As Africa marks Africa Day, the continent finds itself reflecting not only on its progress, but also on the promises made in 1963 when African leaders united to form the Organisation of African Unity. It was a bold vision built on Pan-Africanism, liberation, economic independence, and the dream of a continent united by a shared future.

More than six decades later, however, difficult questions remain. At the same time, many argue that Africa’s story is also one of resilience, innovation, cultural power, and a young generation determined to shape a different future.

We interrogate the state of the continent, the legacy of Pan-Africanism, and whether African leadership has truly honoured the dream of 1963 with Prof. Adekeye Adebajo, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and Author.