OCTOBER 16TH TO 18TH – MANCHESTER, UK
A Weekend With The Most Forward Thinking Pan African Minds.
The 1945 Pan African Congress 70th Commemoration Event
The 70th anniversary of the 5th Pan African Congress, 1945 will be commemorated in Manchester in a three day conference from 16-18 October.
International Pan African scholars and activists will gather in Manchester to reflect on the historical significance of the 5th PAC The conference delegates will reflect not only its legacy but will also discuss the future of the Pan African Movement, going forward.
An essential part of this conference, unlike previous ones, is to give a role to young people in promoting and sustaining the future of Pan-Africanism world-wide. A Pan African Foundation will be established in Manchester at the end of the conference to carry on the work of the Pan African Movement on an on-going basis.
- SEMINARS – with International renowned Pan African speakers who will lead the discussions and debates exploring and examining both in a historical context as well as looking at contemporary issues as to what Pan Africanism is in the 21st
- WORKSHOPS – Workshops are designed to assist the process of translating the vision into solution concepts and action.
- INTERACTIVE YOUTH QUESTION TIME – working with the young people OF Manchester PAC45Foundation will be using video extracts, art alongside a panel of guest speakers to explore issues of identity and the significance and relevance of Pan Africanism.
- THE ART OF PAN AFRICANISM – throughout the conference particular attention will be paid to The Art of Pan Africanism; drawing inspiration from the Creative Artistic Political, Cultural and Spiritual forces that are essentially African and that which helps bring to life the Pan Africanist Vision.
- MARKET PLACE – Space will be provided for those that wish to exhibit, sell and inform the attendees of their ser
- WEBCASTS – Prof Hakim Adi, Dr Umar Johnson, Zita Holbourne, Temi Mwale, Lee Jasper, Cecil Gutzmore and other leading speakers at https://firstcutmedia.com/pac45/conference/webcasts/ .
1945-2015: Its Time To Remember, Not Forget
Considering the issues still surrounding ethnic minorities today; institutionalised racism, racial discrimination, deaths in police custody and high unemployment to name a few, surely it’s time to reflect on the heritage and ‘grievances’ of neo-colonialism, rather than forget? Such attitudes have limited progress within Britain as well as across the global diaspora. It is also time to remember the efforts of those that preceded us, including those that organised and attended the 1945 Pan African Congress and persevere to continue with their work.
The 2015 commemorative conference promises to uphold the spirit of 1945 and explore the issues that affect Africans on a global basis; economically, politically and socially. Organised by a Manchester based Planning Committee, the event will take place on Friday 16th October – Sunday 18th October. International keynote speakers will open up the celebrations, discussing 1945 and beyond.
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Day 1 Friday 16 October 2015 5:45pm – 10:00pm
Day 1 The PAC@70 Youth Question Time event has been created with a collective of youth, professional and community leaders, inspired to celebrate the truly ground breaking 5th Pan African Congress which took place at what is now MMU All Saints campus, Manchester in 1945.
This event will give access to a shared space; using education, art, creative, digital and historical knowledge, allowing meaningful discussion of Pan African issues for young people by young people; the new generation of Pan Africans.
Chaired by Jordan Stephen – panel members; Prof. Hakim Adi, Dr Umar Johnson, Rameri Moukam and Naa Acquah
Taking place at The Union, 12 Higher Cambridge Street. M15 6AD
Day 2 Saturday 17 October 2015 9.00am – 6.00pm
Day 2 We feel that it is fitting not only to commemorate the events which occurred around the 1945 Pan African Congress but also to draw upon the unity between the Pan African Movement, the Black community and the workers movement in order to forge a united front in the continuing struggle for unity, equality and justice.
We will be hearing from renowned Pan Africanists as well as a host of experienced experts within their field of work; exploring various aspects and issues of unity for Black people the world over. The critical question that we ask today is which way forward for Pan Africanism in the 21st Century?
Chaired by Lee Jasper and Cecil Gutzmore, speakers; Sir Godfrey Palmer, Prof. Hakim Adi, Dr Umar Johnson, Khadija George, Roger McKenzie and Temi Mwale.
Taking place at Brunswick Parish Church, Brunswick Street. M13 9TQ
Day 3 Sunday 18 October 2015 10.00am – 3.00pm
The 3rd and final day of truthful exploratory talks on the issues concerning Africa and Africans from Black Lives Matter, Leadership, Neo-colonialism, Women In the Struggle, Climate Change and Justice we will again hear from renowned Pan Africans concluding with a plenary.
Chaired by Lee Jasper and Zita Holbourne, speakers; Akala, Sai Murray and Viv Ahmun*tbc
Taking place at the Brooks Building, MMU. Birley Fields. Hulme M15 6GX
The 1945 PAN African Congress
The Fifth Pan-African Congress, held in Manchester in 1945, now belongs to world history. Dubois, Padmore, Appiah, Nkrumah, Kenyatta – all were outstanding delegates. Seen in retrospect, the Pan- African Congress has won the reputation of a pace-maker for decolonization in Africa and in the British West Indies. It marked a significant advance in the participation of workers in the Pan African cause. It demanded an end to colonial rule and an end to racial discrimination, while it carried forward the broad struggle against imperialism, for human rights and equality of economic opportunity. The Pan-African Congress manifesto itself positioned the political and economic demands of the Congress within a new world context of international co-operation, arising from `the grim ordeal of the war of liberation against Fascism’
A key major factor of the 1945 PAC was that it was also concerned and explored issues in regards to the plight of the Black communities in Britain; racism, inequality and discrimination in the work place and education institutions, housing and within the social context. The 1945 PAC explored how the lifes, situations, opportunities and status of Black people should and could be improved.
[The above text is taken from the original conference website http://www.pac45foundation.com ]