What does it mean to honor your roots while building your future? What happens when a phone call changes everything you thought was just a dream?
In our latest episode of That Second Gen Life, I’m getting deeply personal. I hit record while out of town during a powerful weekend—one filled with meaning, memory, and movement. It’s not just Memorial Day for me. It’s a Pan-African, Independence Day, and birthday weekend all rolled into one.
May 24 is Eritrea’s Independence Day, and for me, it will always be marked by the moment I heard my mother say, “Eritrea is free.” I was just 13, when I received a phone call from my mother that I would never forget. I didn’t know then how much those words would shape me, but they did—and they still do.
Then comes May 25: Africa Day.
Established in 1963 with the founding of the Organization of African Unity, Africa Day is about more than flags and declarations. It’s a celebration of freedom. Of sovereignty. Of global connection. And in 2012, when the African Union officially recognized the African diaspora as the sixth region of the continent, it affirmed something we already knew: we are part of this story, and this story is part of us.
In this episode, I reflect on:
The legacy of Eritrea’s hard-won independence—and why it matters globally.
The evolution of Africa Day, from continental unity to a global celebration of African people and power.
The AU’s groundbreaking recognition of the diaspora and what that means for our collective future.
The under-told history of the Pan-African Women’s Organization, which predates the AU and reminds us that African women have always led.
This episode isn’t just for Eritreans. It’s for every member of the African diaspora who wonders where they fit, what their role is, and how to reconnect with heritage in a meaningful way. From east to west, north to south, and across oceans—Africa Day touches us all.
🎧 Listen now to this powerful Africa Day episode of That Second Gen Life with Semhar. Let it remind you of your place in our shared story.
If you’re ready to explore your own diaspora path and take action, sign up for Diaspora Leadership Program at www.thediasporaacademy.com/dlp. Let’s help you create the spaces you wish existed.
#TDADiasporas #CreateTheSpaces #Diaspora #AfricaDay #DiasporaLeadership #EritreaIndependence #PanAfricanism #DiasporaPhilanthropy #SecondGenVoices
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