QUESTION;
Pan African
Movement is no longer relevant in the current global context. With examples,
discuss this statement.
1. INTRODUCTION.
Ø The definitions of the terms Pan
African Movement, Social Movement and Diasporas.
Ø Historical background of Pan
Africanism.
2. MAIN BODY.
This part consists of the discussion
about the statement, ‘’Pan African Movement is no longer relevant
in the current global context ’’.The explanation about the relevance of
Pan African Movement to the current global context has been given in detail.
This explanation is basing on the aims of Pan African Movement during that time
in relation to the current global context. Upon consideration of the roles of
Pan African Movement it has been seen that the statement is wrong.
3. CONCLUSION.
In this part we are going to look on
the challenges and /or problems of the movement as it is trivial that every
important thing has its weaknesses. These weaknesses arise when it fails to
full fill its roles (significances). Apart from challenges this part also
consists of suggested procedures towards overcoming these challenges. All in
all the statement is wrong and it must be stated in a most correct way as, “Pan
African Movement is still relevant in the current global context”.
4. REFERENCES.
The explanation given has been grasped
from many references including books, Internet and speeches given by some
leaders for example William E. B. Du bois. These references are listed on the
back page.
Pan African Movement refers to a
social movement of African people and supporters against discrimination and
humiliation. A Social Movement refers to loose association of people with
common interest. It is the movement dedicated to establish independence for
African Nations and cultivating unity among black people throughout the World.
The movement was first organized by diasporas to oppose segregations, unequal
treatment between whites and blacks (Africans) Diasporas are people living
outside their home countries unwillingly (for example those who were taken
during colonialism as slaves).
The movement was originated from a
series of conferences held in London, America and other cities. The first
conference was held around 1900 in London. It was organized by Andre Sylvester
William. After this conference another conference was held in Paris (1919) in
France. This was participated by almost all black people living in Diasporas. In
1921 another conference was held. This was held in three places i.e. London,
Paris and Blushless. Also in 1923 another conference was organized by William
E. B. Du bois. In 1927 another conference was planned to be held in one of
France territories either in Tunisia or Paris but due to leadership/political inconveniences
it was held in New York. The meetings and conferences were participated by
Africans and other whites who supported black people. These whites who supported
Africans in Diasporas were called Africanize.
The early principal leader of the
movement was William E. B. Du bois who was thinking about changes in America.
He organized the fifth Pan African conference titled Manchester Conference in
Manchester (1945). Other people who contributed much in Pan Africanism are
Braden Edward, Marcos Gavin, Marcum X, Baraka Amir and Karamu Ya salaam.
Manchester conference was participated by Africans like Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Jomo
Kenyatta (Kenya) and Kamuzu Banda. The Manchester Conference was the major successful
one it raise awareness among black people. Among the issues discussed were the
right to be free, right to earn decent living, the right to express the ones
thoughts and emotions and demand for black autonomy and independence.
After Manchester conference Kwame Nkrumah
and his colleagues turned back to Africa and started struggle for independence.
Nkrumah was the first nationalist to gain independence of Ghana in 1957. After independence
of Ghana the first truly intergovernmental conference was held in Accra (Ghana)
in 1958. This conference was participated by many African leaders of that time
and Patrick Lumumba was a key speaker.
The Pan Africanist Congress(PAC)was
formed by Robert M Sobukwe and others in South Africa in 1959 as a political alternative
to the African National Congress which was seen as contaminated by non-African influences.
The founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU)
by Julius K Nyerere and others in 1963 was a milestone and the OAU soon becomes
the most important Pan Africanist Organization.
The statement, “Pan-African Movement
is no longer relevant in the current global context’’, is wrong. The relevance
of Pan African Movement to the current global context can be focused with reference
to the aims/significances of establishment of Pan African Movement. These
significances include the following.
Removing
all forms of racial segregation and marginalization of Black people all over
the World. Pan African Movement was first formed in diaspora to fight
against malgionalisation of black people all over the World. Africans in
diaspora were treated in a hush condition by Whites the situation which later
become intolerable. For example, Africans were not given the right to vote,
right to express themselves, freedom of press and other human rights also,
Africans were separated from whites in terms of social services that is, there
were schools, health centers and transport means for Africans separate from
those for whites. The services for Africans were very poor compared to those of
whites. Black people (Africans) were not allowed to mix with whites and this
was the major cause of the movement. In relation to the current global context
there are some Africans still living in diaspora till now, even other people
are still moving from Africa to abroad by their will. While in those nations
they live comfortably and are being given their rights appropriately. This is
the result of Pan Africanist Movement. Due to the role or significance of Pan
Africanism Diasporas of today manage to live in diaspora comfortably. Also Pan
Africanist Movement defends Africans in a new face as African Unity (AU) which
demands rights for blacks all over the World. Hence Pan African Movement is
still relevant to the current global context.
Decolonization
of African continent. Around 1900 most of African countries were under
colonial rule that is; only two nations (Liberia and Somalia) were independent.
All major means of production were owned by colonial masters, this caused
Africans to suffer while in their own land. Africans experienced taxation,
forced labor, exploitation and humiliation that is, politically, economically
and socially were controlled by colonialists. This caused Africans to demand
for their independence where by around 1990s all African countries were free
from colonialism (independent). For example the last African countries to gain
its independence were South Africa in 1994. Since the role of Pan Africanism to
demand for independence have been full filled that is, the whole continent is
independent now; then why Pan Africanism? After independence the role of
demanding for independence was extended to three major roles. Firstly; to
ensure each nation maintain its independence, in this aspect Pan Africanism is
still there to defend the independence of already independent countries.
Secondly; to strengthen economies of independent African countries, Pan Africanism
strengthen economies of African countries through its organizations such as AU,
SADC, COMESA and EAC . For example,
deferent African countries are free to form union and get support from Pan
Africanism in the World Market. Also it corrects the conditions given by the World
Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the third World nations.
Thirdly; to strengthen political status of African countries, for example, make
sure all African nations practice multiparty system in their respective states
hence democracy. Due to the implementation of these three roles it is clear
that Pan African Movement is still relevance the current global context.
Cultivating
unity among black people (Africans) all over the World. As early as 19th
century and before Africans were taken to Diasporas as unwillingly slaves. Most
Africans were separated from their families hence no unity among African
people. This was because Africans were not given their rights for example, the
right to express their thoughts and emotions. Africans were unequally treated, marginalized
and exploited. In rear sense Africans were under Whites control hence African
unity was restricted. When the movement began one of its role was to emphasize
and unsure African unity all over the World. At that instant Africans did not
know each other especially those living in diaspora. Pan African Movement led
to awareness in diaspora and African continent at large hence, black people in
diaspora know each other through this movement. For example, most of African
students such as Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) and Kamuzu Banda
who were schooling in Europe attended the Manchester Conference (1945) to
represent their countries. This made them to establish unity and fight against
colonialism (nationalism). Also this led to the formation of Organization of
African Unity (OAU) from there other organizations among African countries
started to be formed. For example, nowadays we have many African organizations
like SADC, COMESA, EAC and AU also African nations units with outside nations
in bases of bilateral or multilateral co-operation. This signifies that the
role of Pan Africanism to unit Africans is successful and we are moving towards
the formation of African state. It’s true to say Pan African Movement is still
relevance to the current global since due to this movement Africans now have
unity compared to the last period .Example of African leaders who advocate the
spirit of the unity and solidarity among the people of Africa is Thabo Mbeki of
Zaire.
Promotion
of the ability and focus of the black people in society transformation across
the World. During colonialism African people were dominated and controlled
in all aspects of life, this undermined Africans very much since they were
producing what they cannot consume and consume what they cannot produce. This
led Africans to be low mentally and dormant. For example, in African schools
Africans were taught simple things that is, they were given the education which
is non-helpful to them which led to stagnant in social, political and economic
aspects. Also Africans were not given the chance to rule and gain challenge of ruling,
to express their ideas and fight for their own rights. Then this created a
vision to fight against this situation hence Pan African Movement was
established so that a strong future African society can just be formed around
the World. So today Pan Africanism is there to make sure Africans are
developing especially mentally by making sure that the education given in
Africa is relevant to the needs of blacks and the whole World. Pan Africanism
led to Africans consideration in the World that is, a black people can move around
the World (from Africa to Europe) comfortably without fearing. For example, a
man from Tanzania can decide to work in America or Europe. This is because the
education given in Africa and in developed nations is almost the same different
from before Pan African Movement. Hence the relevance of Pan Africanism can be
seen in this particular significance.
To
challenge unpopular capitalist, “New World Order”. Represented by
International Monetary Fund (IMF), The World Bank (WB) and none recently by
North American Free Trade (NAFTA). When Pan Africanism started economic gap
between Africa and developed countries were big, this was due to exploitation
of Africa by developed nations (western countries). For example; slave trade
which was conducted between Africa, America and Europe made the wide gap
between economic development of Africa and developed nations. This made them to
develop the monetary institutions since they have good economic base. So to
ensure that white dominate and exploit Africans very well conditions are given
to African countries so as to get loans from those institutions. The role of
Pan Africanism is ensuring that the conditions given are not too hard to
developing countries so as they can develop. It has made some countries to
afford these conditions given by unpopular capitalist hence it is relevance to
the current global context.
Promotion
of peace and security.
Pan African Movement has helped most of African nations towards their peace and
security. It helps African nations which enter into wars for example; it has
succeeded to resolve the conflict in Burundi, Darfur and Somalia. Also it plays
a big role in maintaining good security and good relation between Africa and
Western countries. Hence it is true that this movement is still relevant to the
current global context.
Preservation
of African culture. Pan Africanism still fighting to the preservation of
African culture. African culture is faced by many challenges in this global
context hence there must be an organization to ensure its preservation. Pan
Africanism is there to make sure good wearing style, food style, and
preservation of African taboos.
Pan
Africanism is emphasizing for creation of employment. Most of youths in
this global context have no works. They stays in streets without anything to do
because either of their level of education or due to scarcity of works. This is
because the World have been changed from that of the previous time where
working process have been simplified due to existence of globalization. For
example, the discovery of computers and other machines has led to scarcity of
work because the work to be performed by ten people can only do by just one
person. Pan Africanism is trying to emphasize creation of alternative works so
as to help in development of African continent. For example, Pan Africanism
emphasizes entrepreneurship and encourages formation of economic integration
where people get works through this integration.
From the above discussion it should
be clear that Pan African Movement is relevant in the current global context.
However, in full filling its duties Pan African Movement face some challenges
and problems like corruption, Terrorism, Selfishness; some African leaders do
not want to move out of power. For example, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
has been into power since independence (1980). Other challenges are,
Neo-Colonialism, Assassination of Pan Africanist leaders and Poor means of communication
(poverty). For example, some meetings fail to be conducted because of poor
communication between the participants. All in all the major challenge/problem
of the movement is that it has remained to be the movement for elites (leaders)
and not for all Africans.
Since the movement is seen to be of significance
to Africans of today it must be strengthened so as to overcome its challenges.
The efforts towards strengthening Pan African Movement include the following. Firstly,
improving leadership system; the movement must be for all Africans and not only
for educated people (leaders). Secondly, Fighting against Neo-Colonialism; this
is an indirect colonialism so to make the movement more efficient and
significant it must be minimized if not eliminated. Thirdly, Education to the
mass; most Africans of the current global context are less aware about Pan
Africanism(the movement is much known to educated people only), so education
must be given to all Africans especially those living in villages to make them aware about their
rights and their value in the whole World. Fourthly, removing all selfish
leaders who do not want to move out of power like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
Implementation of these suggested solutions will make the movement stronger
enough and more relevant in the current and to the future global context.
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