Ceremonial meeting   of  the  Council of  the  Institute  for African  Studies took  place  in Moscow  on May  27 devoted to Africa  Day  and  the  50th  anniversary of the  Organization  of African Unity (OAU). The participants were addressed by the Director of the Institute for African Studies, academician A.M.Vasilyev, Director of the Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the  Russia  S.N.Kryukov,  the  head  of the group of African ambassadors in Russia, Ambassador of Madagascar in the  Russian  Federation Eloi  Alphonse Maxim Duvu.The  basic report «Russia  and  Africa yesterday and  today» was made by A.Yu.Urnov Dr.Sc. (History).