Talk to Al Jazeera

Thabo Mbeki

The former South African president talks to Al Jazeera about an African renaissance.

The greatest sporting event ever held on the African continent – the 2010 World Cup – will soon get underway in South Africa.

The man who played a major role in bringing the event to Africa for the first time, Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president, talks to Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna about using football as a vehicle to send a message about the continent to the rest of the world.

He talks about his vision of an African renaissance and the critical role that the liberation of his country from Apartheid has played in kick starting that process for the whole continent.

He also talks about the importance of dialogue and the example the South African process of ‘talking to the enemy’ can offer for current disputes.

This episode of Talk to Jazeera aired from Sunday, June 6, 2010.