Abstract
During the period when African countries struggled to gain independence, they embraced the ideology and philosophy of Pan-Africanism that would finally unite the continent as a single unit in the fight against Western imperialism. This struggle that began long before the 1950s can be considered as one of the most significant for people of colour worldwide. It became a time when the ‘black’ race worldwide united against a common enemy, system and policy; and perhaps the highest moment witnessed in history where Africans in the diaspora, like WEB DuBois and Africans on the continent, such as Kwame Nkrumah, achieved solidarity. Williams (2005: 174) iterates that the concept of Pan-Africanism is incomplete if it is not traced as far back as the times of slavery and colonialism where “brothers and sisters of the continent were stolen”. He goes on to highlight the critical role of African warriors like Yaa Asantewaa of the Gold Coast (today’s Ghana) and King Chaka of the Zulu of South Africa whose resistance against Western invasion of Africa was tantamount. When Pan-Africanism became the key hope for Africans, the United States of America (the New World) and the West Indies became the first to implement strategies towards liberating the black race from the bondage of slavery and colonialism. This dissertation concerns itself with 21st century Pan-Africanism, wherein it throws light on the continental political body, the African Union (AU) as well as examining the role played by two distinct ‘sons’ of the union and Pan-Africanist thought leaders in their own rights: Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa, and the late Libyan head of state Muammar Gaddafi. From 1994-2008, the dissertation examines their ideals and contributions towards emancipating the people of African descent across the world and on the continent of Africa from foreign control and domination. The study investigates if indeed Mbeki and Gaddafi contributed enough to earn the description of ‘the New Lens' of Pan-Africanism vis-à-vis defending the continent against foreign exploitation, control and domination. The reader is expected to grasp from the dissertation what new impetus Mbeki and Gaddafi caused drawing from the historical development of Pan-African activities which began as a mere concept in the London conference of 1900. One of the hosts at this conference was Henry Sylvester Williams of the West Indies. After London, Pan-Africanist movements eventually sprouted across the diaspora and Africa, particularly after World War I. The role of Du Bois ‘the Father of Pan-Africanism’ is discussed in this study. The study as well deliberates on the Pan-African Congresses and Conferences which paved the way for Pan-African ideals and philosophies among the black race globally. It examines the role of Africans like Nkrumah who became a leading African politician, nationalist and future leader by embracing Pan-Africanist ideals. Moreover, this study examines the Pan-African ideals and contributions of Mbeki and Gaddafi in detail.
M.A. (Politics and International Relations)