A CRITIQUE OF GEORGE PADMORES PAN AFRICANISM
ABSTRACT
The forcible and dehumanising acts that characterised the occupation of Africa by Western European powers became totally unacceptable to the people of Africa and in particular Africans in Diaspora. The common unity of these intelligentsia premised on their historical fate resulted in a movement christened Pan-Africanism. The fundamental task of Padmore’s philosophy of liberation within Pan-Africanism was to intellectually dynamise the movement for African freedom and self-governance. Apparently, the goal of European imperialism had been to break the dialectical movement of African history. But the ideological interest of other Pan-Africanists for Pan-nationalism to thrive gave them little concern for the continued solidarity enshrined in movement. Padmore’s dream of United State of Africa became a hard task with inexhaustible relevance for contemporary Africa. This work takes a critical dimension of Padmore’s Pan-Africanism. It constitutes a rich corpus of historical data for reflection and critical examination – a rather useful repository of sources and evidence immensely relevant for further understanding of Pan-African goals and for redressing the perennial issues of national sentiment still bedeviling the kind of unity in Africa which Pan-Africanism seeks. Africans will only know more about how best to confront Africa’s challenges through further enquiry into the efforts and experiences of those who, in their time more or less committed themselves to doing so.
CHAPTER ONE
METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
1.1 Background of the Study
Colonialism in Africa has a long history that spanned many centuries and phases. The most famous history as far as colonialism is concern is the European colonization of Africa which took place between the late 19th century and 20th century. On one hand, African continent was segmented into spheres of influence and colonies of the European powers for the sole purpose of exploitation, subjugation, humiliation and domination. On the other hand, Africans in Diaspora (of diverse origins) were faced with racial discrimination and varying systems of exploitation. While Africans themselves became slaves to the European invaders, the Europeans became masters of the continent and owners of virtually everything in Africa that was of any value. Everything good in Africa was removed and used to develop Europe. Africa began to be drained, impoverished and underdeveloped.
However, a time came when the process of colonialism in Africa came to an end for it was impossible to continue indefinitely to deprive the people of Africa of their fundamental rights. Thus, some Africandescents having acquired Western education saw the need to unite and intellectually combat the colonial dictatorship from gaining ascendency to African heritage, hence, the emergence of a movement known as Pan-Africanism. Subsequently, agitators for the freedom of this kind became known as Pan-Africanists. Their movements tend to view all Africans as belonging to a single race and sharing cultural unity. On the long run, Pan-Africanism became so popular and more effective through the undaunted effort of a Caribbean activist Malcolm Nurse, whose given name was George Padmore. Being a leading figure, Padmore became a “voice” to the whole of black race and till his death he never departed from the only one road to effective action – the organisation of the masses with the aim of achieving political freedom and restoring to Africa her lost values and identity. His main plan among others was to lay a solid foundation for other Pan-Africanists to actualise their national goals while targeting to set the pace for the realization of United States of Africa.
A CRITIQUE OF GEORGE PADMORES PAN AFRICANISM
