Date: 17 May 2013

Time: 12:15 – 14:00

Presenter: Professor Mammo Muchie, DPhil, DST/NRF SARChI Research Professor on Science, Technology, Innovation: Tshwane University of Technology,Pretoria, South

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“….the ANC, we,  trace the seeds of the formation of our organisation to the Ethiopian movement of the 1890s.[1]” Nelson Mandela

The story of Ethiopianism still animates the struggle for pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the OAU, it is imperative that we look back to the early history of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. The value of Ethiopianism could not be any higher than at the jubilee celebration of the Pan-African organisation – a time for reflection and action. The pan-African movement for which Ethiopianism was rather the moniker until the early years of the 20th century is indispensable in informing the trajectories that Pan-Africanism should take.

The ethos of Ethiopianism lives on despite the liberation of the continent from colonialism and apartheid. The post-colonial condition failed to bring about the liberation that would see Africa stand strong and independent. In the wake of independence, Africa found itself under the tutelage of former colonial powers still dictating Africa’s terms of engagement. This state of affairs underwent several christenings from neo-colonialism to empire, from globalisation to coloniality. The net effect has been that Africa is denied the right to decide for itself let alone decide for the world. Fifty years on from independence, the quest for genuine liberation stands unanswered. It is back to square one for Africa and by choosing the theme of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance, the AU is in effect calling for movements like Ethiopianism to be brought back to inform today’s efforts  at Africa’s genuine liberation. 

The presentation will  be on how Ethiopianism is still relevant today in the future by exploring how it promoted the struggle for Africans to retain dignity ,self-reliance and freedom.

Kindly RSVP by 15 May 2013

This seminar may be attended via video conference in Pretoria, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal. Details as below. The speakers will be in Pretoria.

Cape Town: HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street, Cape Town. Contact Jean Witten, Tel (021) 4668004, Fax (021) 461 0299, or JWitten@hsrc.ac.za

Durban: First floor HSRC board room, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Contact Ridhwaan Khan, Tel (031) 242 5400, cell: 083 788 2786 or RKhan@hsrc.ac.za

Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Arlene Grossberg, Tel: (012) 302 2811, e-mail: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za