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Africa in search of deeper dialogue beyond Addis and Bamako - February 2004
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4. Hosting WSF in Africa
Inspired by the presence of more than three hundred delegates in Mumbai, brutally frank and explosive exchanges on Africa's position in the global struggle, some members of the India organising committee and World Social Forum International Council (IC) found it appropriate to declare their readiness to support the continent in the event that its delegates seek to bid for hosting the world event in the near future.
These commitments were made against the background that Mumbai, the venue for WSF 2004, is a cradle of the Dalit (Untouchables) and left movement in India growing out of the bustling streets of the city that have for long provided a platform for democratic ideas, not withstanding the fact that the same city has experienced attempts by fundamentalist parties to erode the social fabric.
In the words of Brazilian activist, Candido Grzybowski, the world needs a world social forum with an African face, guided by democratic processes and free from governments and other forces that might seek to manipulate the exercise.
Grzybowski had the opportunity to seat in a session where African delegates were receiving reports on continental activities inspired by the spirit of the Addis Ababa consensus document which is closely linked the Bamako declarations, embodying the spirit of Africa's anti-globalisation activism and foundations for launching a struggle versus neo-liberalism.
For a number of activists who have been closely associated with the world and continental Forum processes, the issue of bidding should not be raised within our ranks. They argue that our social movements have not developed the requisite linkages and vibrancy that would match the energy often associated with Porto Alegre and now Mumbai.
Some even fear that Africa's organisational weaknesses will be exposed and cripple the growth of the process in Africa.
Entertaining these fears would have made sense before going to Mumbai, but now it is too late because some social movements and anti-globalisation activists see Africa as another bloc that can move and shake the imperial forts now being spawned the world over.
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