USA Africa Dialogue Series - Countdown Begins With Organizations: Harnessing the Power of the Diaspora

SAVE THE DATE JAN. 18, 2014 from  6:00pm to 11pm   VISION 2014 A Reckoning Continental African Community:  Harnessing the Power of the Diaspora: The Brilliance of Self-Reliance Showcase of Talents and Organizational Contributions  for African Development With Brain Gain and Circulation   Martin Luther King Dinner Tributes:   Venue: Nyumburu Cultural Center, University of Maryland, College Park To showcase your organization for the African Union information, write to  africanservices@aol.com The Countdown Begins On Monday Jan 6, 2014 with Sneak Preview of Model Organizations and Platforms      ********     "Beyond chanting mantras and slogans, the devil seems to lie in the details. How does the AU-Diaspora engagement take place and in what form? Who actually are the Diaspora and who represents them?"  Diaspora as Dilemma. 'Developmentalising' the African Union's sixth region? By Mbongeni Ngulube - July 2013. Issue 639 of Pambazuka News       Hello:   This is a development priority that calls for critical thinking on what, who and how in order to prevent  pangs of emotions from clouding the fine points, derailing  essence, and confusing the premise.   The ultimate objective is not discussion on African and African American/European which is fine but there are other organizations or programs to do so); the purposes are: identifying the resources; highlighting the contributing capacities of the Continental Africans in the various five regions and all Africa; sensitizing private and public institutions, US congress, foreign institutions dealing with Africa and African governments on the contributions for informed decision-making; and facilitating the direct participation and representations of the transnational Continental African population in Africa's development.   The ultimate impact objective prioritizes the use of indigenous expertise for African Development while meeting the goals of the African Union to engage the Africa Diaspora. In the truest sense, the purposes support: Harnessing the Power of the Diaspora and Improves the Profile of the transnational Continental African community.    After much has been said, groups have reviewed and consulted  on the practical meaning of the Sixth Region as conceptualized by the African Union or understood by interpreters.   Some of the pertinent questions: what information did leaders of the  African Union have; what was their level of understanding about  dynamics in the Diaspora; did African heads of state visit with indigenous groups, was any example shown to indicate the type of contributions undertaken by indigenous organizations; who represented who during the conferences/conversations, what were the rationales that led the African Union to construct the Sixth Region, who does it cover?   An honest examination of the questions indicate an ill informed process. The  primary producer (Continental African population) of what the African Union needs, is talking about and counting on was largely unaware of the Sixth Region's what, who and why.   The idea, championed by mostly African American mainstream groups with access to African leaders, using Africa Diaspora as a catch phrase that puts all blacks living outside Africa in one category, did not  specify the mechanisms to make it possible and the idea overwrote structural realities.     Left out of the conversation was the consequential fact that indigenous Continental African groups are direct contributors to the estimated $120 billion  through remittances and mission-based projects, based on  recent research. Last year, the Chair of the African Union, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, noted that  investment in Africa by Africans has doubled to the tune of 17% of all foreign direct investment projects in Africa.   Based on these developments, and couple with the fact that officials of the five regions  include their constituents living abroad in their outreach (the ECOWAS example is attached), the  African Union is realizing the practical need to  distinguishably engage the indigenous, Continental population as a target population for African development.    Engaging the Continental African population as a practical matter does not  preclude the non- indigenous African American and the global black population from organizing methods contributions based on their own structural realities and seeking benefits - like citizenship in Africa, as some indicate. Of course,  partnerships and collaborations  are highly encouraged where mutual interests or complementary forces are needed. Partnerships can come from any group or any color wishing to support African organizations, especially in education, cultural, economic, health and social services exchange.  Africa is Rising! Be Inspired.....for the Countdown.... MsJoe