Thursday, May 31, 2012
Dalmar Gure, Hiiraan Online
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Ottawa, Canada (HOL) - African ambassadors and officials from the government of Canada descended on the Government Conference Centre in downtown Ottawa yesterday to commemorate Africa Day.
The annual event is marked to celebrate the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which was established on May 25, 1963 in Addis Ababa; it was disbanded in 2002 and replaced by the African Union (AU). The event was attended by ambassadors and diplomats representing more than thirty African nations as well as Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs John Baird and Minister of International Trade Ed Fast.
Each country worked closely with their respective ambassadors to ensure that their country was well represented at the ceremony.
The special guests, the Hon. John Baird spoke of the historic ties Canada has with Africa as well as the need to maintain warm diplomatic relations while the Hon. Ed Fast spoke of the growing trading volume between Sub-Saharan Africa and Canada, as well as the size of economic growth in Africa.
Dinner was served buffet-style with each country serving their national dishes and delicacies as the guests mingled with one another.
The entertainment was a mix of song and dance performed by artists from Benin, Mauritania and Canada.
Photo: Dalmar Gure/ HOL