“The work has to happen now because tomorrow belongs to someone else” declared His Holiness Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to the World African Diaspora Union (WADU) during its July 2010 conference in Ethiopia. He urged WADU and African people across the world to work harder, do more, and sacrifice because “We cannot leave poverty and slavery for our children and grandchildren.’’ The Patriarch, representing one of the most ancient, enduring and powerful religious communities in the world made his welcoming remarks to the participants of the WADU Pan African Movement 110th anniversary conference in Ethiopia.
The 2010 Conference with the theme “One Africa with One Diaspora – for Cultural, Economic & Political Rebirth was focused on building consensus and models for Pan African economics, culture and political activism. The conference in Ethiopia was attended by officials, students, community activists, faith leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and entertainers from across Africa and the African Diaspora and led by Dr. Leonard Kweku Jeffries, Mr. John Watusi Branch, Dr. Sharifa Saa-Atma, Mr. Jawara Blake and Minister P.D. Menelik Harris. Special presentations were made by those such as Priest Paul of Shashamene; Mr. Reuben Kush, Diaspora-Ethiopian Businessman; and Professor Abiye Ford of Addis Ababa University.
During the conference, His Excellency Kwesi Quartey, Ghana’s Ambassador to the African Union stressed the importance of Pan Africanism as a philosophy and practice to unify African people as exemplified by the work of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He also spoke on the opportunities and obstacles for the full participation of the African Diaspora in the rebuilding of Africa, quoting His Excellency Dudley Thompson, President of WADU from a recent meeting, Ambassador Quartey stated that the “African Diaspora must be at the center of the African Union discussion… in Kampala, Uganda.” He stressed that slavery and colonialism have created new situations in Africa and added that Africa needs the African Diaspora. He highlighted precedents in history whereby prominent persons of the African Diaspora have received citizenship and have contributed greatly to Africa’s advancement.
Conceived in 2004 to build and promote an authentic and unified Pan African Diaspora movement, WADU is co-founded and led by veteran African freedom fighters and scholar activists such as His Excellency Dudley Thompson, Elombe Brath, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Baba Mukasa W. Ricks, Dr. Shelby Lewis, Prof. James Small, Reverend Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori-Atta, Mother Sybil W. Clarke, Minister Akbar Muhammad, Dr. Molefi Asante, Nana Dr. Niara Sudarkasa, Nana Yaa Farika Birhane, Queen Mother Dorothy Lewis, Dr. Joyce King, Joe Beasley, Dr. Andy Kweku Thompson, etc.
As a result of the 2010 Conference in Ethiopia, WADU continues to successfully unify African Diaspora communities and African continental leaders in support of a 21st century Pan African agenda for the economic, cultural and political empowerment. During the plenary sessions of the conference, the participants decided to work with Pan African profit and non-profit organizations to increase Diaspora capital flow and investment opportunities in Africa; support health and educational services; and advocate for the rights of the African Diaspora in the rebuilding of Africa. Additionally, WADU to continue promoting pilgrimage centers in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.
Finally, The Abuna Paulos gave support for the building of a Diaspora memorial center in Ethiopia, as requested by his by friend, The Reverend Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori-Atta, Chair of WADU and Founder of the Religious Heritage of the African World (RHAW) in 1965. The African Diaspora center would serve primarily as a memorial and educational center on the African Diaspora, especially on the horrifying experiences of the enslavement of Africans in the Diaspora. The RHAW (Pan African Ministries) is based at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Ga.
For more information on supporting WADU initiatives, participating in the next Pan African Movement conference in July 2011, or becoming a leader of WADU for your Diaspora community, please contact us at WADUPAM.ORG or call 718-523-3312.
