Pan-Africanism is the Answer
“It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.”
- Kwame Nkrumah
Pan-Africanism must be our aim, goal, intention, purpose, and objective. It is the guiding principle to which we as African people are to abide by if we are to ever see freedom. Pan-Africanism is defined as the total liberation and unification of Africa under scientific socialism. A thorough study of history will bring forth the “African solutions” we need to solve the many problems that plague us as a colonized and exploited people. In Ancestor Kwame Ture’s speech entitled Pan-Africanism, given at Morehouse College in 1970, he says, “We are divided fighting ourselves merely because we don’t know where we’re going or what we want.” This division is a direct result of our neglect to study. Now, to be clear, this is not to disparage any of our people. It is the job of those who study to impart upon our people the importance of study. We must understand that we cannot call ourselves Pan-Africanists if we do not study. In fact, Kwame Ture himself once said in a different lecture: “In order to be a Pan-Africanist, one must study!” As Africans, it is our responsibility to study our people, our history, and our conditions with the intention to utilize the knowledge gained from study to advance the interests of the masses of our people.
I am a Pan-Africanist, which means it is both my belief and my stance that Pan-Africanism is the only answer to the organization, salvation, and ultimate liberation of all African people. I will live and die by the principles of Pan-Africanism, devoting my life to teaching our people what Pan-Africanism is, why it is the answer, and how to go about implementing it in our daily lives in order to change our condition. The principles of our ideology are quite simple: capitalism is the enemy’s economic system and socialism is the economic system we need; our movement must have a bottom → up mass character, meaning we do not gain progress if the masses do not gain progress; and finally, all African people belong to our African nation. With these basic principles, we can build up the organizations and institutions we need to advance our interests and change our conditions.
The Pan-African Congress is a critical period of our radical organizing history that needs to be studied thoroughly. George Padmore, a pioneer of Pan-Africanism, wrote a brilliant declaration that was delivered at the Fifth Pan-African Congress, held in 1945 in London. The document, entitled “Declaration to the Colonial Workers, Farmers, and Intellectuals”, is one of the most important documents in our history. He writes, “All colonies must be free from foreign imperialist control, whether political or economic... The Fifth Pan-African Congress therefore calls on the workers and farmers of the Colonies to organise effectively. Colonial workers must be in the front of the battle against Imperialism... Today there is only one road to effective action - the organisation of the masses.”
May we follow the brilliant teachings of our Ancestors in our fight to organize and free our people, with Pan-Africanism as the weapon we wield!
Africa will be Free!
Makonnen Tendaji, ABC Political Education Director
