In October 2015, The PAC45 Foundation are hosting a 3 day conference to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic 5th Pan African Congress
The Congress was pivotal to the many of the movements that lead to independence for many African countries from the British and other European empires.
To the support the event the Foundation is running a Crowdfunder campaign which will run until September 28th.
The draft programme includes topics such as, The History of Pan African Congresses; 1945 Pan African Congress – what and who made it significant,Climate Change and Africa, Pan-Africanism and Economics – breaking chains, Women and Pan Africanism – the male issue and African Art and Culture – disappearing in diversity?
Confirmed speakers so far include DrGamal Nkrumah, the co-author of ‘The 1945 Manchester Pan African Congress Revisited’ ProfessorHakim Adi, internationally known American educationalist, DrUmar Johnson activist, rapper and poet.
The fundraising campaign aims to raise a minimum of £5000 to enable the conference to happen but hopes to raise more enabling the speaker line up to be completed and for the event to be recorded and potentially streamed.
Of the conference, Chair of the organisation’s International Steering Committee Dr Paul Okojie said “Manchester as the venue for the Fifth Pan African Congress in 1955, has become inextricably linked with the history of decolonisation. This October, Manchester will be host to scholars and activists from all the world or commemorate this momentous event. Join us to share in the history and celebration.”
Colette William, conference organiser project manager remarked “I am so happy and thrilled to be working on such an event, it is very rare that you get the opportunity to work on a project where you learn and discover a historical event wherein those that participated and were involved changed the world. This is not just an opportunity to inform people about the past but to bring into being a movement which will, like the 5th Pan African Congress, bring about change.”
