African Symbol of the Month: Bese Saka & African Union Day

Bôhten eyewear strives to improve sustainable living in Africa. To shed light on our African roots, we are introducing meaningful symbols from Ghana that focus on the importance of Ethics in the social environment. 

Bese Saka 

This month’s African Symbol is an adinkra symbol called Bese Saka. This symbol represents a bunch of cola nuts and is a symbol of “A symbol of affluence, power, abundance, plenty, togetherness, and unity.” 

We selected this symbol as May 25th commemorated the 60th anniversary of Africa Day. This day is recognized in all 55 African countries and around the world to celebrate the establishment of the Organization of African Unity in 1963. The OAU was Africa's first post-independence continental institution. It was established by 32 Heads of Independent African nations as a way to implement, “... the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny.” 

In 2002, the organization officially became the African Union, as a way to continue to build on the OAU’s work on the continent. The African Union’s vision is this, “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” The African Union has created many organizations that work on creating more unity and solidarity among African countries, political and socio-economic integration, peace and security, sustainable development and so much more.

Click here to find a collection of speeches made from the first Organization of African Union Summit in May 1963 featuring African Leaders such as H.E Kwame Nkrumah,  President of Ghana and his Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie 1st Emperor of Ethiopia

Overall, the African Union is a great representation of unity amongst African countries and serves to represent the power and strength we have by working together as Africans and the African diaspora. Coming together can only help and empower us to create a better world for our people. Unification only brings more affluence, power, abundance and togetherness, just as the Bese Saka represents. 

We pay tribute to the African Union and our leaders’ foresight to recognize the importance of Pan Afrianism and unity among the African countries with the Bese Saka symbol.

Africa Day is celebrated as a holiday in some African countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Gambia and a day of observance in others.