To you what is the basis of Pan-Africanism?
Posted: Sunday, January 2, 2005

"To you what is the basis of Pan-Africanism? Is it national self-interest or a powerful call to Black unity?"

By Ayinde

It is not either\or. It is about self-interest AND extending to other Africans and people in general who share or are interested in learning our values, locally and internationally.

Black unity is primarily about developing consciousness of our common African human origins as well as common identity and values that serve the best interest of us all. This also allows us to identify with the root causes of problems, and it further allows us to develop the correct focus and order for realizing justice. In doing this we will have to co-operate with others to share ideas, values and skills.

Africans have to take responsibility for their conduct immediately (where they are). This mobilizes and develops people and resources within their communities so they can bring more to the global movement.

It seems as if some are waiting on a sudden mass movement of Diasporan Africans to march off to Africa. I am saying that this body of Africans should be about people developing consciousness and skills, reaching out and making lasting ties to the wider community. Continental Africans also have to learn about Diasporan Africans so we can build on mutual respect.

It is quite easy for people to fake doing - claiming to be waiting to go back to Africa - while only paying lip-service to African causes here and now. People have to become better informed and set good examples, so more people around them will see the benefits of becoming involved. They have to develop personal and work ethics, business and other skills, while continually informing themselves. This is how it grows. Pan-Africanism is supposed to be about the development of individuals, all Africans and ultimately all people who choose to learn from the ideas. It is not just about Africans on the continent of Africa. The call for Black co-operation starts from right where we are. It takes conscious individuals to make a powerful Black body.

It is no use being a thief, deceiver, murderer, wasteful, with no working skills, and waiting for some day to be suddenly placed in a perfect state. African development allows individuals to personally improve while working for the benefit of the collective. The ideas of Pan-Africanism are supposed to be about individuals taking responsibility for informing themselves, developing resourcefully and extending outwards. Of course much of this can be done simultaneously, but really, people will still have to get informed and act on it where they are now, or else they are hypocrites who will 'learn' better values now and wait to put it into practice some other time and place.

I have already commented countless times about the role of Western powers in destabilizing Africa and African movements. Now I am specifically speaking about Africans taking responsibility for THE PART they play in allowing these western interests to destabilize us/them. It is not ALWAYS about western powers killing off leaders, or foreign armies marching on people. Much is related to the unreasonable western tastes (including greed), which many Africans have acquired. Much is related to past and present naïveté. The west is PART of the reason for the problems in Africa. Many Africans who find themselves in desperate situations have to also examine the choices they made. They have to examine what information they were acting upon, and then get better informed.

Africans on the continent can also seek help from more informed Diasporan Africans who have experience and examples of success. 

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