Africa Day 2026: Jibunoh hosts Soyinka, others at Nelson Mandela Gardens in Asaba, May 25
By Editor
MAY 25 every year is Africa Day. It is celebrated annually to commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963. Originally declared to push for total decolonisation, the day is now driven by the African Union (AU) to celebrate Pan-Africanism, cultural identity, and economic integration.
The Nelson Mandela Gardens and Resort, Asaba, renowned as a foremost institution for the promotion and propagation of the essence of the African and Black family, will be commemorating the African Day on May 25, 2026, with an elaborate programme of activities. With Africa’s most laurelled cultural icon and intellectual, Professor Wole Soyinka, designated as guest speaker, the event will be hosted by eminent pan-African patriot and adventurer, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, who is globally renowned as the “Desert Warrior” for his exemplary feat of conquering the vast violent Sahara Desert a record four times.
The celebration will feature a rich lineup of activities including drama performances, spoken word presentations, music, dance, and artistic showcases aimed at highlighting the beauty, diversity, and resilience of African culture. The event is expected to attract cultural enthusiasts, creatives, scholars, youth groups, dignitaries, and members of the public who share a passion for African heritage and cultural advancement, a release issued for Nelson Mandela Garden & Resort, Asaba by Oluebube Okafor, said.
The event, scheduled to hold at the leading African nature-themed Nelson Mandela Gardens and Resort, Asaba, Delta State, by 4:00pm, will also welcome delegation of FESTAC AFRICA, a group that is actively pushing the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the second Festival of Black and African Art and Civilisation (FESTAC), held in February 1977. The delegation’s participation in the Asaba celebration is to showcase updates on the ongoing preparations toward the forthcoming pan-African cultural festival, slated to run for much of next year.
The presence of the FESTAC AFRICA delegation further reinforces the spirit of Africa Day. FESTAC, which stands for the Festival of Arts and Culture, represents one of Africa’s most significant cultural movements dedicated to celebrating African creativity, heritage, history, and artistic excellence. Its vision strongly aligns with the ideals of Africa Day by promoting unity through culture and strengthening connections among African people across borders and generations.
Africa Day is celebrated annually across the continent to commemorate African unity, cultural identity, liberation, and the shared aspirations of African nations. It remains a significant moment for reflection on Africa’s heritage, achievements, and the role of culture in fostering peace, development, and continental collaboration.
Widely respected for his contributions to environmental advocacy, African heritage preservation, and cultural development, Dr. Jibunoh, also a writer, environmentalist and public intellectual, has, for over five decades, remained a strong voice in promoting African identity through art, history, and intellectual engagement. Through initiatives such as the Didi Museum, one of Nigeria’s notable private museums and cultural institutions, Jibunoh has consistently championed the preservation and celebration of African art, culture, and history while creating spaces for artistic expression and dialogue.
Dr. Newton Jibunoh (right) in dance steps with female cultural dancers at a previus celebration… in Asaba
Nelson Mandela Gardens Limited is a hospitality hub founded by Dr. Newton Jibunoh (D.Sc, OON). Its objective is to be seen as a conservation centre that espouses the virtues of nature, relaxation and comfort to the delight of its guests. It was established to commemorate the 95th birthday of the late African sage and world icon, by planting 95 trees in his honour and as support for the conservation of nature and its elements. The project is formally endorsed by the Nelson Mandela Family as part of the continuation of the “Mandela Is” campaign, which is aimed at the improvement of the African Man’s existence. The Garden sits on 14,414 acres of choice land within the perimeter of the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, Midwest region of Nigeria. Given the non-apologetic espousal of the Mandela philosophy by Dr. Newton Jibunoh and its synergy with his ethos, the garden is the fourth official monument of such after similar establishments in Washington, London and Johannesburg by the Nelson Mandela Family to actualize the vision of the great icon Madiba.
Its mission is to honor the legacy of Nelson Mandela by the establishment of a world class destination where nature, culture, and leisure come together, fostering connection, peace, and unforgettable experiences for everyone. The vision is to become Africa’s most iconic eco-tourism and cultural destination, where nature thrives, stories are shared, and every guest feels at home with purpose.
