Speech of The Day (196): On April 15, 1959, in Addis Ababa, Africa Day

On April 15, 1959, in Addis Ababa, His Imperial

Majesty Haile Selassie I made the following

declaration:

"On this Africa Day, the first anniversary of the

convening of the All-African Conference of Accra,

We send Our Greetings and those of Our beloved People,

to all the Leaders and Peoples of this Great Continent.

The Conference of Accra marked a significant stage

in the struggle towards freedom for all African peoples

and the progress since achieved more than justifies the

hopes which We had all reposed in that Conference.

In the short space of one year, We have welcomed

to Our midst the new independent state of Guinea. We

hope, by the end of the coming year to witness the attainment

to independence of the Cameroons, Togoland

and the present Trust Territory of Somaliland. Representatives

of the peoples of Africa have convened

in Our Capital City of Addis Ababa last December and

laid far-reaching and realistic plans for the economic

integration of the continent and cooperation in the

struggle against the legacy of ignorance and poverty.

We confidently hope in yet greater progress in all fields

before the convening next year, in Addis Ababa of the

Second All-African Conference.

Such achievements in the last twelve months and

in the months to come have been justified and can be

continued because of the fundamental unity which

binds all African peoples. It is a unity springing from

centuries of struggle against domination, from a shared

realisation that we must all gird our strength to repair

the havoc wrought by years of indifference, from trust

and confidence in each other. We sustain an abiding

conviction in the courage and intelligence of the peoples

of this Continent. With freedom from restraints, there

should be nothing to prevent the African peoples of

today from achieving in a spontaneous and youthful

surge of collaboration, the attainment of those very

ideals, so long denied to the peoples of our Continent.

Against this background and with these hopes in

mind, all leaders of Africa and their peoples have followed

with great concern and sympathy the brave struggle

of the peoples of Central Africa to achieve those

same goals, ideals which some of the African independent

states have defended at such great sacrifices. It

must be realized that the peoples and territories of Africa

can no longer be regarded as preserves of colonial

interests or the continued objects of imperialist designs.

Unfortunately, that truth is apparently still to be learned

by others. Until the entire continent becomes the

home of the free and until every man and every people

can, in peace, labour for the advancement and welfare

of the family and homeland, the ideals and objectives

which We have proclaimed to the world at Accra and

Addis Ababa, shall not have been attained.

The African peoples can, at this time, by their close

co-operation and mutual assistance, demonstrate to a

world torn by political differences and ideologies and

economic rivalries, a fruitful example of unity and

collaboration.

It is the high mission of us all to build for the future

on this solid foundation of profound unity and understanding

and such are the thought and meaning with

which we are today celebrating and, will, over the years,

continue to celebrate Africa Day.

Confident in the guidance and support of the Almighty,

and concerned as we are, that the fruits of

education and toil may be enjoyed by all and that the

peoples of this continent may, at last, assume their

rightful place in the conferences of nations, we call

upon all to remain steadfast and together, in one continental

brotherhood, to labour for the liberation, the

progress and the welfare of the struggling peoples of

the Continent of Africa."

Speeches delivered by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions - page 120 -