During May South Africa will celebrate Africa Month under the theme: “Building a Better Africa and a Better World”.
The sub-theme of: “There Shall be Peace and Friendship” is most fitting as the African Union and its predecessor the OAU have at all times strived to promote solidarity and unity amoung African nations.

The planned activities for the month by the Department of Arts and Culture seek to strengthen the socio, cultural, economic and political relations among African nations.

South Africans together with their counterparts from the continent and those in the Diaspora will participate in music, poetry, dance, film, craft and design, cuisine, fashion and intellectual engagements. This programme will involve different genres.

The celebrations will peak on the 25 May 2016 with the annual commemoration of Africa Day which marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Today known as the Africa Union (AU) the organisation promotes greater unity and solidarity between African countries.

The AU is also at the forefront of the drive for peace, security and stability on the continent. It also seeks to establish the necessary conditions for the continent to take its rightful place in the global economy and on the international stage.

South Africa plays an active role in the organisation as an integral part of the African continent. The country’s national interest is intrinsically linked to continental stability, unity and prosperity of Africa.
Africa’s development is at the centre of South Africa’s foreign policy. Moreover, our foreign policy position commits us to broker peace when called on and ensure greater unity and solidarity between all nations.