The University of South Africa (Unisa), in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF), the Government of Tanzania and the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, will host the 15^th Annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday 24 May 2025, under the theme, "The State of the Continent". The lecture will take place at the prestigious Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.

The team from Unisa and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation at the start of the week-long Africa Day programme in Dar es Salaam

The Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture is an annual event organised by the TMF and Unisa to commemorate Africa Day, which celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This year marks the 62^nd anniversary of the establishment of the OAU, the precursor to the African Union (AU), launched in Durban, South Africa, in 2002.

The decision to host the 15^th Annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture in Tanzania is rooted in Tanzania’s rich legacy, shaped by influential leaders such as Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Benjamin Mkapa, and underscores the spirit of African unity and renewal.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, says: "The Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture is a living embodiment of the commitment of two great continental and globally-acclaimed institutions, President Thabo Mbeki, the quintessential renaissance man, and the University of South Africa, the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity, to the growth, development and prosperity of the African continent. The theme of this year’s lecture not only builds on the good work and ideas shaped through this lecture in the past fourteen years of its existence, but is very opportune at a time when Africa must take advantage of the changing social, economic and political landscapes globally, locate itself at the strategic centre of these developments, in the process of making its own renaissance a reality."

Preceding this flagship event will be a series of events including the Blue Economy Roundtable hosted by the Thabo Mbeki African School of International and Public Affairs, taking place on 20 May under the theme, "Harnessing the Blue Economy and Tourism for Africa’s Renaissance", a seminar with East African Academics and Students on 21 May, a press conference and tree-planting ceremony in Morogoro on 22 May, and a Roundtable on Leveraging South Africa’s G20 Presidency for Africa’s Advancement on 23 May.

As a key partner, Unisa is well-represented in all events throughout the week. The current Acting Vice-Principal: Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support, Prof Eunice Seekoe, arrived ahead of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, together with academics and support staff from various colleges and portfolios to form part of the early engagements and foster partnerships.

"The theme of this year’s lecture is especially relevant as Africa navigates the complexities of a new international scramble for its resources and geopolitical influence," says Seekoe. "The continent’s challenges in achieving unity within this framework are profound, and it is critical that these issues be tackled with urgency and clarity. The lecture will provide a critical platform to explore these concerns, propose a vision for the future, and inspire collective action toward addressing them."

Speaking on the Blue Economy Roundtable, Prof Edith Phaswana, Acting Executive Dean, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, says: "Africa’s seas and oceans are more than geographic boundaries – they are living archives of our history, engines of sustainable growth, and untapped classrooms of innovation. At Unisa, marine and maritime studies have been identified as a Catalytic Niche Area, underscoring the university’s commitment to pioneering scholarship that bridges knowledge with transformative impact. As we lead and convene this critical dialogue on the Blue Economy, it is not merely an academic exercise – it is a strategic imperative to reposition Africa’s maritime legacy at the heart of its renaissance."

You are invited to view these events online.

• The Blue Economy lecture will be streamed from 11:00 to 15:00 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/1rRJ1S6JVZ4
• The lecture will be streamed from 13:00 to 17:00 (EAT). Please follow the link to join the lecture virtually:  https://youtube.com/live/6HrxB7wtjmo?feature=share

* By Stevens Mohapi, Marketing and Communications, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, and Nolwazi Mwabi, Director: Communications, Marketing and Events

** Photography: Shooheima Champion, Unisa Multimedia Centre