The OAU was established on the 25th of May 1963 when the heads of thirty-two independent African states signed the charter in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
Since then, about 21 states have joined the body with South Africa becoming the 53rd member state on the 23rt May 1994.
The organization has since been renamed AU (African Union).
The African Union (AU), previously known as OAU came into the limelight on the 11th of July 2000, following the extraordinary summit of the OAU held in Sirte, Libya.