The Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) and its diaspora arm, the Writers of African Origin in the Diaspora (WAFORD), have sent a message of felicitation to the nation of Cuba, the conference organisers and participants of the International Decade for People of African Descent as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly and being hosted in Cuba this December.
In a message signed by Professor Bill F. Ndi, poet, writer and coordinator of WAFORD, the two bodies observed that the conference’s theme, “Equality, Equity, and Social Justice”, resonates profoundly with the “shared aspirations of our global Afro Descendant Community and the ongoing journey towards a more just and inclusive world.”
The statement further observed that the international conference exemplifies Cuba and the Cuban people’s enduring commitment to confronting racism and championing the rights and dignity of people of African descent.
The associations said: “It is noteworthy that Cuba currently chairs the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) and the conference’s focus on National Programmes against Racism and Racial Discrimination, along with the cultural initiatives celebrating African heritage, underscores the power of unity, dialogue, and cultural preservation as vital tools for societal transformation.
“As Pan African writers, we believe in, and recognise, the indispensable role of stories in shaping identities and fostering resilience and resistance.
“The planned visits to community spaces and cultural centers such as the Literacy Museum, Quintin Bandera and the Museum of the Rebel Slave highlight how Afro history and heritage are vital narratives in our collective fight against inequality, inequity and injustice.”
The PAWA and WAFORD reaffirmed their commitment and support to the global school of scholars and writers of African descent.
