Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). In 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union.
The name and date of Africa Day has been retained as a celebration of African unity. This year's Africa Day theme is Africa and the diaspora.
Africa Day facts
Tweeps are celebrating Africa Day using the hashtag #AfricaDay. Let's start with a few Africa Day facts.
@octopusict: Africa is the second largest of the earth’s seven continents and makes up approximately 22% of the earth’s total land area.
@solidgame:Lowest point in Africa – Lake Assal in Djibouti which lies at 515 feet (155m) below sea level.
@CapeVerdeExp: RT @Mo_the_Ho: 4 countries in Africa rank in the world's top democracy's: Mauritius (25), South Africa (29), Botswana (36), Cape Verde (39)
@Luyanda_Peter received a t-shirt made in China to celebrate Africa Day. Photo courtesy of Twitter user @Luyanda_Peter.
Quotes of the day
@MacJordaN celebrates Africa Day with a quote from Kwame Nkrumah:
“I am an African, not because I was born in Africa but because Africa is born in me “- Kwame Nkrumah. http://is.gd/gRuUdA/
@Sentletse quotes from Frantz Fanon:
According to Frantz Fanon each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it. #AfricaDay.
@AlluviaWines quotes Paris Hilton:
“I love Africa in general; South Africa and West Africa, they both are great countries” – Paris Hilton
This is how @Routledge_AS celebrates Africa Day:
To celebrate #AfricaDay, we're offering free access to key articles which engage with topics concerning Africa http://bit.ly/kvNOFy
To @charkenty, Africa is rhythm:
Keita, Makeba, Masekela, Dube, Les Nubians, Koite, the Kuti's, N'dour, K'naan, Amadou&Mariam… Africa is rhythm.
What is your most beautiful spot in Africa?, asks @NikiMapoma:
I Agree”@GetawayMagazine: Today is #AfricaDay ! What's your most beautiful spot in Africa? > #VictoriaFalls #Zambia”
What do you love most about Africa?:
Happy #AfricaDay folks :-) Awesome Google doodle up in honour of our beautiful continent. What do you love most about the land we live in?
Is there anything to celebrate?, wonders @mssvy12:
Are we celebrating democracy and having black presidents that get rich while citizens grow poor?
@NaijaHistory remembers Tajudeen AbdulRaheem:
Fond Memories of #Tajudeen AbdulRaheem on this #May25 – #AfricaDay. “Organize. Don't Agonize” http://t.co/FZorn3s
@SmartestAlec shares music for Africa Day:
Africa must wake up -Nas and Damian Marley feat Knaan. #AfricaDay http://bit.ly/kL88Qm
@ImaCooperator reminds Africans not to forget the tragedy of Africans:
Tragegy of Africans is dreaming to WIN lottery tickets when in real sense they have not bought the ticket-Lumumba
What does it mean to be an African?
To mark Africa Day, Tweeps answer the question: “What does it mean to be an African?” The hashtag for the question is #tobeafrican.
@ekow_q_johnson: #tobeafrican is to find gap-teeth sexy
@RosebellK: #TobeAfrican is to call any medical male worker doctor and every female medical worker in those dresses nurse
@coco_january: #tobeafrican is to swell with pride whenever ur country is mentioned in connection with something good no matter how small..
@Delalorm: RT @garyalsmith: #tobeafrican is to play football barefoot for hours without feeling a thing (via @Rowie_007)
@idontfearhuu: #ToBeAfrican means right after an Aunt has visted and left, your mom has to approach “How much did Auntie give u? Let me keep it for u”
@su_charFIERCEST: RT @DUSTAccra: RT @yass_minn: #tobeafrican is to go to an event with your whole family when the invitation was for only one person
@Oi_blood: RT”@get_alyf: ℓ☺ℓ #ToBeAfrican doesn't mean anything if you don't have a fowl or goat running around your compound right now…..”
@Naju_O: RT @coco_january: #tobeafrican is to receive ur male visitors infront of ur gate cos daddy is at home..
@Ruthaine: #ToBeAfrican means you have the right to let your phone ring at church, funerals, meetings etc etc
@RosebellK: #TobeAfrican is to take yo child for baptism + the first question kickin off the ceremony the Reverend asks, is this child baptised?
@Mbabazi_AN: RT @motwi_86: #ToBeAfrican is to rule till u're 100
Global Voices Online wishes you a Happy Africa Day with a poem from Mighty African:
It takes a village to raise a child
It takes a male child to start a village
It takes a female child to educate them all
In AfricaOne man’s inactive car
Is many other men’s community service
Because you will need others
When your own car breaks down in AfricaIt doesn’t fall into winter
And then spring into summer
People may be raining away
But life and warmth never run dry in AfricaTangerine tree, football field, sugarcane seller
Very different but similar
Who needs Mapquest? In directing and navigating
All landmarks are on deck, in Africa
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