Pan-Africanism in Modern Times

For about one hundred years, Pan-Africanism—as a social, cultural, economic, political, and philosophical idea—thrived. Towards the tail-end of the twentieth century, however, it waned. But in more recent times, there has been noticeable resurgence. And as we approach the second decade of the twenty-first century, there are indications of significant transformations vis-à-vis the role and place of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Africanists. Consequently, this book offers a new, further, and better understanding of Pan-Africanism—not just from the traditional, African, and African American points of view, but also from a global perspective. It does so by offering an analysis of its early years in terms of the personalities, ideas, and conferences that shaped it; it also examines many of the factors that brought about its decline—and its eventual rebirth.Contributing to this seminal work are scholars of different but complementary styles and intellect, who deviate from the more traditional or obvious approaches. For instance, one of the chapters explores Pan-Africanism from the geographic perspective, while another examines the role and place of women in the Pan-African movement. There are also voices that advance the conversation from the regional and continental viewpoint—hence chapters that investigate the status of Pan-Africanism in Latin America, in the Caribbean, and Islam and Pan-Africanism in the modern world. Ethnonationalism and xenophobia are also part of the treatise because, increasingly, these injurious phenomena are reemerging in Africa’s landscape and consciousness. In an increasingly interdependent and interrelated world, this book also suggests that Pan-Africanism will undergo a metamorphosis: problems and challenges will be seen and tackled from the globalization and global common perspective. Pan-Africanism in Modern Times goes beyond the historicity of Pan-Africanism and examines the challenges, concerns, and constraints it faces; and also examines it from an inclusive perspective to have a broader understanding of this phenomenon and its future trajectory.

This book will ignite needed conversation about the global significance of the predicament of Africa and African descended people in the local and international imagination of continental and diaspora Africans., This book presents a comprehensive survey of Pan-Africanism, from its roots in the African resistance to enslavement and colonial tyranny by Europeans, to contemporary efforts at building African unity in the continent and strengthening solidarity with all the peoples of African descent around the world. The authors do an excellent job in documenting the struggles of black people worldwide, including those living in Asia, who are often forgotten. The book is so rich in looking at different facets of Pan-Africanism that it will enhance the teaching of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies to undergraduates, while providing new and exciting reading material to all those willing to learn more about this emancipatory movement.

Olayiwola Abegunrin is professor of international relations and African studies at the University of Maryland.Sabella Ogbobode Abidde is associate professor of political science and member of the graduate faculty at Alabama State University.