Introduction

Pan-Africanism is a doctrine or ideology which seeks for the unification of Africans towards political and economic liberation. Nonetheless, the impression formed on the concept of Pan-Africanism has over the years been derived from the socio-economic, cultural and political events surrounding the continent.

In the late 19th Century, the term Pan-Africanism connoted a movement of African slaves in Caribbean who sought to unite their colleagues to fight against slave trade and racial discrimination . In the middle part of 1900s, the movement has shaped its goal from a fight against slavery to a political movement for the liberation of Africans from colonial dominance and followed by the political consolidation of the independent states. In this modern era, the goal of Pan-Africanism is to push for the economic independence of Africa through regional integration and cooperation.

All the same, even though the objectives of Pan-Africanism have run with trending happenings within the continent, the ideology has never changed that is to march Africans both within and outside the continent (diasporas) towards unity.

Unfortunately, over past years, the march towards that unity has seemed to be steadier; a dream as opposed to reality. A dream of economic prosperity in the mind of almost all the head of states and international regional bodies in Africa, when and how it will finally be actualized, only God knows.

With the economic objectives at hand not seen much significant success, most black people of Africa (both indigene and the diaspora) have forgotten the whole essence or purpose of Pan-Africanism, only associating the ideology with those historical events which took place from the late 19th Century to the middle of 1900. Instead of the name of Pan-Africanism implying its present objective recounted (i.e. its economic objectives), the name rather gives the impression of its past objectives that is the political battle won against slavery and colonialism.

And as such, the citing of the word ‘Pan-Africanism’ only brings the fond memories of the historical victories won by its militants of the late 19th Century and the middle of 1900. Counting likes of Edward Wilmot Blyden, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyere, Patrice Lumumba, Cheikh Anta Diop America’s Luther King, Malcom X, Haile Selassie 1er, instead of inspiring or encouraging Africans to work towards its current objectives, economic development.

Not only is the impression formed on Pan-Africanism not reflecting its current objective, its real meaning and the name itself is dying gradually out of the continent especially among the younger generation in Africa. As popular as the name Pan- Africanism was in the late 1950s counting down to the early 2000s, same cannot be shared today. Today, many young Africans do not even know what Pan-Africanism all is about.
The appalling depreciation of the concept of Pan-Africanism can be narrowed down to the erosion of core values which ignite the spirit of Pan- Africanism. And these core values are patriotism, selflessness, fraternity, discipline, integrity, honesty, justice, fairness, respect for the dignity of the individual, groups, and communities, compassion, equality, diligence, and godliness through exemplary leaderships. Those are fabrics or framework that make up Pan-Africanism of which the young people are currently calling for.

Unfortunately, that call by the masses has been unheeded to by the leaders of the continent. Instead of a response to the call of the masses on the said core values, the conventions put in place by the leaders and the fathers of the continent, has been such that one needs to fight against these core values before he or she can survive. The trend is that it is those who lives on principles against Pan-Africanism that survive and lead the continent. Those who militates for the concept becomes prey for those in charge of the affairs of the continent; the anti-Pan-Africanists.

To be a prey or to prefer to enjoy one’s life and goods, that is the choice put by today’s convention on the table of the coming generational leaders of African. The choice is obvious and that is what is swallowing up the concept of Pan-African, which I would espouse more in the next article: Pan-Africanism, what it ought to be: a living concept.

Written by: Lord Fiifi Sampson

The African Union, legal and Institutional framework: a manual on the Pan-African organisation, 2012: Chapter 1 Brief Historical Overview of Steps to African Unity.