AFRICA AT FIFTY

This year marks 50 years since the year of African independence in 1960 when 17 African countries achieved their independence from European colonial rule. A series of celebrations are being held in specific countries and across the continent as well as in the diaspora to mark this important milestone. Over the next few months, I will be posting a series of reports and commentaries from a wide variety of sources and outlets commemorating the year. Two days ago, on August 3, 2010, a group of 115 young people from Africa met with President Obama at the White House at the start of a three day conference that is being held at the White House, the State Department, and other venues across Washington between these young African leaders and American leaders from the business world and nongovernmental organizations. For a video on the town hall meeting between the delegates and President Obama as well as speeches by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other reports click here. The Editor, PT Zeleza