AHC: make Pan-Africanism more Influential in Africa

Incognito

Banned
I think everyone would agree that Pan-Arabism ideology played a key part in Middle East in 20th century and that several important Arab leaders were influenced by it, dreaming of uniting the Arab World.

I may be ignorant on this part, but it seems in contrast that Pan-Africanism was less influential and that there was no equivalent of a African Gamal Nasser or Muammar Gaddafi* who would put great emphasis on Pan-Africanism, attempted to merge with neighboring countries to form an embryo of the “United States of Africa” or some such and inspire other leaders to adopt similar rhetoric.

So the challenge here is to make Pan-Africanism as important and influential an ideology as Pan-Arabism was. How can it come about and what would the implications be for 20th century and the Cold War (if it still happens)?

*– Yes, I realized that both of them are born in Africa and are thus Africans, but they obviously saw themselves first and foremost as “Arabs” rather than “Africans”. I also realize that, yes, Gaddafi switched his rhetoric from Pan-Arabism to Pan-Africanism later on in life.
 
Given the sheer number of cultures, tribes and languages on the African continent (to the point where most African nations have several ethnic groups each, many whom don't like one another hence all the various civil wars), you may be asking the impossible.
Scratch that, you practically ARE asking the impossible.
 

Incognito

Banned
Given the sheer number of cultures, tribes and languages on the African continent (to the point where most African nations have several ethnic groups each, many whom don't like one another hence all the various civil wars), you may be asking the impossible.
To be fair, Arab culture from Morocco to Iraq is not uniform or monolithic (and a thread in Chat claimed that dialects of Arabic differ so greatly amongst Arab countries that it would be hard if not impossible for a Moroccan to understand an Iraqi) and Arabs have their share of civil wars and inter-country conflict, yet Pan-Arabism was an influential movement.
 
To be fair, Arab culture from Morocco to Iraq is not uniform or monolithic (and a thread in Chat claimed that dialects of Arabic differ so greatly amongst Arab countries that it would be hard if not impossible for a Moroccan to understand an Iraqi) and Arabs have their share of civil wars and inter-country conflict, yet Pan-Arabism was an influential movement.

Yes, but that analogy would be an argument for a Pan-Bantu movement.

A more proper analogy is that Pan-African movements are as likely influential as Pan-North America and the EU movement. Even that is pales in comparison to the differences of culture, history, religion, language and geography of peoples on the African continent.

Basically the only thing most of them have in common is that white people have treated their people's bad both historically and likely today. That really isn't enough to support a movement.

The African Union is a good start and be strengthened but nobody will take United States of Africa seriously.

Just remember that Pan-Nigeria was and remains a difficult thing and they are one of the better off nation.
 

Incognito

Banned
Yes, but that analogy would be an argument for a Pan-Bantu movement.

A more proper analogy is that Pan-African movements are as likely influential as Pan-North America and the EU movement. Even that is pales in comparison to the differences of culture, history, religion, language and geography of peoples on the African continent.

Basically the only thing most of them have in common is that white people have treated their people's bad both historically and likely today. That really isn't enough to support a movement.

The African Union is a good start and be strengthened but nobody will take United States of Africa seriously.

Just remember that Pan-Nigeria was and remains a difficult thing and they are one of the better off nation.
I never said Pan-Africanizm has to be successful (the various Arab mergers fell through after all), merely powerful & influential.

In past discussions on "United Africa" concepts, I've seen parallels drawn with India. I've seen it argued that had colonialism lasted longer in Africa, a common anti-colonial identity might have emerged similar to how Indian nationalism came about. So is there any way to change European colonial policy in Africa in such a way that it strengthens pan-Africanizm? (again, it does not have to be successful, merely a fairly widespread utopian ideology promoted by powerful African rulers)

Um, Gaddafi was pan-African if I remember correctly.
Yeah, but that was after his pan-Arab plans have fallen through.
 

Rush Tarquin

Gone Fishin'
-Marcus Garvey chooses a sensible destination for his back to Africa project (a depopulated area with less tropical disease) and the local authority accepts. The influx of African diaspora has a more supranational identity which spreads to other parts of the population.

-An Ethiopian Imperial takes Garvey's ideas seriously and supports pan-Africanism.

-America and Britain try to foster the African American and Caribbean intelligentsia who relocate to Africa to expand their soft power and, in Britain's case, to prepare local elites for post-independence.

Of course, looking at OTL, this could all just backfire horribly.
 
Pan-Africanism cannot be equated with Pan-Arabism. The latter has a common language and a common religion as two strong supporting factors. Africa cannot be compared to India also. Indians had a sense of cultural unity from long back even when India was politically divided. The spirit of African unity is a modern phenomenon that developed in the twentieth century. Pan-Africanism is stronger than only a Pan-Americanism or more unlikely Pan-Asianism.
 
Pan-Africanism is not a pan-cultural movement; it is an anti-colonial movement, and by that result an anti-western/european movement. To strengthen the Pan-African movement, you have to strengthen the anti-colonial movement.

Perhaps an alternate US decolonization policy that begins to resemble the Portuguese Colonial Wars...
 
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