Vol. 71/No. 47      December 17, 2007

Government officials, academics, political activists, and others, from 22 countries in Africa and 19 in the Americas, took part in the event.

Participants, who represented a broad political spectrum, discussed the impact of unfair trade practices imposed by imperialism on African countries; the devastating conditions faced by millions of working people in Africa, as well as those living abroad; and the need to deepen solidarity between the peoples in the two continents.

At a workshop titled “African Diaspora,” Onunaiju Okechukwu of Nigeria noted that imperialist plunder and exploitative class relations in African states today are simply carryovers from colonial days. “Exploitation of natural and human resources has deepened since independence,” he said.

In Equatorial Guinea, the imperialist powers have imposed terms favorable to foreign companies for the extraction of wood and oil, said Maximiliano Meñe.

A delegate from Western Sahara pointed out that 30 percent of Africans live on less than $1 per day.

Venezuelan participants described initiatives by the Venezuelan government to facilitate greater integration of Latin American countries by developing energy, communication, and other projects.

In one of the sessions Venezuelan minister of education Aristóbulo Istúriz reviewed advances made in Venezuela to increase access to education. Fifty percent of the population of 26 million is studying, said Istúriz. Of those, 3 million are enrolled in literacy programs, and 10 million in grade school and university.

“We could not have eliminated illiteracy without Cuba, however,” said Istúriz, highlighting Cuba’s collaboration with Venezuela in developing educational programs. “We could not have provided medical care to millions.”

He also said that as a result of the class struggle in Venezuela, and the role of Afro Venezuelans coming to the fore in that struggle, the existing racial discrimination against Afro descendants has come more to the surface.

“We were naïve about the fight against racism, discrimination, and exclusion. We thought that everyone would understand it as a just struggle,” he said.

Many in Venezuela argue that racism does not exist in the country, and that all are treated equally regardless of their skin color, while others, especially those of African origin, are urging action to combat racism.

The festival also included a number of public events—a parade, a cultural evening, and art exhibits, as well as a program in which African dance, theater, and other artistic groups visited schools and gave performances.

Omari Musa contributed to this article.
 
 
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