African Century is a term that is used to express belief or hope that the 21st century will bring peace

Peace

Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...

, prosperity and cultural revival to Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

, or is used to draw attention to the need for such an evolution. Among those who have used it in this way are South African politicians Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...

 and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma is a South African politician and was an anti-apartheid activist. She was South Africa's Minister of Health from 1994 to 1999, under President Nelson Mandela, then Minister of Foreign Affairs from 17 June 1999 to 10 May 2009, under Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema...

, Chevron CEO David J. O'Reilly

David J. O'Reilly

David J. O'Reilly , is former chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation. In 1968, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from University College, Dublin, from which he also received an honorary doctor of science degree in June 2002. He began his career with Chevron Research...

, US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and celebrity campaigner Bono

Bono

Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...

.

Progress to date

The stability and prosperity of democratic South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

 since the fall of the apartheid regime is often used as an example that such evolution is possible. The creation of the African Union

African Union

The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...

 in 2002 is seen as one of the first steps in this evolution.

Indeed, the last decade of the 20th century brought much hope. The last African colony, Namibia, became independent at the beginning of the last decade, majority rule was established in South Africa, and there was a revival of democracy in many parts of Africa. However, hope that the 21st century would be the African century was quickly muted. The continuing Darfur genocide, manipulation of elections or completely ignoring the elections or the outcome of elections by some leaders diverted Africa's attention from more urgent issues of civil wars, AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

, malaria

Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...

, and education. Investment in peace, health and education are recognized by many African leaders as essential elements for economic and social emancipation to make the 21st century the African Century.

See also

• American Century
  American Century
  American Century is a term used to describe the United States' dominance of much of the 20th century, in political, economic and cultural terms. The United States' influence grew throughout the 20th century, but became especially dominant after the end of World War II, when only two superpowers...
  
  
• Africanisation
• Afrocentrism
  Afrocentrism
  Afrocentrism is cultural ideology mostly limited to the United States, dedicated to the history of Black people a response to global racist attitudes about African people and their historical contributions by revisiting this history with an African cultural and ideological center...
  
  
• African Renaissance
  African Renaissance
  The African Renaissance is the concept that African people and nations overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, economic, etc. renewal. This concept has been popularized by South African President Thabo Mbeki during his term of office...
  
  
• Asian Century
  Asian Century
  The Asian Century is a term used to describe the belief that, if certain demographic and economic trends persist, the 21st century will be dominated by Asian politics and culture, as the 20th century is sometimes referred to as the American Century, and the 19th century the British...
  
  
• Millennium Development Goals
  Millennium Development Goals
  The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...