The World African Diaspora Union (WADU) President, Dr. Leonard Jeffries that the push for African empowerment in the 21st century must based upon delicate a “balance of the pyramid of power of African economics, African culture, and African politics.” Dr. Jeffries was reminding Pan Africanists representing various constituencies across the Diaspora to build a united front for the economic empowerment of African people. The meeting was hosted by Baba Lumumba and moderated by Mr. Imamu Baucum at the Umojahouse in Washington, DC.
 
The Pan Africanists gathering on Sunday, September 23, 2012 ended the week long conference activities from September 17-22, 2012 organized by the with the Constituency for Africa and Congressional Black Caucus on global issues affecting Black people across the world. Some of the major contributors at the Washington, DC conferences included Ambassador Madame Salum Ali of the African Union; Mel Foote, CFA; Dr. Georgina Falu, WADU; Susan Taylor, Rep. John Lewis, Rep John Conyers, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep Maxine Waters, Rep. Yvette Clarke, and other numerous other ambassadors, elected officials, dignitaries and community activists. During the meeting with CFA, Dr. Falu of Puerto Rico called for the harnessing of Black Diaspora capital for development.
 
During the meeting at Umojahouse, WADU Commissioner Nana Yaa Farika, of Jamaica highlighted the historic importance of the AU Global Diaspora Summit in South Africa this past May and outlined the AU Legacy Projects as crucial economic plans for the African Diaspora to advance African people in the 21st century. The five legacy programs discussed are African Diaspora volunteerism, development bank, skills bank, remittance, and marketplace (see wadupam.org).
 
Mr. Kwame Mustapha (S.C.) called for Pan African economic councils across the Diaspora. He urged Diaspora leaders to organize “proposals ready for business in Africa.” Other leaders presented business initiatives on credit union, oil production, education, and factory production. The presenters included: Obi Holley, Benin; Baba Mosi, Vice President of UNIA-ACL; Baba Lasana Mack, Maryland; Trevor Young, Sierra Leone; Alice Fomimyum, Cameroon.
 
The Washington meetings coincided with birthday tributes to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who warned that without a united states of Africa, Africans everywhere will be endangered. Indeed, Africa is fast becoming the central region for global investments and trade. Its economic attraction is also making it the center for militarism, imperialism, and opportunism similar to the first scramble for Africa in the 19th century.
 
The overt serial attacks on Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, and others by Africa’s former colonizers and enslavers are ominous signs of a 21st century. These incursions combine global economic and military assault on a vulnerable Africa, without politically respectable leadership. There a plan afoot “for the U.S. corporate takeover of Africa,” Mr. Thutmose reported after visiting a number of meetings in Washington, D.C.
 
As African and other leaders meet this week at the United Nations to discuss world peace and development, WADU and other Pan African organizations will continue to be a force to guide the African world for a people-centered economic, political, and cultural empowerment. For more information on the next meeting or to support our initiatives contact our main office in NY at 718-523-3312 or WADUPAM.ORG.