unity to diffuse so many negative issues affecting Africa. He encouraged the African community represented at this recreational event to emulate this to develop their own agenda by working together and supporting each other, he reminded that they can only become successful when they help others to be successful.

Chief Tunde Adetunji emphasized that working together for the development of Africa should be the uppermost thought in the minds of various African natives where ever they may live. He said no African can do it alone. He praised the African Union for endorsing and supporting the Diaspora program. He asserted that Africa is becoming a place of economic power within global marketplace through the City of Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

He quoted the Honorable Alpha Omar Konare by reiterating his speech on the Africa Day celebration; “I wish to seize the opportunity to express our deep gratitude to our international partners from other continents: America, Europe and Asia – for the constant interest support that they continue to lend to our efforts. Nonetheless the onus remains on us. No one expect Africa has a stake in securing Africa’s future. The continent must forge a united front in setting and maintaining it own agenda, dictated only by its own needs and imperative of applying home grown prescriptions that are adapted to it’s particular conditions. The assistance that we obtain from our international partners can only be additional or supplementary to our own hard work and resources. We are the architects of our own destiny.

Those who have witnessed the growth of the Africa World Museum and Center; Africa Heritage Foundation and it’s “Bridging the Gap and Building the Bridge.” project are in incontrovertibly aware of Chief Tunde’s Vision and message that Africa must shape its own destiny and that Africans are architects their own destiny.

Chief Tunde also echoed to the East African community that they should believe strongly in themselves and only when they believed in themselves they will become and as well reach the zenith of their potential and callings.

Chief Tunde Adetunji also welcome those in attendance to join the economic prospect in encompassed in the Bridging the Gap and Building the Bridge Conference and also to be part of the African Village opportunity.

Finally Chief Adetunji urged the East African Community to be more dedicated and tolerant in their effort to rebuild Africa’s lost glory and potentials.

The championship ended in a very impressive note.
For more information contact
The Director – Media relations
Africa World Museum