Brazil hosted Pan-African Intellectuals

The President of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, hosted the Second Conference of Intellectuals from African and the Diaspora (CIAD) from 12 to 14 July 2006.

CIAD took place in Salvador, which is one of the predominantly black cities in Brazil.

The event was co-chaired by the Minister of Culture of Brazil, Gilberto Gil, representing the Diaspora, and Kenya's Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Price Laureate, representing the African Continent.

The general theme was “The Diaspora and African Renaissance,” aiming to create a strong working relationship between the Africans and the African Diaspora intellectuals.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konaré, stated that although physically separated, Africans and the African Diaspora share the same values, history, culture, and destiny.

Mr. Konaré also expressed the belief that Africa's renaissance cannot be realized without the contribution of intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora, and explained that the continent's fate will be transformed by solutions developed by Africans and implemented by Africans.

The "Salvador Declaration" was adopted at the end of the conference, which announced that Africa's Diaspora, scattered across the planet, has an essential role in the African renaissance and aspired to strengthen departments in African Union that deal with the Diaspora.

Participants included heads of states, ministers, Noble Prize winners, scientists, and many other Black intellectuals from around the world.

Prime minister Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica, presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial-Guinea and John Kufuor of Ghana, and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal were among the leaders who participated on the conference. The total number of participants was estimated to be between 1,000-1,500 people.

The first CIAD was held in Dakar, Senegal, in October 2004. Brazil was selected to host the second CIAD because it is one of the countries with a large African population outside of Africa.