Anglican Communion News Service

Anglican general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Revd Canon Clement Janda, has announced a competition to design a logo for the organisation's next general assembly due to take place in Yaounde, Cameroon in 2002. There is also a competition to compose an anthem for the event.

"We are inviting Africa's artists and music composers to participate in a competition towards developing the assembly logo conveying the assembly theme as well as an anthem," said Canon Janda at a press conference. "The competition is open to all people of different ages in the entire member churches of the AACC."

During the press conference in Nairobi, Canon Janda also drew attention to the increasing number of conflicts that are affecting Africa. Sixteen countries on the continent are involved in open conflicts, while many others are experiencing serious insecurity with bloodshed on a level with that in openly declared hostilities.

"Because of increased conflicts in Africa," said Canon Janda, "progress has been halted, and over three million African refugees presently wander around the world seeking safe refuge. International trading patters are clogged with barriers limiting our access to rich markets."

Canon Janda expressed his regret that current aid continues to tie African countries to buying goods and services from the donor countries.

"In other words," he said, "I end you money to buy goods, so I can make profits, and the same time force you to employ my people, not yours, as experts drawing high salaries. Then you have to repay what I lent you with interest. The result is that the dream of intra-African trade remains a pipe dream."

The theme for the AACC general assembly in Cameroon was announced as "Come let us rebuild", taken from the Book of Nehemiah. (Ne 2:16.) Canon Janda emphasised that the task of rebuilding in Africa had to be wholesome. This meant the need to search our souls on how to rebuild economically, politically, socially, morally and spiritually.

Entries for the logo and anthem competition will be received at the AACC committee meeting in March 2001, which is due to be held in Banjul, Gambia. Entries marked "Assembly Competition" should be sent to: The General Secretary, All Africa Conference of Churches, Waiyaki Way, PO Box 14205, Nairobi, Kenya.