The summit, coinciding with Africa Day on 25 May, attracted more than 500 delegates, including heads of state from 14 countries and ministers and other dignitaries from 69 countries, of which 50 were African countries. Included in the African Diaspora are 16 Caribbean countries, South American nations, Europe and America. The African Union has defined the African Diaspora as "consisting of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union."
The aim of the event was to bring Africans in the diaspora together to develop policy frameworks that will enable people of African descent to participate in the development of Africa and to share experiences in uniting African people together, in a bid to contribute to the sustainable development of the African continent.
The Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa was selected as a venue that was equipped with skills, facilities and experience to handle an event of this magnitude.
Says Mati Nyazema, Sandton Convention Centre's executive director, "It was a great privilege for the Sandton Convention Centre to be involved in this summit that represented history in the making; we were extremely proud to be able to provide the necessary service for this summit that has the upliftment of this continent at the heart of its goals."
In the closing address to the Summit on 25 May, president Jacob Zuma commended the African Union for putting together an event which is close to the hearts of all Africans who really care for the development of this continent, and stated, "Once again, as Africans, we have asserted our shared descendancy; our shared vision; our shared history; our shared experience, and our shared commitment to overcome the challenges faced by our people on the African continent."
