Does the name matter?

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Does the name matter?
By Mulugeta Haile 

Why was the 39 years old name OAU changed to AU? OAU has its credit in the decolonization of Africa, as well as, the sponsorship of Pan-Africanism. This historic name was changed to AU in Durban, South Africa, on July 10, 2002. But! Why? Is this just to imitate the European Community, EC, which was changed to European Union, EU, in 1993, or is there another tangible justification?  

In 1972, Dr Walter Rodney, in his famous classic, “How Europe Under developed Africa,” advised what Africa was up against: as long as Africa doesn’t have its own rule of game, it will continue to be a source of free labor, and raw materials. He reminded that African leaders have unfortunately kept forgetting the Imperialistic nature of the Berlin Club of Colonizers. To unchain the code of the Berlin and Algeciras, Spain Clubs, Emperor Haile Selassie on January 25, 1960, three years before the creation of the OAU at the All-African Peoples’ Conference (AAPC) in Tunis, said:

“We must make bold decisions for intra-Africa co-operation. We must link our roads; we must connect and associate our airlines and indeed think in terms of merging our international services.”

Thirty one years after this historic speech, OAU, following the adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action, on the 3^rd of July 1991, the Head of States singed a treaty of the African Economic Community. The intention of this treaty was to create a common market and sub-regional and regional cooperation through, more efficient and coordinated use of its resources for the common good.

Thus, the name OAU is no hindrance to reach the aspired goal of what AU is trying to achieve now. In other words, what AU has aimed to do has been already envisioned by OAU. For example, independent specialized agencies, working under the umbrella of the OAU were:

• Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU)
• Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU)
• Pan-African News Agency (PANA)
• Union of African National Television and Radio Organizations (URTNA)
• Union of African Railways (UAR)
• Pan-African Highway   (PAH)
• Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU)
• Supreme Council for Sports in Africa
• African Civil Aviation Commission

One can’t help but ask what it is OAU can not, what AU can do? What was the burning issue or emergency for the changing of the historic name of the OAU?

In Shakespeare’s play of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet argues the names of things do not matter, only what things “are”, and said, “A rose by any other name smells just as sweet”. OAU by any other name sounds just as the Unity of Africa as already envisioned Pan Africanism.

In spite of emulating the European Union, EU, the main justification for the creation of the AU is simply an ambition to appear as the new “Founding Fathers”, who needed their legacy to emerge as the innovative leaders of Africa. For years these leaders had lagged behind the charismatic leaders of the OAU’s Founding Fathers. Even Thabo Mbeki, considered as the architect of the AU, who suffered under the shadow of the great Nelson Mandela needed also a legacy.    

If we examine the incident that occurred during the creation of the AU in Durban, South Africa, we see that there is no unity of purpose. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi who thinks of himself as a Super Founding Father tried to outshine the others and takes the driver seat created a great confusion in the assembly. The summit was not recorded in history as significant as the OAU’s first summit. It was radically different and ended up with great misunderstanding and division among the leaders. Specially, the tension created between South Africa’s and Libya’s security forces exasperated the situation to a combat zone.

The Johannesburg newspaper, The Star, and the Nairobi’s, The East African Standard, both had written in details. The Star quoted one of the South Africa’s police officer, who said, “There was almost a war here. There were about 40 of us against almost 400 of the Libya security forces. We were totally outnumbered and outgunned, and nobody would back us.” The East African Standard on its part said, “African leaders who indulged maverick Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at summit took risks with the Continent’s ambitious recovery plans.”

As strange as it was, the first AU summit had almost came to fall apart in the third day of the summit.

Last month, AU jubilantly celebrated its predecessor the OAU’s 50^th anniversary, golden Jubilee. On the occasion, speakers tried to pinpoint the contribution of some of the Founding Fathers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Jumo Kenyatta etc, however, the speakers hardly mentioned Emperor HaileSelassie, who was the mid wife of the OAU.

Strangely enough, the former President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, one of the living Founding Fathers of the OAU, who spoke on the occasion, had never mentioned the Emperor’s name. However, it is a fact that the Emperor had abolished the three competing blocks: The Casablanca Powers, The Monrovia States, and The Brazzaville Group, that hindered the Unity of Africa. The Los Angels Times described a scenario “In the foot steps of King Solomon, Haile Seassie united Africa.”

In Ethiopia, Pan Africanism is loosely defined and often used to minimize the legacy of the Emperor and to pay tribute to Kwame Nkrumah. The big statue of Nkrumah in AU is a direct result of that notion. In fact, the modern Pan Africanism has evolved out of the Emperor’s legacy. After all, He is a global statesman, the Lion of Judah, who doesn’t need any other “isms” to stand tall, but destined to live up to His title.

Pan-Africanism is conceived out of the role of Ethiopia in the Bible (positively mentioned 42 times), and nurtured in the 1896 Victory of Adwa and in the 1930 coronation of Emperor HaileSelassie, which was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Marcus Garvey. The 1936-41 struggle and victory over Fascist Italy, in which the Emperor was the Field Marshall, further glorified Pan-Africanism. More so, the 1963 establishment of the OAU has forwarded it until this generation.  

Dr Desta Meghoo, who has presented an Art exhibition on this occasion at OAU/AU, is quoted to have said that it is impossible to present a Pan African Art exhibition with out mentioning Emperor Haile Selassie’s contributions, in opposition to a directive given to her to tone- down the Emperor’s legacy.

Why is this unnecessary argument that Nkrumah is more Pan Africanist than the Emperor pumped into the air, and why Pan-Africanism has been wrongly interpreted in Ethiopia? The answer goes to the nature of the Ethiopian politics that has shot out from the school of thought of Communism, which is against the Monarchy, a symbol of unconquered Ethiopia, which received Christianity during the Apostles’ epoch and offered sanctuary to the Prophet Mohammed’s direct family. Unlike other monarchies, it is a liberal which has allowed common people to rise up to the Nation’s top position. More so to its great achievements it has led Slaves into freedom and has defeated European Colonialism twice not only on the battle field, but in the field of Diplomacy as well. It can be called the Pan African Monarchy. In the eyes of the Ethiopian Communists, it may be, a reactionary, but in mind of the Pan-Africanist, Garveyist, Afro-centrist, and oppressed people, is a symbol of pride and hope.

In such a grand occasion of the 50^th anniversary, the Emperor and his government officers should have been applauded for seeding Pan-Africanism into the OAU. Specially, His young dynamic Minster of Foreign affairs, Ketema Yeferu, the Shuttle Diplomat, deserves to have a street named after him preferably as the main road that leads to AU. (The road from Mexico square to AU)  

Of all the good speeches delivered during the OAU’s 50^th anniversary, it was the Prime Minster of Ethiopia and the Chairman of AU, Haile Mariam Desalegn that is worthy of special mention. He concluded his closing speech of the 50^th anniversary with an outstanding quotation from the Emperor speech.

This is a radical deviation from the trend of contemplation of his predecessors who always tried to foul the Emperor’s good name and contributions.

It was a refreshing at last; the new generation can hold the Prime Minster Haile Mariam’s quotation as evidence that the paradigm of the anti Haile Sellasie’s politics has shifted at a snail's pace. It seems Ethiopia is finally stretching out her hands unto its history.

Prime Minster Haile Mariam is from the new generation, he was a nine years old when the Emperor was dethroned. Regarding the shift of politics, it is interesting to see the young generation of Ethiopian in Diaspora has lifted up the Emperor’s legacy. A young man named Nebyat Aklelu, born and brought up and educated in the US, is now collecting petitions on selassiestandup@gmail.com requesting support for the erection of the Emperor’s statue in the AU. Already thousands of people including His Excellence President of Ethiopia, Grima W/Giorgis have singed.

The positive side of the AU since its creation is the decision that was made in 2003 to recognize the African Diaspora as the sixth region of the AU. Without doubt, the talents and material resources in the Diaspora would boost African’s growth, development and empowerment. The African in Diaspora can play a big role in promoting Pan-Aficanism and African Renaissance.

Already a positive contribution is achieved at this summit as expressed in the speeches of the delegates of the Diaspora by dynamic speakers: Miss Portia Simpson (Fikerte Mariam), the Prime Minter of Jamaica, and PJ Paterson, the former Prime Minster of Jamaica. They re-energized the African leaders and audience with fresh thoughts.

Although, Africa is on the fast lane of growth; it is not with out its intertwine problems. Unless, Africa implements Pan-Africanism in its true perspective, and allowing its people to travel freely from the North to the South and from the East to the West, the problems which swell up day by day will put Africa in a very vulnerable position.

The envision of Pan-Africanism, fifty years ago was mainly to protect Africa from its external enemies, but now it will help to save it from internal enemies as well, such as: tribalism, radical Islamism, ethnic conflict. It also challenges leaders to think out side their tribal and religion boxes. Alternatively, it prevents bright academics from migrate to Europe and North America to serve as second class Intellectuals, as the same time it will help to bring back those who are serving in Diaspora.

As it has been said that Europe was created by History, the US by Philosophy, and we must say Africa will be recreated by Pan Africanism.

In conclusion, the name changing of the OAU is nothing but a rewriting of the OAU’s amendment of the Lagos treaty. No matter what name has been given to it, the substance of the OAU will always resonate in the AU.

During the creation of the OAU, in May 1963, in Addis Ababa, Emperor HaileSelassie’s remark is a trial of Africa: 

“A century hence, when future generations study the pages of history, seeking to follow and fathom the growth and development of the African continent, what will they find of this Conference?”