ICCR to host Africa Day on Thursday

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is to host Africa Day here on May 26 with the theme, 'India-Africa: Bound Together', that will see a performance by a cultural ensemble Likakapa, African cuisine and African films.

A week-long African exhibition will be kicked off and a seminar on India-Africa relations also held on the occasion.

The celebration of Africa Day follows last year's India-Africa Forum Summit and "reflects the significance we attach to our partnership and growing friendship", said an ICCR statement.

"India and Africa have always enjoyed warm and cordial relations of close friendship and partnership. We have worked shoulder to shoulder on such important issues as freedom from colonialism, apartheid and trade and development issues. Our leaders shared similar vision of freedom and development and enjoyed great rapport," said Ambassador C Rajasekhar, Director General ICCR.

"Our celebration of Africa Day, following last year's Africa Summit reflects the significance we attach to our partnership and growing friendship, including at popular- people to people level."

"There will be VVIP visits to Africa in the near future, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further strengthen our ties and ICCR is pleased to contribute through the celebration of Africa Day for bringing India and Africa closer," he added.

The aim is to highlight Africa's diversity, success, economic potential and cultural resonance with India and the rest of the world. The Day commemorates the establishment of the African Union in 2001 which replaced the Organization of African Unity established on May 25, 1963. It acknowledges the progress that Africans have made while reflecting upon the challenges Africa faces in the global environment, the statement said.

--IANS

rn/bg