I appreciate the mention of the significance to African countries of 25 May.
It has been a date that I have observed and respected for over thirty years.
But the observance of 25 May around the world for Africa is not a recent phenonmenon.
Here is the write up that Wikipedia has for today and the longtime name for the day "African Liberation Day":
African Liberation Day on May 25 is an annual holiday in various countries in Africa, coinciding with African Union's Africa Day.
History
On April 15, 1958, in the city of Accra, Ghana, African leaders and political activists gathered at the first Conference of Independent African States. It was attended by representatives of the governments of Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, The United Arab Republic (which was the federation of Egypt and Syria) and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria and the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon. This conference was significant in that it represented the first Pan-African Conference held on African soil.
The Conference called for the founding of African Freedom Day, a day to “mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”
Five years later after the First Conference of Independent African States in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia another historical meeting occurred. On May 25, 1963, leaders of thirty-two independent African States met to form the Organization of African Unity (OAU). By then more than two thirds of the continent had achieved independence from colonial rule. At this historic meeting the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15 to May 25 and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD).
I just got back from an African Liberation Day celebration which was held at our local Ten Thousand Villages store.
There was wonderful African music, food and, of course, fair trade items to buy.
I bought some beautiful African crafted earrings, a miniture African marimba I've been wanting and a BEAUTIFUL woven basket from Uganda.
I also met some new African friends who are going to join me in my efforts to build our local Austin Africa Network - of which our local ONE group is a part of.
I wore my EDUN LIVE t-shirt (which everyONE loved) and wore my ONE band along with my (RED) leather bracelet.
ALWAYS (RED) AT HEART, debbie