Do you know Panafricanism

Pan-Africanism is like the superhero of modern African and diaspora history. It was born during the period of anti-colonial struggles and the struggle for black identity. This movement, which has lasted for many centuries, has evolved from simple solidarity to a genuine political project aimed at uniting the entire continent. From the first pan-African meetings in the early 20th century to the African Union’s 2063 program, via emblematic figures such as Kwame Nkrumah and today’s social movements, Pan-Africanism is constantly renewing itself to meet geopolitical, economic and cultural challenges. This overview shows how this historic doctrine still influences political thought in Africa.

Pan-Africanism is an idea that comes from the slave rebellions in the New World. The rebellion in Haiti (1791-1804) started it all. This successful battle against the French inspired people to say that all black people should unite. These new thoughts coming from people in the Caribbean, like Anténor Firmin, really got the ball rolling. Then there was Edward Wilmot Blyden, who was almost thought to be the grandfather of the movement. Around the 1860s, he was talking about this idea of “African personality”, like he was saying that Africa has its own culture and history, you know?

The Pan-African meeting in London in 1900, it really changed things. Henry Sylvester Williams, who put it all together. And then W.E.B. Du Bois came out with a speech that really made a mark, about “sharing colors”. He talked about the black struggle as a struggle for everyone. These guys were already thinking about three super-important things: revaluing culture, showing solidarity with black people on the other side of the Atlantic, and having a political plan for emancipation.

During the interwar period, Pan-Africanism became firmly rooted in the realities of the continent. The emergence of the Négritude movement, led by such great names as Aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor and Léon-Gontran Damas, combined identity claims with political projects. Marcus Garvey, through his Universal Negro Improvement Association (1914), helped popularize the idea of a return to Africa, and gave birth to the first unitary symbols such as the black-green-red flag.

The Fifth Pan-African Conference in Manchester in 1945, led by George Padmore and Kwame Nkrumah, represented a major strategic turning point. The movement moved from reformist demands to immediate independence, marking the beginning of the decolonization process of the 1960s.

A number of outstanding personalities and political achievements stand out from this period. Kwame Nkrumah, as founding father, embodied the fusion of pan-African thought and action. By becoming the first president of independent Ghana in 1957, he theorized in his work “Africa Must Unite” (1963) the need for a continental government and a common currency. His partnership with Sékou Touré of Guinea and Modibo Keïta of Mali within the Union of African States (1958-1963) anticipated the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

For his part, Cheikh Anta Diop made a major scientific contribution with his book “Nations nègres et culture” (1954), re-establishing the central place of ancient Egypt in African history. His work legitimized pan-African cultural claims in the face of colonial discourse.

The OAU, created in 1963, took the pan-African project a step further by recovering the last colonized territories (such as Angola and Mozambique). The AU, its little successor launched in 2002, is digging a little deeper into integration. The famous African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), due to open in 2021! A kind of African passport, Agenda 2063 for a “somewhat integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa”. These things are somewhat hampered by persistent regionalism and economic dependence on the outside world.

Led by leaders such as Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Macky Sall (Senegal), this trend favors gradual integration through existing institutions. Reform of AU structures (based on the European Union model). Strengthening regional economic communities. South-South cooperation (agreements with China, Turkey, etc.).

Inspired by figures such as Kémi Séba in French-speaking Africa, this unofficial movement combines :
fierce opposition to French neo-colonialism (questioning the CFA franc and military interventions). Promotion of local currencies (e.g. the Eco in ECOWAS). Digital activism through platforms such as AfroBeat and Nofi Media. This movement has its roots in American social struggles (Black Lives Matter), and develops a radical decolonial discourse, sometimes tinged with anti-whiteness.

Political fragmentation continues: 55 states with mixed regimes. Border battles (e.g. Western Sahara, Somalia). The former colonial powers are still poking their noses into every corner, especially where French and English are spoken. As far as money is concerned, the continent is still addicted to raw materials (like 75% of the money they put in their pockets comes from there) and they’re being looted to the tune of $89 billion a year.

The AU “s grand plan foresees, by 2045 :
A cool market where everyone and everything circulates smoothly.
An amazing continental financial system (I’ve heard of the Central African Banana).
It’s going to be so cool, green industrialization with top-notch renewable energies.
And, above all, we want to get rid of all these funky war stories.

To make all this happen, we’ll need to swing between 600 and 700 billion dollars a year, according to the African Development Bank.

With 170 million people, a third of them in Europe, the African diaspora is putting its hand to the wheel:
Transferring over 95 billion dollars a year (that’s even more than official development assistance).
And pouring 30% of the money into tech startups (Fintech, Agritech).
Ideas like Afrobytes (a Franco-African tech mix) and the Afrochampions squad are a good example of this new pan-African economic mindset.

Pan-Africanism remains an unfinished project, torn between a mobilizing utopia and the diplomatic realities of individual states. Even if the goal of unity has led to notable progress (end of colonization, creation of continental institutions), its realization is hampered by national egoisms and the legacy of colonization. Africa’s youthful majority (60% of the population is under 25) and new technologies (mobile money, blockchain) are opening up promising horizons. The advent of a continent-wide sense of patriotism, combined with a critical reappraisal of development models, could give life to Nkrumah’s old dream of a “united Africa”. The success of the FTAA and the overhaul of the global financial system will be crucial challenges for this new stage in the pan-African project.