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Introduction
On 28 and 29 September 1 998, a historic conference was held in Johannesburg to critically discuss and debate Thabo Mbeki's heralded African Renaissance initiative. The conference is historic not because the concept of an African Renaissance is new, but because it seeks to spiral South Africa, and hopefully the rest of Africa, into the new Millennium through a re -consolidated effort to liberate, affirm and transform Africa and its peoples. This renewal, it is believed, will ensure Africa's participation and competitiveness in the global arena, validating Africa's progress and development in economic, cultural, technological, spiritual, communications and socio-political spheres. This renewal will also legitimize and celebrate Africa's almost forgotten, if not ignored, historical contributions to global development in areas such as civilization, state formations, religious worship, science, engineering, agriculture, technology, astronomy and communications.
Internationally renowned academics, political leaders, cultural activists, church and community leaders, corporate directors and others came together because it was an opportunity to celebrate Africa and to revamp Africa's commitment to the full liberation of all its citizens. But more important, people came together to debate and discuss the implications of a continent-wide African Renaissance spearheaded by Thabo Mbeki's memorable parliamentary ? am an African' speech to the Constitutional Assembly on 8 May, 1996.
As stated, the notion of an African Renaissance is certainly not a new one. The word 'Renaissance' originated in Europe and means a renewal or rebirth. The context was similar - with Europe having been ravaged by war, disease, corruption, sociopolitical and religious alienation between the 1 4th and 17th century, Europe had to renew itself and embarked on a campaign to reclaim and revamp its once powerful status. The liberal arts, culture and education, played critical roles in this process of rebirth.
Within Africa, historical movements such as Négritude, Pan Africanism, and the Black Consciousness readily come to mind and their profound contributions to a contemporary African Renaissance have to be acknowledged. But more than a quarter of a century ago, I960 was declared as 'the Year of Africa' due to the 'vibrancy brought about by political independence and the ushering of the social development decade' (Bengu, 1998: 2). Numerous conferences were held aimed at 'determining Africa's objectives and priorities which were intended to launch...