2008 AFRIKAN DIASPORA SUMMIT in Trinidad

On Saturday, December 16, 2007, the President of the World Afrikan Diaspora Union (WADU), His Excellency (Ambassador) Dudley Thompson urged Africans of the Diaspora to “Rally in support of WADU for the rebuilding of a new African world system that is economically, politically and culturally capable to protect its people and its resources.” President Thompson was speaking at the WADU Forum in Florida after successfully returning from a strategic meeting with key African leaders such as the African Union Chair Alpha Konare and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. During the Forum, the community decided to hold the next WADU Summit in Trinidad and Tobago in May 2008.

The Summit planned for Trinidad on May 24-31, 2008 is to continue the 2007 Summit goals for establishing and consolidating a Diaspora Secretariat to accomplish the vision and mission of reuniting Africans from across the Diaspora with those in Africa. Secondly, the 2008 Summit is to celebrate the 108th anniversary of the first Pan African Conference and Congress in 1900. The 1900 Conference established a blueprint for African people worldwide to act in unity on behalf of African people’s interests, first. Finally, the 2008 Summit is to celebrate the long and rich contributions of leaders such as Sylvester Williams, George Padmore, CLR James, Sir Eric Williams and Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) to the advancement of Pan Africanism. The 2008 Summit will be hosted by Khafra Kambon, Vice President of WADU Central Region (Caribbean, Central America and Pacific/ Asia.

With the theme Cultural Determination - for Economic and Political Rebirth, the 2008 Summit will be specifically focused on plans for action regarding promoting African culture, education and grassroots campaigns for the re-Africanization of African people. Some of the objectives were outlined by Nana Farika Birhane, the Cultural Affairs Commissioner as: Establishing a Board for the African Diaspora Education as a unified system; publishing a Pan African Manifesto for the Diaspora; promoting African holy days to honor those perished during the African Holocaust (MAAFA); synchronizing our work with the African Union and other Pan African organizations in the world.

Dr. Leonard Kweku Jeffies, Vice President of WADU Northern Region (USA, Canada and Europe) concluded the Forum by reminding the community of the prophetic words of our revered ancestor Dr. John Henrik Clarke that our work is for “Pan Africanism or Perish” and added “Reparations Now.” Finally, Dr. Niara Sudarkasa was appointed by President Dudley Thompson as Chief Elder for State of Florida. She will serve as a pivotal advisor to other Pan African leaders in Florida on issues regarding achieving the goals and objectives of Pan Africanism.