The Royal Summit of the African People – Massakunda 2025, initially scheduled to take place from November 8 to 11, 2025, has been postponed to a later date.This postponement was announced through an official statement signed by His Majesty King Guide Bamba El Hadj Mahamed Npahi Sâanwi, the initiator of this global gathering.
Read below the full text of the said statement.
OUÉ
Royal Summit of the African People — MASSAKUNDA 2025
“African Royalty in the Service of the People”
Bamako, Mali
May the Peace of God be upon us and upon the great peoples of the world.
Under the High Patronage of His Excellency General of the Army Assimi GOÏTA, President of the Transition and Head of State of the Republic of Mali — who proclaimed the year 2025 as the “Year of Culture” and established November 11th as the National Day of Traditional Authorities — the Organizing Committee of MASSAKUNDA 2025 had committed to bringing together Kings, Queens, Traditional Chiefs, former Heads of State and Government, Religious Leaders, Institutional Figures, the African Diaspora and Afro-descendants, around a grand continental celebration of heritage, royalty, peace, and African unity.
We extend our most sincere gratitude to all the high authorities, partners, and distinguished personalities who have already expressed their commitment:
To Mr. Mahamadou KONÉ, Minister of Religious Affairs, Worship and Customs of Mali, for graciously accepting to serve as National Patron of the event;
To Mr. Abdoul Kassim Ibrahim FOMBA, Minister of Youth and Sports, in charge of Civic Education and Citizenship Building, for accepting to sponsor the Sports Component of MASSAKUNDA;
To His Excellency Nicéphore Dieudonné SOGLO, former President of the Republic of Benin and Vice-President of the Forum of Former African Heads of State and Government, for accepting to serve as Honorary Patron of the Summit;
To His Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), the Ooni of Ife, Nigeria, for entrusting Her Majesty Queen Olori Ashley Afolasade Ogunwusi with the mission of Royal Patroness;
To General of the Army Corps Malick DIAW, President of the National Transitional Council (CNT) of Mali, for his encouragement and institutional support;
To Major General Abdoulaye MAÏGA, Prime Minister of Mali, and to all members of the Government for their continued assistance and unwavering support.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to:
The National Directorate of the National Museum of Mali and all its staff;
The Tour of Africa Monument Directorate and its team;
The Management of the Modibo Keita Memorial;
The State of Benin, through its Honorary Consulate in Mali, Her Excellency the Honorary Consul, and the Association of Beninese Nationals residing in Mali;
The Republic of South Africa, Guest of Honour Nation for this edition;
The Embassies and Consulates of Mali, across the African continent, Europe, and beyond, for their remarkable professionalism and constant availability during the various official missions led by His Majesty King Guide Bamba El Hadj Mahamed Npahi Sâanwi;
The family of the late Colonel Muammar KADHAFI, for their moral and symbolic support to the Pan-African ideal of sovereignty and unity among the peoples of Africa.
The Organizing Committee expresses its deepest gratitude for this exemplary mobilization — a reflection of an Africa that is proud, dignified, and united.
However, due to diplomatic and logistical scheduling considerations related to the coordination of Presidential, Royal, Institutional, and International delegations, it has been decided, in consultation with all stakeholders, to postpone the MASSAKUNDA 2025 Summit to a later date.
This decision, made independently of our will, aims to ensure better conditions of hospitality, security, and representation, worthy of the prestige and expectations of this continental gathering.
We sincerely thank all delegates, guests, partners, sponsors, and media representatives for their understanding, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to offer, during the new session, a framework worthy of the role that African Royalty embodies: to serve the People, Peace, and the Sustainable Development of the Continent.
Finally, we pay tribute to Hamadoun KASSOGUÉ (known as “Kass”), General Coordinator and President of the Organizing Committee, for his unwavering commitment, as well as to the entire team of the International Conference Center of Bamako (CICB) and its Director, for their constant support and exemplary cooperation.
May this period of readjustment not be seen as a setback, but rather as a step forward — towards a stronger, more unified, and more sovereign Pan-African Renaissance.
His Majesty King Guide Bamba El Hadj Mahamed Npahi Sâanwi
Supreme Chief of the United Kingdoms of Africa (UKAF)
King and Forerunner of the African Renaissance and Royalty of Mali
Founder of the Bamba Empire
Initiator and Moral Authority of MASSAKUNDA.
lafriqueenmarche – November 7, 2025 – No. 1039
