By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma has appealed to all Africans to re-dedicate themselves towards emancipating the continent’s economies. Nujoma, who gave a historical account of Africa’s freedom on Friday when thousands of Namibians joined millions of Africans in commemorating Africa Freedom Day, said as the continent embarks upon the second phase of the struggle for economic emancipation, Africans including those in the diaspora should re-dedicate themselves to the genuine economic freedom that will ensure a brighter future of the continent and enhance the welfare of the people. He described the long walk to freedom as painful and characterised by the slave trade and colonialism. But today, Africans stand tall among all the peoples of the world as free, independent people charting their own future destiny, he said. The Founding President added that Africans should be proud that throughout the continent people took up bows and arrows, machetes and knobkierries to fight against the forces of colonialism and foreign oppression. “Let us take a vow, carry and build on the legacy of our fore-bearers and unite to defend our hard-won freedom and independence, the sovereignty, terrestrial waters, integrity and airspace of our beloved continent,” he appealed. Reminiscing on the days of the struggle, Nujoma said the continent of Africa served as the ideal supplier of slaves who were shipped across the Atlantic ocean to work on the sugar and cotton plantations in America. The naked brutality and notorious cruelty of colonialism led to the almost total annihilation of African populations. “The decimation of Africans in various African countries such as the Belgian Congo and the Nama and Herero communities … is a case in point. Today, like all Africans in the continent and those in the diaspora, Namibians joyfully celebrate Africa Day,” he said. Nujoma saluted pioneers of Pan-Africanism whose ideals led to mobilisation of the African people into a formidable anti-colonial resistance to eradicate colonialism. The movement led to various African countries achieving independence in the 1950s and 1960s. The pioneers included Marcus Garvey, George Padmore and Sylvester Williams, among others. Nujoma equally paid special tribute to Africa’s founding fathers and revolutionaries such as Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Emperior Haille Selasie, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Modibo Keita, Patrice Lumumba, Ben Bella, Nnandi Azikiwe, Murtala Mohamed, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, David Kenneth Kaunda and Augustinho Neto, among others. “Without their thoughts and actions towards re-shaping Africa’s destiny and making the dreams come true for the masses of our oppressed people, the OAU would not have been founded,” he said. The main event for Africa Day in Namibia was held at the Sam Nujoma Stadium and was attended by close to 2 000 Namibians, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Prime Minister Nahas Angula, some cabinet ministers, and members of the diplomatic corps. Namibia’s own artists such as Ras Sheehama, Namibia Day Pioneers, Tate Buti, Remember Concert Group, Jackson Kaujeua, Mushelenga Group, Pedrito, Aana ya Khomas, Ndilimani, and One Star entertained the audience.