This medallic piece commemorates and is inscribed "CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF AFRICAN STATES ADDIS ABABA MAY 1963". In 1963 quite a number of African nations were newly independent, many others were aiming to become independent. Perhaps if this piece had been made after the conference (which I would, rightly or wrongly, assume not to be the case) then it would have made mention of the great achievement of this conference - the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25th May 1963.

   In 2002 the OAU was replaced/superceded by the "African Union" , but Africa, very almost as a whole, continues to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the OAU with “Africa Day” on the 25th of May every year.

   This medal is of Silver and is 65mm in diameter. A few more bits of information on the piece can be found in the “Medals” section of Lauri Palmu's site:- Ethiopian coins and medals .
 
 

This page started with "A Medal of Significance to all of Africa" at February 2004.