Thabo Mbeki’s ‘I Am an African’ speech, delivered on May 8, 1996 during the adoption of South Africa’s new Constitution, is one of the most iconic orations in modern African history. In it, Mbeki affirms a shared African identity rooted in history, struggle, and hope, weaving together the continent’s diverse voices and experiences. The speech has endured as both a declaration of unity and a vision for a democratic, inclusive future for South Africa and the African continent at large.