The concept of Pan-Africanism and its first organized mass movement began in the Diaspora. Enslaved Africans who toiled tremendously to build America, set straight the path. Their descendant like Marcus Garvey and George Padmore continued the fight.
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In the fall of the 19th
century, when the colonial powers increased their quest for control over
Africa, black leaders in America had a vision that the philosophy of Pan-Africanism could someday be mandated in the restoration of the African people and the entire
continent to where it once rested: In the glorious past, in terms of social,
political, and economic status.
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It is critical to note
that the philosophical concept was birthed in the Americas but it was long in
practice in mainland Africa. African culture and traditions such as the Ujamaa
philosophy founded by the Late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere can be promptly termed as the blueprints of Pan-Africanism both as a philosophy and a practical action.
To realize the success of Pan-Africanism as it was intended by our fore-leaders, the philosophy must be put into practical action with a definite purpose. Unfortunately, this philosophy seems to be stagnant in a swamp of inadequate awareness, where it has been overlooked and thought of as a waste of time.
Pan Africanism like any
other philosophy must be developed to its peak through its continuous practice. Africa
has been interrupted in the historical odyssey and part of its story is locked
behind the curtains of slavery, thus Africans have been detached from useful
knowledge of their past that would inspire them into the future.
Why Pan-Africanism Is Still at a Slow Start in Africa and the Diaspora?
Many of the young generations of Africans are unaware of a such philosophy. Many of our senior citizens are also making it through life without realizing how this philosophy had been practiced in Burkina Faso under Thomas Sankara, Tanzania under Julius Nyerere,
Ghana led by Dr. Kwame Nkurumah, etc.
Some key factors
hindering the progress of the development of this philosophy, to note, would include the following:
#1. Black
Peoples’ Indifference Approach Towards Pan Africanism
After centuries of colonization by the Arabs and Europeans, Africa remains to be the most devastated by the aftermath of these ordeals. One of them being disunity. Pan-Africanism is a philosophy that calls for the unity of African peoples whether at home or in the diaspora, replacing the old ethnic intolerance expressed in phrases like ‘I am a Yoruba, I am a Hutu or kikuyu or Tutsi,’ threatening inclusivity and togetherness among our people.
Unfortunately, not many
Africans of this age are aware of the said ideology. Many are caught in the middle of the cobwebs of colonization and slavery. They suffer from a deep-rooted inferiority complex that includes self-hate. It doesn't have to be by circumstances or choice, African people are forced to
conform to colonization be it physical or mental.
Poverty and
inadequate infrastructure, which have been caused by irresponsible leadership in African countries have made many African elites and perhaps future race leaders give up
on, despise and turn their back on the race. It has birthed the predominant self-hate.
Pan-Africanism calls for
unity, solidarity, patriotism, and pride among the African people individually and as a race. Sadly, African traditions and cultures have been whitewashed and made to look ugly, and most of the continent's people are made to identify with alien cultures.
It will be very difficult
to reverse the colonial damage done to African descendants when only a few are
interested in African culture and traditions and national unity expressed by
the philosophy of Pan-Africanism. Africans must love Africa and its people like the rest of
the world love its (Africa) resources
I am not an African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa is born in me – Dr. Kwame Nkurumah
African peoples who will
have given up and abandoned the struggle of every other person of African
descent, to free up their minds from the mental chains of the new millennium
enslavement will have transformed into a dangerous enemy for the development of the
continent and its people.
Scattered all over the
world, Africans are in dire need of unity and togetherness than ever before
in history. This calls for cooperation in peace and harmony amongst its people
in their independent race organizations, starting from the individual citizen.
#2. Minimal
Mainstreaming of Pan-Africanism in Learning Centers
Perhaps this is the main
reason why many African people express intolerance towards the Pan-African philosophy. Most Africans seldom know the word Pan Africanism at young ages.
They learn about it and grasp its concept, if they do at all, at a very advanced age in their lives.
Most of the major
learning centers offer no known practical study and application of Pan-Africanism. Interested Africans ought to conduct self-studies and personal
reading to fully understand the philosophy. It calls for individual Africans to
spearhead their self-education journey from scratch.
Institutionalized
education teaches what is necessary and if Pan-Africanism should be considered as necessary as
it seems to be for the redemption of Africa, then it must be taught in schools
and accepted as a key step towards self-education of African people, especially
in the continent.
Africans from tender ages must be taught of the amazing things our ancestors contributed to civilization. The people must be well informed of their
history through institutionalized education and that of self and not be left at
the mercy of westernized or Arabized yardsticks of civilizations. For as the
twig is bent so is the tree as it grows.
#3. African Leaders' Failure to Lead by Example of Pan Africanism
Leadership and governance
might compensate for the two above. African people, properly led and educated, as Dr.
John Clarke says, are the most efficient human fighting machine. Pan-Africanism and African leadership are inseparable, our leaders and elites must conduct the
issues affecting our future with an African pole of excellence.
Safeguarding Africa’s
interests should be a priority of African leadership as opposed to the racketeer
politicians who have squandered our resources and driven our communities into
ethnic clashes and any destabilization in whatever manner.
Again, leadership by force contrary to that of consent has destructed the continent and held it
hostage at the expense of dictators and authoritarian leaders with minimal
development tracks. It is past time and unnecessary.
African nationalism is meaningless, dangerous, and anachronistic if it is not at all the same time, Pan Africanism – Mwalimu Julius Nyerere
Pan-Africanism calls for an ‘Africa for Africans’ ideology, and its leadership must be committed to solving African problems in African ways and means.
African leaders who wish to enrich themselves and swell their bank accounts while giving a blind eye to the African plague of wretchedness and underdevelopment must be brought to order if we wish to realize real change for all Africans.
African leaders are the
tip of the spear in the battle for the redemption of Africa. The state of Africa
must be defined through African leaders. In line with the African Union agenda 2063, the politics, economy, and security of
Africa must aim to reposition Africa as an equal partner in the geopolitics of the
world.
The
Goal of Pan Africanism
Pan-Africanism is perhaps
the starting point of the liberation of Africa and Africans globally. The
liberation of Africa for Africans is the responsibility of Africans and its
hindrance should not be blamed entirely on the former colonizers.
Well planned, organized and executed, the philosophy of Pan-Africanism has benefits far exceeding the
pride, unity, and solidarity of the peoples of Africa it naturally carries along
with it.
The philosophy was a success in Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), where he united hundreds of thousands of Africans in the diaspora.
Under just four years, Thomas Sankara in the application of Pan-Africanism principles transformed Burkina Faso into a
functional state. African people of this civilization must remember at all
times that we are Africans and that Africa should be our business.
How old were you when you learned about Pan-Africanism and it being an ideology that calls for the unity of peoples of African descent across the globe? Kindly leave a comment below.
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