#africastudies

[metissagesanguemisto]

Un libro che lascia il lettore uguale a com’era prima di leggerlo è un libro fallito. #bookstagram #bookporn #blackhistory #blackcivilization #africastudies

[tselimotsoane-blog]

AFRICA STUDIES JOURNAL ENTRY 2- Unpacking and understanding Pan-Africanism

My research will be focusing on the history of Pan-Africanism and its multiple definitions and concepts as expressed by African leaders and struggle heroes. It has been an interesting journey with a lot of discoveries and even more unanswered questions. My greatest challenge in the very beginning was narrowing down this topic- which I am doing as I go, and finding a new angle to the topic of Pan-Africansim. I have come to learn that a number of other scholars and researchers have carried out research on the movement. Some focusing on certain principles, others looking into the role of Pan-Africanism in the current social structure of the continent and its diaspora. Nothing is truer than the statement that “ there is probably no movement for which more conflicting interpretations have been offered than Pan-Africanism.” My findings thus far are as follows; 

The term Pan-Africanism was coined for a concept and ideal that existed in Africa long before Garvey, DuBois and other contemporaries made use of it. 

Pan-Africanism does not necessarily belong to the native Africans and more to the diaspora. 

Across all continents, people of African decent have used Pan-Africansim/ African unity/ Nergitrude as a way to combat oppression, imperialism and colonialism. In America and the Caribbean it emerged as a movement to emancipate Black people from the oppressive and segregated reality in which they lived. In Africa it was used to right the wrongs of colonialism and to initiate self-government and independence. 

Many leaders and struggle heroes evangelized Pan-Africanism modifying the main concepts to fit the cause and goal of their respective countries. 

Things like tribalism and lack of focus on the developmental and practical aspects of Pan-Africanism are why the movement has never really come to full realization. In the same breath it is unclear but also unlikely that Pan-Africanism could ever really become a reality, whether it was Garvey’s idea of returning to the roots, or Nkrumah (and others’) attempt at a United States of Africa. 

A lot is yet to be uncovered, analysed and interrogated about this movement, one thing I am certain of though is that it is a part of African history that should never be forgotten for its relentless attempts to bring freedom and unity to the people of Africa. 

xoxo 

Tseli