Over 75,000 participants gathered in Nairobi during the 7th edition of the World Social Forum under the clarion “People’s Struggle’s, People’s Alternatives” from 20 to 25 January 2007. The Forum brought the world together in Africa as activists, social movements, networks, coalitions and other progressive forces from Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Europe and all corners of the African continent converged in Nairobi, Kenya for five days of cultural resistance and celebration.

From its modest origins in Porto Alegre in 2001, the World Social Forum has now mushroomed into a global counter-force challenging the assumptions and diktats of imperialism and its associated neo-liberal policies that have over the decades, imposed colonialism and neo-colonialism; devastated Southern economies; bolstered the disastrous and repressive reigns of assorted tin pot dictatorships; marginalized women; disenfranchised youth; intensified the destruction of the environment; unleashed bloody, inhuman and needless military conflicts in nation after nation, region after region and deepened the exploitation of poor peoples around the world.

The World Social Forum in Nairobi placed social justice, international solidarity, gender equality, peace and defence of the environment on the agenda of the world’s peoples. From Porto Alegre to Mumbai to Bamako to Caracas, Karachi and then to Nairobi- kenya. The forces and the contingents of the World Social Forum collectively expanded the democratic spaces of those seeking concrete, sustainable and progressive alternatives to imperialist globalization. Over 1,296 self-organized activities where held in addition to the 14 co-organised activities.

The World Social Forum process is NOT the latest attempt to create a monolithic “world revolutionary vanguard movement” nor is it a reincarnation of an international “united front” seeking to overthrow, one by one, governments around the world. Such a notion would be a complete negation of the very essence and concept of the World Social Forum as outlined in its Charter of Principles. Nay, the World Social Forum is not that at all, far from it.

Rather, the World Social Forum is, to use a Kiswahili word, a global Jukwaa, in other words, an international PLATFORM, to quote from the Porto Alegre Charter “an open meeting place where groups and movements of civil society opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building a planetary society centred on the human person, come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.”

WSF Nairobi 2007 was also an opportunity to showcase Africa and her social movements; Africa and her unbroken history of struggle against foreign domination, colonialism and neo-colonialism; Africa and her rich heritage of natural wealth, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity; Africa and her reputation for embracing communities from around the world; Africa and her contributions to world civilization; Africa and her role in the quest for another possible, more progressive global human society.

In spite of the 800 journalist who were present to report on the event (see media coverage), words alone can not capture the vibrancy, the potency, the promise and the excitement of the 2007 World Social Forum . There were no alternative to being there as people from all walks of life, social classes and affiliation congregating, participated conversed, marched, sang, laughed, danced together, dreamed, networked and strategized with sisters and brothers, friends and neighbours, comrades and colleagues from five continents, across oceans, mountains, deserts and rivers and over one hundred and forty countries.

The secretariat of the WSF 2007 worked closely with over 1000 volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the daily activities during the forum.

We would also like to take this opportunity thank each of you who participated in one way or the other towards the success of the WSF 2007 forum in Africa.