The Spirit of Peace and Prosperity Summit encompasses series of high-level meetings featuring Traditional Indigenous rulers, monarchs, religious leaders, representatives of government, ethical and socially responsible corporations, civil society organizations, relevant institutions, Scholars, and Professionals - across disciplinary faculties. The Summit provides the opportunity to ensure the inclusion of cultural values in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Spirit of Peace and Prosperity Summit takes place from July 17-21 (5 days) in parallel observation with the United Nations’ General Assembly Resolution A/RES/64/13. The Resolution called for the observance of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18th in honor of his values and his dedication to the service of humanity in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality, and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and underdeveloped communities.

Click here to register to attend the 6th Annual Spirit of peace & prosperity Summit from July 17-21 (2021)

DAY ONE (FIVE DAYS:)

SPIRIT OF PEACE & PROSPERITY SUMMIT

Prayers and Meditations to Eradicate Cultural Racism & Racial Injustices

Eradication of Cultural and Structural Racism & Abolition of Systemic and Institutional Racial Injustices

WORLD PRAYER FOR PEACE THREE PLENARY SESSIONS: Featuring a panel of Faith-based and Religious leaders from various cultural and spiritual backgrounds

The World Prayers for Peace conference aims to showcase harmony in diversity by inviting faith leaders from various cultural, religious, and spiritual backgrounds to participate in discussion with support for the theme of the Summit.

The World Prayer for Peace Conference is the opening program for the Spirit of Peace & Prosperity Summit. The program begins on July 17 and therefore sets the stage for the entire Summit. World Prayer for Peace Conference helps to demonstrate harmony in diversity by inviting faith leaders from various cultural, religious, and spiritual backgrounds to participate in discussion with support for the theme of the Summit. The World Prayers for Peace is a vital part of the Spirit of Peace & Prosperity Summit. It sets the purposefulness and integrity of the Summit.

We utilize this opportunity to pray and meditate for a renewed faith in humanity, for the spiritual strength and enlightenment to find solutions to the challenges we face collectively. We pray to God, and all ethical, integral, and harmonious faith perspectives are welcome. In God, we trust.

“Ordinary South Africans (People) are determined that the past be known. That it is better to ensure that it is not repeated. They seek this not out of vengeance but so that we can move in the future together. The choice of our nation is that that the past should be revealed, but that it comes to known in a way which promotes reconciliation and peace”. Nelson Mandela

“This generation of little children is the 7th Generation. Not just Indian children but white, black, yellow and red. Our grandfathers said the 7th generation would provide new spiritual leaders, medicine people, doctors, teachers and our great chiefs. There is a spiritual rebirth going on.” - Clyde Bellecourt

The Spirit of Peace captures the vision of president Nelson Mandela and encourages solidarity with the cause of humanity and fosters good human relations.

Nelson Mandela embodied the highest values of the United Nations. We, the people, observe the Mandela International Day on his birthday, 18 July. We honor his legacy for promoting social justice, fight against poverty, and leading a culture of peace throughout the world. However, not all agree with this; in fact, some young people see this Mandela legacy quite differently. Therefore 2020 Mandela day’s topic is: “Candid Assessment of Mandela’s Legacy on Black Lives Matter” (BLM). This candid discussion on how Mandela’s legacy influences the youth and has inspired the theme of the Spirit of Peace & Prosperity 2020 Summit: ‘Eradication of Cultural and Structural Racism & Abolition of Systemic and Institutional Racial Injustices.’ This year’s traditional discussion on Truth & Reconciliation will focus on the controversies on Mahatma Gandhi and Indian- African Conflicts, as well as the China-African friendship and Conflicts, including the African-Libya Experience.

THE CULTURE OF TRADING AND INVESTING IN PEACE

Economic Cooperation between African & Caribbean Stock Exchange

This conference is about promoting the idea is to turning Global African presence into a Competitive Economic advancement with the help of Stock Exchanges and Corporate Social Responsibility measures. Global presence does not automatically ensure a competitive advantage. The worldwide African presence has yet to produce the much culture-based wealth that provides the necessary financial capital and the cultural economy enjoyed by other cultures around the world. Many different cultures have been able to take advantage of their perceived competitive edge and used it effectively to establish and sustain their markets everywhere possible. We have witnessed multinational corporations integrated into many countries across continents. Their presence in other countries will continue to change people's thinking and consumption habits. Since learning is a way of life, all specialized products and services reflect particular cultural identities, and each global product contributes to the wealth of a specific culture or nation. We need to explore the dynamics of the world economy through cultural lenses, not only national perspectives, and this requires a new perspective on what we describe as the interdependent African opportunity.

Turning African global presence into a worldwide competitive advantage requires a culture to consciously match its value creation potential with the opportunities generated by its predisposed global relationship and proximity. Therefore, a new global African economic relationship driven by culture is eminent because globalization is a relational economy. Diasporic, transnational identities and social structure coupled with the increasing ease of cross-border capital and investment movement have given rise to international ethnic entrepreneurial behavior. The Stock exchanges make it possible to organize information, create efficient communication, production, distribution, risk assessment, and monetization effectively on global basis. The connection between Africa and the Caribbean can help promote good trade relationships, as well as help to reconnect and strengthen the ties between Africa and its Diaspora. This conference is designed to help identify opportunities and suggests a framework for exploring and taking actions necessary to create a global African competitive advantage through the African and Caribbean Stock Exchanges, banking, and related financial institutions. The Stock and Commodity Exchanges invited can present their mandates, market potentials, and weaknesses. This includes Credit rating, market research resources, for private companies' analytics, and sovereign ratings—address investors' interests on available financial instruments, investment channels, market risks, rate of returns, and other custodial services.

Art is a powerful Economic asset. There is a compelling argument that most African states do not benefit from the global value of their heritage arts. Thousands of precious African Arts, artifacts, or natural heritages were looted in the aftermath of colonial conquest and subsequently ended up in the hands of collectors and museums in Europe and the United States. African heritage arts were looted without recognition of the dignity and integrity of the artists. Traditional African techniques became a powerful influence among many European artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, Gauguin, Klimt, Cézanne, and other avant-garde and Expressionist painters. Thus, African Arts have always been an invaluable asset to global development; however, with little or no benefit to the African States. This concern has triggered numerous controversial reactions in the international discussion about claims for restitution of African art from museums in Europe or America. Efforts to address this issue can be cited in President Emmanuel Macron's "keynote address" on November 28, 2017, on the policy of France in sub-Saharan Africa at the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. "I am from a generation of French people for whom the crimes of European colonization cannot be disputed and are part of our history." — Emmanuel Macron, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Nov 2017. African heritage arts have proven to be among the most valuable assets in the world—the Senufo Female Statue, from Cote d'Ivoire, sold for a record $12 million. Fang Ngil Mask from Gabon garnered more than $7.5 million in an auction in Paris in 2006. The mask is said to have inspired artist Pablo Picasso. The 'Fang Mabea' statue produced in Cameroon, sold for $5.17 million in 2014. The Muninia mask, a previously unseen masterpiece, was auctioned off at Sotheby's France for about $4.4 million, the second-highest price in history for an African mask. Jean Michel Basquiat, Untitled sold for $110.5 Million, the highest auction price in history for a work by an American Artist. The painting achieved the highest auction price in history for a work by an American artist sold at auction and was the most expensive work by an artist of African descent sold at auction. Yet he did not benefit from it. Jean Michel Basquiat died poor and destitute.

The Transatlantic Slave trade, colonialism, and racism not only distorted Africa’s political economy, socio-cultural development, it also distorted the history and importance of the African value proposition and disposition of African cultural esteems on the continent and in the diaspora. The burden of intersectionality continues to impede the self-perception, full production capacity, perception of beauty, cultural-integrity, ideas of aesthetics, consumption, and habits of so many people in the global African societies. Damaged self-esteem and mental illness are perhaps the most significant challenges faced by African communities as it factors into economics, politics, and social interactions. The exploitation of African society's vulnerabilities has been a scientific trillion dollars industry as billions of hard-earned incomes from the communities to the cosmetics and personal beauty care, jewelry, designer brands in fashion and faith, and other prestigious social status consumer products and services industry. This discussion will take place between experts, pundits, scholars, entrepreneurs, and professionals in related fields along with the interest of restitution and reparation of the African cultural identity. Furthermore, the panelists will present recommendations for the preparation of restitution, such as international cooperation, provenance research, legal frameworks, and the appropriate to steer the discussion in their countries.

The Royal Institute of Global African Cultures and Traditions was recognized as an essential development institution for Africa and its diaspora. It started about five years ago during the Spirit of Peace & Prosperity Summit at the Federal Hall under the premise of self-determination. The Declaration and the Charter of the Royal African Institute were presented to traditional rulers and customary authorities in many countries for endorsement, with the obligation to have branches in every Kingdom established in Africa and its Diaspora. The Elders have all given their blessings by signing on a scroll, which symbolizes their commitment to the cause. His Royal Majesty King Adedapo Adeen Aderemi, the Convener of the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa (COTLA), and the Secretary-General of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria was first to embrace the proposal. Sa Majeste Professor Octave Cossi Houdegbe, the Kokpon of Dahe in Benin, and a member of the Republic of Benin and the Central African Republic Parliament was the first in line to offer land for this project. The first commitment to building the Royal African Institute came from Nana Osiade3yo Samuel Otu Lartey Akwamuhene of Dwenase (Dormaa Traditional council) in Ghana. Facilitation of the royal institute is to be prime among the duties of traditional leaders; it will provide an excellent chance to operate interdependently between the kingdoms.

The Royal Institute is a place to promote learning, understanding, teaching, observing, engaging, a library of local cultures, museums of traditions, and history of the Royal Kingdom(s). The facility will also cater to the needs of children and adults by adding children interactive science center with cultural inclination. This meeting will provide the opportunity to present and introduce the Royal African Institute from the conceptual, practical, developmental, and operational stages to traditional authorities, partners, and investors. Architects and engineers working on the project will make brief presentations and answer questions. H.E. Ambassador Isaiah Chabala, former Zambian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union, Brussels, Belgium, and the United Nations, is a charge of charting the way for the Royal African Institute’s effort in gaining observer status with the United Nations as an intergovernmental organization (IGO). The membership of the Royal African Institute Inter-Governmental Status consists of cultural leaders and customary authorities representing kingdoms, heritage, and indigenous traditions, otherwise as stated in its charter. Traditional Rulers will present their ideas and efforts on environmental protection, human rights, social development (education, health care), and coordinate humanitarian services for their people. Most importantly, the traditional rulers will describe how they preserve heritage, serve as the custodian of culture, and promote economic growth through cultural heritage tourism.