Pan-Africanism in Modern Times: Challenges, Concerns, and Constraints

by Olayiwola Abegunrin (Editor), Sabella Ogbobode Abidde (Editor), Olayiwola Abegunrin (Contribution by), Sabella Ogbobode Abidde (Contribution by), Elisha J. Dung (Contribution by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498535090
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	06/15/2016
Series:	African Governance, Development, and Leadership
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction, Olayiwola Abegunrin and Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
Chapter 1: The Origins of Pan-Africanism, Olayiwola Abegunrin
Chapter 2: Pan-African Congresses: 1893–1974, Olayiwola Abegunrin
Chapter 3: Pan-Africanism and the Struggle for the Liberation of Zimbabwe, Charity Manyeruke
Chapter 4: Xenophobia and Pan-Africanism in Post-Apartheid South Africa, Sechaba Khoapa
Chapter 5: Pan-Africanism and African Diaspora: A Geographic Perspective, Elisha J. Dung and Paul Erhunmwunsee
Chapter 6: Pan-Africanism in the United States: Identity and Belonging, James Pope
Chapter 7: Pan-Africanism: The Essential Then and the Critical Now in North America, Robert White
Chapter 8: Blacks in Latin America and the Caribbean: Past, Present and Future, Brenda I. Gill
Chapter 9: Blacks in Asia: Identity and Belonging, Alecia D. Hoffman and Sharron Y. Heron-Williams
Chapter 10: Islam and Pan-Africanism in the Modern World, Sulayman S. Nyang
Chapter 11: Pan-Africanism and Women: Projections and Speculations for the Future, Brenda I. Gill
Chapter 12: Sankara, Rawlings and Gaddafi: Intellectuals, Populists and Revolutionaries as Pan-Africanists, Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
Chapter 13: Pan-Africanism: The State and Status of A Movement, Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
Chapter 14: Resurgence and the New Direction of Pan-Africanism in the Twenty-First Century, Sabella Ogbobode Abidde
Chapter 15: Biography of Some Notable Pan-Africanists, Olayiwola Abegunrin
Appendix A: Declaration to the Colonial Peoples of the World

Editorial Reviews

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.

Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja

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.

H. Ike Okafor-Newsum