Africa is a continent of diversity and contrast. This is true of its land, climate, people, wildlife, natural resources and investment opportunities. The continent of Africa comprises one-fifth of the total landmass of planet Earth. It is the second largest continent and is divided into 53 different countries. The population of the continent is estimated to be around 885 million and is comprised of several hundred different ethnic groups.

To say that Africa has its challenges is an understatement. HIV/AIDS, starvation, conflict, under-development – we hear these words about Africa almost daily on the TV news. But Africa also has its positives. Thankfully, in recent times, we're hearing the positive aspects of Africa by broadcasters such as CNN and BBC. It’s about time, don’t you think?

India also has its challenges, but India is developing at a phenomenal rate thanks to reasons too lengthy to list in this short introduction. Perhaps the most noteworthy though has been its ability to maintain a thriving democracy despite its diversity, which is almost as wide as that of Africa as a whole. We therefore think that India can play a significant role in assisting Africa to emerge from its despair on two feet.

And that’s where we come in. The Indo-African Society was formally established in November of 2002, with a Mission to create an awareness of Africa in India. In pursuit of our mission we provide a platform for people-to-people contact, business-to-business interaction, cultural programmes and a forum for free exchange of ideas between diplomats, academia, media, non-governmental organisations and think-tanks of India and countries of the African continent. This website is only one tool being used to achieve our Mission.

I now invite you to navigate through the pages of our website. If you like what you see, send us a letter; shoot off a quick email; contribute an article; or better still, join us.

Linda Brady-Hawke
Secretary General