"Pan Africanism is an idea which is impossible to achieve" Discuss (UNEB-l997 April)

Possible Interpretation:

The candidate is required to give and explain the origin and development of Pan Africanism plus its classical meanings. Give and explain the problems or obstacles to the full or partial realisation of Pan Africanism. Achievements of Pan-Africanism must also be given and explained with examples. A good student must indicate a standpoint in the introduction and a conclusion.

Possible Points to Consider

Pan Africanism can be taken to mean an intellectual movement of blacks in Africa and outside Africa in a joint effort to fight slavery, racism, and foreign domination and exploitation of the black race.

Pan Africanism is at the same time an expression of the sense of unity ALL black people everywhere in Africa, North America, Caribbean, West Indies and Europe. In this respect Pan Africanism stresses the value and need for racial solidarity of all the blacks against the whites who exploiting their labour, mineral wealth as well as segregating them in higher institutions of learning, recreational facilities and Public streets. Black Americans like W.E.B, duBios started this, and West Indians George Padmore and Marcus Garvey.

From the historical perspective Pan - Africanism referred to a Negroes struggle for self-recognition in America, Jamaica, and Asia. It was started as early as 1900 as an Independent active movement of Negro-Americans who wished to re-establish their attachment to the African continent.

They wished to trace their origin and establish a bond with Africa.

Basically from 1900 - 1940s not much of Pan Africanism was upheld in Africa. For Africa was still under colonial rule like wise Asia. So most of the activities of Pan Negroism or Pan Africanism were celebrated from America not until 1945 when the 5^th Congress Was held at Manchester England that Africans began to participate. This constituted a turning point in the growth of Pan Africanism

Its Weakness or Limitations or Short comings of Pan Africanism are examined below. A critical judgement of Pan Africanism as a movement and its activities reveals that though it has not fully achieved all the stipulated objectives it has been a failure, to a small extent. This extent of short comings compared with the bulk of her achievement is enough to show that Pan Africanism as an idea is not impossible to achieve as evidenced by the different achievements that are:

Pan Africanism movement activities led to independence of Africa for example West African students union (WASU) struggled to see Italy out of Ethiopia, West Africa independent and the entire Africa. However, after gaining independence African countries were divided in their attitude towards African unity due to differences in colonial experience and postcolonial political ideologies.

Well as Nkrumah or Key player in Pan Africanism while in Africa or outside Africa planned to build African unity from top to bottom by establishing The United States of Africa. His view was 'opposed by other Pan Africanist like Nasser of Egypt, Azikiwe of Nigeria as too radical for them they preferred to build Pan Africanism from bottom to Top. This was disunity hence limited Pan Africanism.

The Algerian war of independence 1954 - 62 further split the unity of post colonial Africa. Radical states like Ghana and Egypt supported FLN against-.French-, rule in Algeria, Unfortunately French colonies in Africa were less critical for French existence in Algeria. This was a limitation in African unity (Pan Africanism).

Though the Nationalist at Manchester had struggled to establish unity in Africa, on return to Africa many of them like Nkrumah of Ghana 1945-57, Julius Nyerere of Tanganyika 1945 - 61, Kenyatta of Kenya 1945 -1963, Banda of Malawi, etc concentrated on the liberation of their own territories and ignored Fan Africanism. In the years stated above when the had got independence that they joined others to fight foreign domination, others like Kamuzu Banda Malawi even after independence refused to. fight apartheid in South Africa,

Disunity was also portrayed in the Congo crisis of 1960-65 where different Africa countries supported Tshombe while others like Egypt were pro - Lumumba.

By 1961 Pan Africanism had not taken root in Africa even amongst the intellectuals. For we see African countries ganged up in roughly ideologically opposed groups i.e.-the radical Casablanca group and the conservative Monrovia group and liberal Brazzaville.

In 1963 it is these groups under the auspices or meditation of Nkrumah that formed OAU. OAU was formed to enhance unity in Africa. However, unity with the organisation was not perfect. Many states have not surrendered all their powers to the supra - National body OAU. The OAU is simply a consultative body for co-operation among member states. This makes Pan - Africanism more theoretical than a practice.

French imperialism in Africa still haunts despite Pan Africanism attempts towards unity. From 1963 OAU was very active fighting British imperialism in Southern Rhodesia and apartheid in South Africa. However, French speaking countries though members to OAU viewed South Africa as an area of less significance.

Economic Integrations such as East African Community, ECOWAS, SADC, and COMESA have been formed to enhance economic strength and unity in Africa. However, African economies are still weak and dependent on foreign markets and neo- colonial loans and grants.

Much as the bulky of Africa is illiterate pan Africanism still limits it self to the black intelligentsia. The ordinary masses are not involved. The elites despise the masses and therefore Pan Africanism is not fully Africanized since the majority are left out.

The huge side of the continent makes pan Africanism almost, impossible to achieve.

The Heterogeneous nature of African population. This hinders unity due to tribal and racial factor

Interstate communication either by media or roads or Railways or water is limited due to poor communication. So Unity cannot be attained herein.

Variation in political culture and ideologies this has not only killed economic integration like EAC 1967 - 77 but diluted the taste of pan Africanism in Africa,

The variation in economic levels of development of Pan Africanism

Interstate-conflicts undermine the value -and practice of Pan Africanism. There is no way Uganda will pretend to be united to Congo, Sudan and Rwanda yet they are fighting each other time after time.

The biggest setback to realization of Pan Africanism is Neo - colonialism. Creating political and religious conflicts ending into civil wars.

Corruption that is reigning amongst the African civil society is a big setback to Pan African creating disunity between the corrupt and those that are not.

The reign of Terror and torture in Africa I960 - 1970s was a big setback to the full realization of Pan Africanism. In Uganda 1971 - 79 Amin was butchering people 1972 Amin expels Asians. This weakened the EAC up to 1977 when it finally collapsed. Abacha was no exceptions just like Halle Sellasie and Habyarimana another breed of dictators.

On the other hand Success/ significance or achievements of pan Africanism. Well as Pan Africanism has some shortcomings it has achievements too (refer to the topic)

Conclusion: Therefore to assert that Pan Africanism as an idea is not achievable would be misleading and over shadowing its practical achievements like restoration of African dignity and independence. None - the - less like any organisation it had some limitations, which though present cannot be used to fully deny the fact that Pan - Africanism i.e. the idea and practice are achievable in Africa and beyond.

Assess the achievements of the Pan African Movement since 1945.

A student is expected to define PAM and its objectives give and explain the achievements and failures of Pan African Movement since 1945. Stand point required.

Points to consider

Pan Africanism can be taken to mean an intellectual movement of blacks in Africa and outside Africa in a joint effort to fight slavery, racism, and foreign domination and exploitation of the black race.

The movement had the following objectives.

1. End slavery

2. Achieve African dignity

3. End colonialism

4. Return of Africans from the diaspora

5. Create unity among Africans

6. Seek for compensation from Europeans for evils committed in Africa

7. Fight neo colonialism.

The achievements were as follows Ended slavery, Achieved black African dignity, Gained independence, Return of blacks from diaspora, Created unity worldwide ie blacks and Arabs, black and Asians, Birth of OAU, Held many conferences, Formation of regional bodies eg Ecowas, Formation of African development bank, Solved many conflicts in Africa, Two Africans have been Secretary Generals of UNO namely Kofi Anan from Ghana and Boutrous Ghali from Egypt, Destroyed racist regimes in Zimbabwe, South Africa etc, Condemned coups and assassinations in Africa, Defended African culture, Trans African Highway project Mombasa to Lagos, Set up African Union in 2001 On the other hand give the failures of the PAM since 1945 and then conclude with your stand point.