The day, formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day, is the annual commemoration of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963.
It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world with flag hoisting ceremonies, lectures and other events.
The birth of AU was to create a new continental organisation that aimed to realise Africa's potential by refocusing attention from the fight for decolonization to increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive the continent's growth and economic development.
It has been 57 years of the collective efforts by African countries to leverage development through unity.
The current efforts of setting up the African Continental Free trade Area gives hope that unity is still our best bet in developing the continent.
