Opportunity is said to be at the heart of development and unlocking the potential within individuals and their communities to help shape a better future for all. This is why the African Union's Pavilion is located within the Opportunity District.
The AU Pavillion will take you on a journey from the time our Pan-African organisation was formed, showcase Africa’s achievements and highlight pathways for investment as underlined in the Africa's developmental blueprint - The AU Agenda 2063 Aspirations.
To enhance the visit experience in our pavillion, we have used video, audio visuals, pictures and interactive screens to capture the essence and progress of the continent.
For the longest time the narrative has been told from the colonial perspective. Experience it first hand as it told by those who are the custodians of the vision of Africa and making it work for its present and future generations through telling the story of inception to rebirth.
A continent rich in its ethnic identity and diversity tells the world of where it is going and why it matters that world stands in awe an experience this first hand.
These stories told by our founding fathers are about the how Africans formed a continental body known as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to fight for liberation and bring the Pan-African ideas to reality.
Alh. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) was a Nigerian politician who was the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria. He was an important leader in the formation of the Organization of African Unity and creating a cooperative relationship with French speaking African countries. He was also instrumental in negotiations between Moise Tshombe and the Congolese authorities during the Congo Crisis of 1960–1964
Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957. An influential advocate of Pan-Africanism, Nkrumah was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity and winner of the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union in 1962.
His Majesty Haile Selassie I born Ras Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 1892 – 27 August 1975) was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. His internationalist views led to Ethiopia becoming a charter member of the United Nations. In 1963, he presided over the formation of the Organization of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union, and served as its first chairman.
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein (15 January 1918 – 28 September 1970) was an Egyptian politician who served as the second President of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970.Nasser remains an iconic figure in the Arab world, particularly for his strides towards social justice and Arab unity, modernization policies and anti-imperialist efforts. His presidency also encouraged and coincided with an Egyptian cultural boom and launched large industrial projects, including the Aswan Dam and Helwan city.
Ben Bella, Ahmed 1919–2012, Algerian statesman. After World War II he joined the Algerian nationalist movement and soon became a leader of its underground paramilitary faction. He later (1952–56) served as director of the movement. Imprisoned (1956–62) for his activities, he became Algeria's first premier after independence was declared in 1962 and was elected president in 1963.
His Excellency Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, was Prime Minister of Somali Republic from July 12, 1960, to June 14, 1964, and President of Somali Republic from July 6, 1967, until his assassination on October 15, 1969.
Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in 1962 from British colonial administration. Following the nation's independence, he served as Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971 but was re-elected in 1980 a year after Amin's 1979 overthrow.
Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989) was a Cameroonian politician who was the first President of Cameroon, holding the office from 1960 until 1982. Ahidjo played a major role in Cameroon's independence from France as well as reuniting the French and English-speaking parts of the country.
Ahmed Sékou Touré (January 9, 1922 – March 26, 1984) was a Guinean political leader and African statesman who became the first President of Guinea, serving from 1958 until his death in 1984. Touré was among the primary Guinean nationalists involved in gaining independence of the country from France.
Léopold Sédar Senghor (October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist who, for two decades, served as the first president of Senegal (1960–80). Senghor was the first African elected as a member of the Académie française. He is regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century.
Julius Kambarage Nyerere (13 April 1922 – 14 October 1999) was a Tanzanian anti-colonial activist, politician, and political theorist. He governed Tanganyika as Prime Minister from 1961 to 1962 and then as President from 1963 to 1964, after which he led its successor state, Tanzania, as President from 1964 to 1985.
His Majesty King Mwami Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge (6 May 1912 – 26 March 1977) was king (mwami) of Burundi who ruled between 1915 and 1966. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his father Mutaga IV Mbikije (reigned 1908–15). On the independence of Burundi in July 1962, Mwambutsa IV became the head of state of Burundi with far reaching political power
Prince Muhammad Idris bin Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi; 12 March 1889 – 25 May 1983) was a Libyan political and religious leader who served as the Emir of Cyrenaica and then as the King of United Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1969. Under King Idris, Libya found itself within the Western sphere of influence. It became the recipient of Western expertise and aid, and by the end of 1959 it had received over $100 million of aid from the United States, being the single biggest per capita recipient of American aid.
His excellency David Dacko (24 March 1930 – 20 November 2003) was a Central African politician who served as the 1st President of the Central African Republic from 14 August 1960 to 1 January 1966, and 3rd President from 21 September 1979 to 1 September 1981.During his first term as president, Dacko significantly increased diamond production in the Central African Republic by eliminating the monopoly on mining held by concessionary companies and decreeing that any Central African could dig for diamonds.
His excellency Modibo Keïta (4 June 1915 – 16 May 1977) was the first President of Mali (1960–1968) and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. Modibo Keïta devoted his entire life to African unity. In 1963, he played an important role in drafting the charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
His excellency Abbé Fulbert Youlou was a laicized Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician, who became the first President of the Republic of the Congo on its independence.
His excellency Hamani Diori (6 June 1916 – 23 April 1989) was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence. He gained international respect for his role as a spokesman for African affairs and as a popular arbitrator in conflicts.
King Hassan II (9 July 1929 – 23 July 1999) was the King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999.Hassan was educated at the Royal Academy in Rabat, where a class created for him was instructed by a faculty including Mehdi Ben Barka.[2] Hassan then earned a law degree from the University of Bordeaux.
His excellency Maurice Yaméogo (31 December 1921 – 15 September 1993) was the first President of the Republic of Upper Volta, now called Burkina Faso, from 1959 until 1966. On his return to his native town after the war, he was elected to the first territorial assembly of Côte d'Ivoire as the general councillor for Koudougou on 15 December 1946. Upper Volta had ceased to exist after 1932, being divided up between Côte d'Ivoire, French Sudan and Niger.
Philibert Tsiranana (18 October 1912 – 16 April 1978) was a Malagasy politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972. During the twelve years of his administration, the Republic of Madagascar experienced institutional stability that stood in contrast to the political turmoil many mainland African countries experienced in this period.
William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (November 29, 1895 – July 23, 1971) was a Liberian politician. He was the 19th President of Liberia and the longest-serving president in the country's history, serving from his election in 1944 until his death in 1971.During his tenure, Liberia experienced a period of prosperity. He also led a policy of national unification in order to reduce the social and political differences between his fellow Americo-Liberians and the indigenous Liberians.
Sylvanus Épiphanio Olympio (6 September 1902 – 13 January 1963) was a Togolese politician who served as Prime Minister, and then President, of Togo from 1958 until his assassination in 1963.
In July 1962 in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika (now known as Tanzania), African women from across the continent gathered in the Conference of African Women to create a common platform for solidarity to mobilise their efforts in fighting for the rights and freedoms of Africans, for independence and liberation from the yokes of colonialism, elimination of apartheid and segregation in all its forms as well as advocating for the participation of African women in political decision making structures.
The conference culminated in the formation “the Union of African Women”; a year before the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The same meeting proclaimed an African Women’s Day to be celebrated on 31st July of each year. In 1974, “the Union of African Women” was renamed as “the Pan-African Women’s Organization” (PAWO).
In 2002, The African Union (AU) was officially launched as the successor to the Organization of African Unity. (OAU, 1963-1999).
The AU prioritises increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa’s growth and sustainable economic development as envisioned in Africa’s Agenda 2063; and in Zone 2 will take our visitors through our transformation journey, showcasing how we are taking ownership of building the Africa we want and as well as presenting the endless possibilities for collaboration and partnerships with interested stakeholders who share the same if not similar aspirations for a future full of endless possibilities
Taking you on a journey of the rich and exuberant African culture; showcasing music, film and dance from the contient. profiling young talent, successful women - past and modern heroines, cityscapes and cultural artefacts.
This zone will take visitors through a journey that enhances their auditory experience and assimilate into the boundless traditional sights and sounds of the wondrous African continent.
