Dear Editor,

African Liberation Day dates back to its founding in 1958 by Kwame Nkruma.

Originally Africa Freedom Day, it was renamed African Liberation Day at an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) meeting in 1963 to be celebrated on May 25 each year.

We are due to honour Africa Day, not African Liberation Day, especially in our schools, in a few weeks’ time. The difference is far more than just a shortened name. From the beginning, the people of Africa and its Diaspora were fully aware of the tasks ahead in their struggle for a brighter future, for liberation, not just from colonialism but from neo-colonialism that has followed. Today we can celebrate what has been achieved, but also recognise that we still have a far way to go, that the struggle must continue, continue in close collaboration with the African continent and oppressed peoples everywhere.

There is no better time than now to be reminded that true liberation means more than a flag, an anthem, a motto, and even a local head of State (if ever we get one in Jamaica). United States imperialism has been reinventing itself with a vengeance right here in our own backyard, not to mention elsewhere.

Liberation implies sovereignty, control of our land, resources, and political direction, not bowing to threats, whether political or economic. Instead of addressing this ongoing struggle, African Liberation Day has been subverted into a cultural celebration without recognising and building on its historical foundations.

Yes, we have Independence and Emancipation celebrations in August each year, but, again, these tend to look back to achievements in the past without sufficient reminders of the struggle still ahead and the naval string that ties us to our sisters and brothers in Africa.

So African Liberation Day, please, not the diluted version.

Paul Ward

Oracabessa, St Mary

pgward72@gmail.com