ADF's Peace Conference in South Africa

June 2003

In September 2002, ADF participated in a NEPAD conference in association with the South African Consulate office in Los Angeles, CA. At the conclusion of the conference, ADF guest, Dr. Molefe Tsele, of the South African Council of Churches and Rev. J.N. Tshawane of the King-Luthuli Transformation Center agreed to ADF co-sponsoring a peace education conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2003. The conference’s ultimate goal would be to establish a peace center in South Africa that would function in cooperation with ADF in the United States. The conference was planned for June 23-27, 2003, and a delegation of eight from the United States consisting of Agrippa O. Ezozo, Rev. C.T Vivian, Charles L. Alphin, Sr., Itibari M. Zulu, Rev. Daytra Hansel, Thomas Mitchell, Celeste Mims and Chita Obasi with Joy Ugbazi of the University of Nigeria Enugu attended the conference.

The conference was launched by welcoming the attendees from the United States and various countries in Africa and explaining the goals. Rev. J.N. Tshawane gave this opening address followed by youth members of the center performing music, dance, and dramatizations of the challenges of life in Johannesburg. Underlying this performance was a message of the positive life lessons and the spirit of hope the center gives to those who utilize its services.

Next in sequence was the need to hear the African perspective of who they were and the changes they had in mind for their communities and cultures. This was accomplished through these presentations:

• African Origins of Human Civilization and Ubuntu
  Dr Ntate Kgalushi Koka, Director of Karaites Institute on Afrikology
  
• African History, Culture, and the Pan African Movement
  Dr. Mathole Motshekga, Director of Kara Heritage Institute
  
• The Antecedents of the African Renaissance after World War 2
  Mpho Tsedu of Africa Now
  
• The Contributions of Women in Pre and Post World War 2 Struggles for Freedom
  Dorothy Motubatse

After examining the general history of the plight of the African continent and people, it was necessary to discuss where Africa was now economically, socially, culturally, ethic differences and perspectives, etc. Some organizations oriented to the affirmative reshaping and redirection of Africa have already been in existence and it was expedient to hear their experiences and perspectives. This was accomplished through these presentations presided over by Alex Bhimar, Protocol Office to the Mayor of Johannesburg and Dr. Elizabeth Smith of the University of South Africa (UNISA):

• Cultural and Socio-Economic Roots of Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Mr. Louis Lubala of Africa Now
• Cultural and Socio-Economic Roots of Conflict in Burundi
  Mr. Gabriel of Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes Region (CRGLR)
• The Role of Women in Conflict Resolution in the Democratic Congo
  Ms. Zanele Mbeki of Women’s Development Banking and wife of South Africa’s president, Thabo Mbeki
• The Role of the Church in Reconciliation Peace and Justice
  Dr. Molefe Tsele of the South African Council of Churches
• Peace, Conflict Resolution and Development under the African Union (AU) and the New Program for African Development (NEPAD)
  Wiseman Nkuhlu, NEPAD Secretariat
• Stranger Kgamphe, Secretary General of South African National Commission for UNESCO

The last phase of the conference was to plan and discuss the way forward, strategize on how to instituionalize Kingian NonViolence in South African Schools, and agree on resolutions to do so. Government officials including the Executive Deputy Vice President, the Minister of Education, and the Mayor of Johannesburg made speeches describing their view of the problem, economic and political challenges, and strategies in effect to bring about assenting progress. In addition to these speeches, the renowned training in Kingian Nonviolence principles was given to demonstrate the effectiveness of tooling people with means to solve various forms of conflicts. These presentations summed to explain the problems and give answers on how to solve them:

• The Role of Education in a New South Africa
  Mosibudi Mangena, South Africa's Deputy Education Minister
• The Politics and Socio-Economics Behind Reeducating South Africa
  Jacob Zuma, South Africa's Executive Deputy President
• Private meeting with Amos Mosondo, Mayor of Johannesburg
  on his commitment to Education and his strategic plans to curb violence in Johannesburg
  Attended by ADF members, Rev. Tshawane, Rev. Vivian, Mr. Alphin, Rev. Hansel
• The Philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence
  Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian of Nonviolence Institute and
  Charles Alphin Sr. of Nonviolence Institute
• Kingian Nonviolence and the Roles of the Church and Spiritual Institutions
  Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian of Nonviolence Institute
  Rev. Joseph Tshawane of the King-Luthuli Transformation Center
  Dr. Molefe Tsele of the South African Council of Churches
• Overview of the Proposed Peace Center
  Rev. Daytra Hansel of the Agape International Spiritual Center
  Itibari Zulu of the African Diaspora Foundation (ADF)
  Agrippa Ezozo of the African Diaspora Foundation (ADF)
• Panel Discussion on Nonviolence and Education
  Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian of Nonviolence Institute
  Agrippa Ezozo, MA
  Dr. Molefe Tsele
  Rev. Joseph Tshawane
• Distance Learning
  Rev. Daytra Hansel of the Agape International Spiritual Center

Awards were given to various individuals in recognition of their commitment to peace. Amos Mosondo, Mayor of Johannesburg, received a Proclamation from the City of Inglewood, CA and another one from Gerald Ergle, the Mayor of Ocala, FL, U.S.A. An honorary doctorate

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