Africa Day Press Release: For Immediate Release
Mayor Sylvester Turner to Welcome African Union Ambassador to the U.S. and 15 African Ambassadors to Houston
On May 25, 2021, Houston celebrated its 4th annual Houston Africa Day in honor of African Unity Day, which is observed every year on the same day to commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. Mayor Sylvester Turner hosts this event each year, which highlights the diversity of Houston and its global significance. The African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Ambassador Hilda Suka-Mafudze, and 13 African Ambassadors to Houston were in attendance. The event is open to people from all backgrounds and is an opportunity to acknowledge the cultural and business contributions of the African diaspora in Houston.
At the night-time festivities, Houston will display the various regions of Africa through arts, culture, and food, in line with the 2021 Africa Day theme of “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want.” Mayor Turner expressed that Houston Africa Day is an opportunity to highlight the city’s links to the African continent and celebrate the lively art, culture, and food of the African diaspora in Houston, reflecting the region’s diversity.
The Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs will organize the Houston Africa Day Business Forum for business leaders and stakeholders interested in doing business in Africa, in addition to the cultural celebration. This forum will bring together business executives with African leaders to discuss the vast opportunities and potential on the continent, specifically in healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and energy sectors, which are areas where Houston companies are global leaders. Chris Olson, the Director of MOTIA, noted that Houston is the largest trading partner with Africa in the U.S.
Mazda Denon, Houston’s Global Trade Manager for Africa, expressed that as Africa develops, Houston will work towards strengthening its relationship with the continent. Africa Day serves as a platform to exhibit this relationship. The guest list for the event includes the Ambassadors of several African countries such as Angola, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and Togo. The bios of these Ambassadors can be viewed on the event’s website.
Due to COVID-19 protocols and security measures, the events will have a restricted number of attendees. However, for those who are interested in participating, the Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs will broadcast the event live on their social media platforms
