THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Berlin hosted a significant event on Saturday 21 September aimed at fostering unity and collaboration between African diplomatic missions and the organized African communities in Germany.
Organized by the African Ambassadors Group, the event, christened ‘Celebration of Africa Day with the Diaspora 2024’, saw the participation of diplomats from African embassies in Germany alongside representatives of various African associations in the country.
Held at the premises of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in the German capital city, the event brought together a diverse audience, including adults, children and families, showcasing the spirit of togetherness within the African diaspora.
In his opening remarks, Igor Cesar, the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Germany, emphasized the need for renewed efforts from the African diaspora in supporting the development of the African continent.
He highlighted the collaboration between the African diplomatic corps and the African diaspora with German institutions in advancing African interests.
Ambassador Cesar expressed his delight at the 2024 Bürgerfest (Citizen’s Festival of the German President), which Kenyan President William Ruto co-hosted, noting that it was a recognition for the continent. It was the first time a non-European country had been invited to co-host this prestigious event.
The Rwandan envoy praised the contributions of the diaspora, calling for closer cooperation between African governments, civil society and the private sector to harness the diaspora’s social and financial capital for Africa’s development.
The diplomat specifically noted the critical role of remittances from the diaspora, optimistically projecting that they could exceed $100 billion this year, underscoring their growing importance to African economies.
Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador Sisinio Eyebe Mbana Makina, the chief host of the event, echoed his Rwandan counterpart’s sentiments, reaffirming the commitment of African diplomatic missions to defend the interests of the African diaspora. He advocated for increased cooperation between embassies and their respective diaspora communities, calling on Africans in Germany to actively support their embassies. “Ask not what your embassy can do for you, ask what you can do for your embassy,” he charged Africans living in Germany.
In their addresses, several ambassadors underscored the importance of fostering stronger connections between African nations and their diasporas, highlighting the importance of unity in advancing shared goals.
Cultural performances by representatives of 22 participating embassies enriched the event, showcasing the vibrant and diverse cultures of Africa. Attendees were treated to an array of African cuisines, offering a taste of the continent’s culinary diversity.
Participants lauded the forum as a much-needed step towards fostering active collaboration between African embassies and diaspora communities. Many attendees noted that such co-operation would be instrumental in promoting the interests of Africa and Africans living in Germany.
Femi Awoniyi
