

Definition of Pan-Africanism

Pan-Africanism is a philosophy and movement to unify all native Africans and people of African heritage. It sets aside cultural differences in the struggle against slavery, racism, and colonialism. Pan-Africanism contains a diverse range of political movements, but these movements share a common goal of promoting equal rights, self-government, and a recognition of shared experiences. Pan-African political movements gained momentum in the 19th and early 20th centuries, spurred on by European colonization of the African continent. The first Pan-African Congress met in 1900, followed by five other conferences with a gradual increase in focus on independence from colonial rule. In post-colonial years, Pan-African political movements have largely given way to competing national interests.

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