ALD is the direct descendent of Africa Freedom Day created by the Conference of African States convened under the auspices of the Nkrumah government in Accra, Ghana.

April 15, 1957 was designated as Africa Freedom Day.
The eight heads of states at that meeting intended Africa Freedom Day to be a day marking their renewed commitment to the liberation/decolonization of the whole African continent and all it's people.

When the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was created in May of 1963, the founding delegates proclaimed May 25, 1963 African Liberation Day (ALD), as the successor commemoration day to Africa Freedom Day.

Since then African peoples have observed ALD all over the world.

The first A-APRP sponsored ALD was held in 1976 under the slogan, "Take ALD Back to Africa", and was convened in Washington, DC.

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 Cameroonian Peoples.

This conference was significant in that it represented the first Pan-African Conference held on African soil.

It was also significant in that it represented the collective expression of African People's disgust with the system of colonialism and imperialism, which brought so much suffering to African People.

Further, it represented the collective will to see the system of colonialism permanently done away with.

After 500 years of the most brutal suffering known to humanity, the rape of Africa and the subsequent slave trade, which cost Africa in excess of 100,000,000 of her children, the masses of African People singularly, separately, individually, in small disconnected groupings for centuries had said, "enough"!

But in 1958, at the Accra Conference, it was being said in ways that emphasized joint, coordinated and unified action.

This conference gave sharp clarity and definition to Pan-Africanism, the total liberation and unification of Africa .

The conference as well laid the foundation and the strategy for the further intensification and coordination of the next stage of the African Revolution, for the liberation of the rest of Africa, and eventual and complete unification.

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 15th to May 25th and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day (ALD).

African Liberation Day has been held on May 25th in every corner of the world since.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY
African Liberation day was founded in Accra Ghana, at the first conference of independent states. On this occasion the 15th April was declared Africa Freedom Day. It's purpose was to mark each year onward progress of the liberation Movement in Africa and to symbolise the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.

Thus from its very inception Africa Liberation Day was anti-imperialist.

The All Africa Peoples Conference held on 8th-13th December 1958, also in Accra, reaffirmed the resolution of the Conference of Independent African states by calling on All African countries (and people) and all friends of Africa throughout the world to observe ÔAfrica Freedom DayÕ as a rallying point for the forces of freedom.


In the same year under the guidelines of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) the Peoples Republic of Guinea achieved independence.

Ghana and Guinea served as an inspiration and base for the Pan African movement world-wide.

From 1959 10 1963 as the African revolution intensified African Freedom Day celebrations were held in Azania (South Africa), Ethiopia ,Guinea, Kenya, Britain, China the USA and USSR.


As a result of the peoples determined struggles against colonialism and imperialism limited reforms were being achieved in the USA.

US Imperialism experienced a massive blow when the July 26th Movement led by Fidel Castro waged and won a vicarious struggle for Liberation in Cuba 1959.

In Africa as a result of organised mass struggles an increased number of states become independent.

It was in the context of these world-wide development in the people revolution that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25th May 1963 .

Attended by more that 110 people representing 31 African countries, 21 African Liberation movements and hundreds of international supporters and Observers the O A U was originally intended to bring strength, unity and co-ordination to the African revolution .

The OAU proclaimed that ÔAfrica freedom DayÕ should henceforth become ÒAfrican Liberation Day and celebrate annually to mark the historical founding of the OAU, and carry forward the purpose and intent of Africa Freedom Day.

Africa Liberation Day has since been observed in or around 25th May in Africa and throughout the world.

Imperialist responded to the onward developments in the Pan African Movement in the latter hall of the 60s and early 70's by embarking , on a policy of wholesale murder, coup d'etat, war and genocide against oppressed peoples and nations world-wide.

In spite of these atrocities the people continued to struggles and make limited progress against the forces of oppression.

Heightened armed and political struggle in Africa, and mass spontaneous rebellion in the usa, and the rolling back of colonialism in the Caribbean continued as the African masses followed doggedly the path for their total liberation.

As African revolutionaries and other anti-imperialist forces regrouped and pushed forward against attacks from the enemy many forces emerged, some revolutionary; some reactionary; some genuine and some opportunists.

In 1970 the Pan African Secretarial of Guyana made a call for the co-ordination and consolidation on Africans world wide.

In responses a large demonstration was held in Georgetown, Guyana and smaller demonstrations in the USA, Canada and Europe.

By 1972 ALD Activities were being organised throughout the African World.

Today ALD is a permanent mass institution in the world-wide Pan African Movement.

It reflects the fact that as Africans, we have not achieved our freedom and thus it is a day on which we reaffirm our commitment to Pan Africanism the total liberation and unification of Africa .

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