allAfrica.com: Africa: Launch Party for African Union a Mix of New

There were two distinct groups of African leaders on hand to witness the birth of the African Union (AU), the new continental body that has replaced the Organisation of African Union (OAU). In amongst the old-style presidents - some of whom have been dubbed dictators in their time - were the new-look leaders who are supposed to harness all that is positive about Africa and firmly place the continent centre-stage.

But the old-timers were still very much around. In attendance at the 60,000-seater stadium in Durban for an open-air party to usher in the AU, was the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi, in power in Libya since 1969. He - as so often in the past - stole the show with a passionate impromptu speech, which featured comments which some interpreted as racist.

Gabon’s President Omar Bongo, who has been at the helm of his nation since 1967, was another of the legendary African 'dinosaurs’. But, topping the list was the continent’s longest serving leader, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, who is Africa’s first successful coup leader, in 1963. Kenya’s Daniel arap Moi is also in the long league team, clocking up 23 years, with Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe following close behind at 21 years.

The image of an African renaissance was somewhat compromised by the selection of Eyadema, Bongo and Moi as three of the five regional presidents to formally address the gathering, an impression strengthened when Al-Gaddafi, who was not on the speakers' list, could not resist the temptation of adding his voice.

But although the African presidential line-up may have the ring of 'same old same old’, longevity looks set to lose the influential position it appeared to hold in the OAU. Some of the newer, progressive leaders have plans to change that status quo, now that the organization, sometimes dismissed as the old boys’ club, has been put out to pasture. Checking excesses and rampant corruption are among some of the priorities, they say.

The inaugural chair of the AU, and the host president of the first summit, South African President Thabo Mbeki, got off to a determined start by trying to keep everyone in line and on time. He clearly wants meetings and ceremonies to start and end promptly.

He began his opening AU address, in the stadium holding about 20,000 people, without waiting for the presidential latecomers. Some only arrived as Mbeki finished telling spectators, fellow leaders and distinguished guests that Africa must take control of her own future.

Mbeki’s speech came after fighter jets roared into the skies in a dramatic fly past. This was followed by ceremonial honour guard parades and marching bands, as well as a display of traditional Zulu praise singing and dance, with young and old 'warriors' clasping spears and resplendent in animal skins.

One colourful performance was the new African Union theme song, called 'Unity Afrika', specially composed by veteran, award-winning South African musicians, Caiphus Semenya and Jonas Gwangwa. The catchy refrain included the words "Afrikan Unity/Let's make it a reality/Unity is the key to the Afrikan Century" which the crowds sang with gusto.

There was a more hesitant rendition of the Hymn of the African Renaissance, with music and words by the Senegalese president, Abdoulaye Wade, who is also a co-architect of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Nepad.

The chorus of Wade's 'Song for Africa' had less punch than the rival South African offering. "Africans Africans!/ You are all Freedom Fighters!/ Africans, Africans!/ Forward Forward Forward!" The song goes on to make an appeal: "All young boys and girls/ Workers and peasants/ Let us Save Africa/ Here stand Africans!"

The loudest applause went to former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who turns 84 next week, and was a star guest at the celebration. The former Zambian leader, Kenneth Kaunda - one of the original champions of the OAU (in 1963, a year before his country gained independence) - was also invited to see in the African Union in Durban. Another honoured guest was the former South African president, F. W. de Klerk, a joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate with Mandela, the prisoner he released from jail in 1990. De Klerk was also boisterously cheered by the crowds.

In the popularity stakes, Mandela faced competition from players of the South African national football side, Bafana Bafana, and Africa’s leading World Cup squad Senegal’s Lions of Teranga who reached the quarter finals last month. The footballers, including Senegal's El Hadj Diouf, currently the African footballer of the year, were greeted with wild applause as "heroes of the continent" as they paraded in the stadium in front of the assembled presidents and dignitaries.

Mandela stole the thunder from Al-Gaddafi only long enough for the Libyan leader to work out how he could regain it. He did so by standing up, throwing his deep brown shawl around his shoulders, shaking his hands and fists in the air and declaiming to the enthusiastic crowds, in rudimentary but comprehensible English, with an aplomb that only the Libyan leader could have mustered.

His passionate off-the-cuff speech, in vintage Al-Gaddafi style, hit the right spot. The people roared back in approval as the Libyan urged Africans to take control of their own lives. "Africa for Africans! The land is ours! Africa is our land! You are the masters of your continent! You are proud! You are marching to glory! No more slavery! No more colonization! It's a new dawn!"

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