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Every four years the world holds a mammoth month-long party. All and sundry and from all corners of the planet are invited, usually four years in advance.There is no dress code, but most usually flaunt their national colours and because they are creative with their attire this adds to the allure and spectacle of the global party. The end of this party usually sets in motion a four-year-long party in one country and a mourning period of similar length in another.

While celebration and heartbreak are two sides of any competition, Africa can’t wait to celebrate the very advent of the party. If at the end of it an African country will celebrate for another four years that will be the icing on the cake.Welcome to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the world’s greatest mass spectator sporting jamboree.

This year’s cup is also the richest yet.

The words of South Africa’s High Commissioner to Kenya, HE Tony Msimanga, carried in our March/April issue, will forever ring true: “Africa is living this World Cup and South Africa is hosting it. So this is our moment, our continent, our time and our World Cup.”

We concur unreservedly. The FIFA World Cup which kicks off in South Africa on June 11 is Africa’s World Cup for several reasons. One, this is the first time the continent is hosting the finals of the premier competition of the planet’s most popular sport – football.

Ghana World Cup Team

Two, we of this continent have not had a chance to cheer our own teams and stars or the world’s football powers and their stars — or our favourite stars of the South American, European and Asian football leagues participating in this event — from close quarters. Three, never before has an African country had the honour of bringing to these shores so many people and so many cultures from all corners of the globe and for a prolonged party of friendship and passion,  joyous celebration and, of course, the inevitable heartbreak.

This is a great time for Africa to show the world it is made of caring and friendly and forward-looking, planning and purposeful, pleasant and proud people. Africans are keen to compete as well as organise, welcome as well as entertain and ready to play their rightful roles in world affairs. Four, the joy of the continent in hosting this World Cup is evident in the huge numbers of Africans who have since 2006 scrimped and saved, worked early and late, long and hard to be able to make the journey to South Africa from the North and South, East and West corners of the continent.

Five, Africans will be able for the first time to cheer their five teams on their own continent, which is also to say that South Africa’s BafanaBafana, Ghana’s Black Stars, Cote d’Ivoire’s Elephants, Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Algeria’s Desert Foxes will have their supporters within shouting distance. African players have and continue to make a mark on the European football stage, arguably the most fiercely competitive of all football theatres in the world. But this time round, barring injuries, these stars who dazzle the world and their continent from worlds away will be on parade before their own adoring fans.

Six, with the World Cup have come tourists, most of whom have seized this chance to see more than South Africa. African hospitality has been, and still remains, on show for all to see and savour. There are businesspeople in South Africa and on the continent at large who have travelled here because of, or taking advantage of, the FIFA World Cup.

On their way out they will have known that Africa is the new business frontier; they will have seen and observed that African governments are keen to attract investors and visitors to their countries. That is to say they will have noticed the vast business opportunities available and be convinced African economies are the next tigers.

Last, which could well be first, this is the right time for an African team to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy. It can be done. In 2002, debuting Senegal’s Lions of Teranga beat defending champion France and Algeria outfoxed and beat mighty West Germany 2-1 in Spain in 1982.

Yes, Africa’s time has come