Melbourne, Australia—Africa Day 2015 was celebrated in Australia with a variety of cultural events in Melbourne and Sydney.
Melbourne
UPF-Australia has celebrated Africa Day in Melbourne since 2012 in partnership with Africa Day Australia, numerous African-Australian community organizations, UPF sister organization Women’s Federation for World Peace, members of the diplomatic corps, government organizations, representatives of political parties and numerous community organizations.
On May 16, African-Australian leaders and representatives of culture, social development, law, business, and politics and youth entrepreneurship participated in a Family and Youth Forum at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University. The speakers inspired the attendees to feel empowered to change their own lives and the lives of others.
On May 17, the Africa Day Sports Festival took place, involving more than 100 participants. The soccer final was between Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
May 23 was the day for Africa’s Got Talent, the performing arts competition part of Africa Day. It is open to young emerging African-Australian artists to showcase their talent to the wider Australian community. Another exciting event was the AGT (Africa’s Got Talent) Fashion Show.
Also on May 23, the Africa Day Gala Dinner was held. The gala dinner featured the best of African performing arts, fashion and food. This event was an opportunity to celebrate and recognize successful African-Australians. Approximately 250 guests attended, including members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of all three major political parties, as well as academic, business and community leaders.
Sydney
For the second consecutive year, UPF representatives actively supported the Africa Day presence in the annual Blacktown Festival on May 30. Blacktown is a large, multicultural township in the state of New South Wales with significant emerging African communities.
UPF marched with the African communities in the large street parade and then attending the event hosted by them in commemoration of Africa Day.
The event included speeches by African-Australian community elders and leaders and a representative of the mayor of Blacktown, as well as dancing, Ethiopian coffee, food and displays.