Africa Hope General Meeting Held in Lomé

On May 3, some 1,000 Soka Gakkai members from across Africa gathered in Lomé, the capital of Togo, for the Africa Hope General Meeting. The meeting celebrated Soka Gakkai Day and marked the 50th anniversary of establishment of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in 1975. At SGI’s inauguration meeting, just three African countries were represented. The Africa Hope General Meeting brought together Soka Gakkai members from 24 African countries, highlighting the growth of the Soka Gakkai on the continent since then and 65 years after President Daisaku Ikeda first advocated that the 21st century be the Century of Africa. The meeting was attended by a delegation from Japan led by SGI General Director Yoshiki Tanigawa. SGI Vice General Director Ida Gbodossou Adjévi also attended. Both Mr. Tanigawa and Ms. Gbodossou gave congratulatory remarks. Representatives from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo delivered a youth declaration, pledging to work for peace in solidarity across Africa. A participant from Togo shared how she overcame various difficulties, including illness within her family and financial issues through her Buddhist practice. The meeting ended with song and dance performances.