We can’t Forge a new African identity without the Diaspora-Abike Dabiri

Chinedu Ojobo

Hon.  Abike Dabiri Erewa in her keynote speech at a conference organized by the Centre for Black and African  Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), in conjunction with the University of Abuja (Uniabuja), held in Abuja emphasized on the importance of Diaspora in forging a new African identity.

She said, “We can’t talk about Pan Africanism and forging a new African identity , without the Diaspora, it is important to connect African nations and the Historic African Diaspora.

This is one of the reasons the AU declared the Diaspora the sixth region of Africa.

“We have introduced The Door of Return ceremony first in Africa as against being taken away through the Point of no Return, we have Africans in Diaspora return through the symbolic Door, their ancestors were taken away as slaves they return as Kings and queens

It’s a very emotional event that serves as a physical, spiritual and economic connection back to their Motherland. The third edition will take place in Badagry between 18 and 19th October, 2019.”

The conference had its theme, “Pan Africanism and the Forging of a New African Identity in the 21st Century”