African Activist Archive

Report on a one-and-a-half-day retreat by the Boards and staff of the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) and The Africa Fund about the future work of the organizations, which followed soon after South Africa's historic April elections. The meeting was held at the Alma Mathews House in New York City, and was attended by 16 Board members, seven staff members (Jennifer Davis, Adrena Ifill, Rachael Kagan, Michael Fleshman, Dumisani Kumalo, Richard Knight and Annie King), and one former staff member (Jim Cason). Former Executive Director George Houser presented a slide show with wonderful photos of early work of the organizations in Africa, including Patrice Lumumba, Joaquim Chissano, Samora Machel, Hage Geingob, Amilcar Cabral, and Walter Sisulu. Direct colonial and white minority rule have finally been ended, but at best we can only declare a very partial victory, if our goal was to ensure the achievement of full human rights for all African men, women and children. The agenda of economic empowerment and development still must be addressed. Other important elements in today's context include the shifts in international power relations produced by the end of the cold war and the rapid development of a global economy in which Africa seems almost marginalized. Much of the discussion of African issues focused on human rights and economic development, with grass roots empowerment being the key to achieving goals in both of these areas. After small group report-back, Davis and Kumalo summarized their experiences observing the South African elections. Davis then discussed her travel to Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in May 1994, from which emerged how little transformation had occurred in the lives of grass roots people in the post-independence period. Consensus was reached pretty easily that the geographic focus of the organizations should expand outside of southern Africa, to incorporate an issue-oriented focus, which would not necessarily cover all of Africa, but would concentrate on areas fundamental to our work in the human rights and economic development arenas. This would include poverty, political freedom, economic justice, education, grass roots empowerment, and self-determination. The report mentions African constituencies to work with - civil society, women, labor, grass roots organizations, churches, NGO's, trade union federations, and councils of churches. Board members present: Tilden LeMelle, Judge William Booth, Marsha Bonner, Rev. Jon Chapman, Ralston Deffenbaugh Jr, William Henning, Elizabeth Landis, William Minter, Andrew Norman, Marvin Rich, Tim Smith, David Scott, Stephanie Urdang, Dr Wyatt Tee Walker, and Canon Frederick B. Williams.

African Activist Archive

RE: JUNE RETREAT REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACOA/AF JOINT RETREAT REPORT

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