The Pan-African Congress and its role in African liberation
Over the 20th century, the PAC evolved from a reformist platform led by Black intellectuals in the diaspora to a radical, African-led movement advocating political independence, economic control, and continental unity
The Pan-African Congress (PAC) was a series of international meetings that emerged from the 1900 Pan-African Conference in London, designed to challenge colonialism, racism, and economic exploitation of people of African descent.
Over the 20th century, the PAC evolved from a reformist platform led by Black intellectuals in the diaspora to a radical, African-led movement advocating political independence, economic control, and continental unity.
Early years (1919–1927): Reform and diasporan leadership
The first four congresses, beginning with the 1919 Paris meeting, focused on moderate appeals for reform and anti-discrimination measures.
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Organized by figures like W. E. B. Du Bois, these gatherings sought to influence world governments and institutions such as the League of Nations.
Key resolutions included advocating for self-determination for African colonies, protection of native populations, and more equitable economic development. Delegates were largely middle-class and favored gradual change, often avoiding confrontation with colonial authorities.
Subsequent congresses sharpened their critique of imperialism. The 1921 Brussels, London, and Paris congresses issued a "Manifesto to the League of Nations," denouncing the "outrageously unjust distribution of world income" and exploitation of African land and resources.
By the 1923 and 1927 congresses, demands expanded to include home rule, abolition of white minority domination in Kenya, Rhodesia, and South Africa, and solidarity with colonized peoples in Asia and the Caribbean.
The 1945 turning point: Radicalism and decolonization
The Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester marked a pivotal shift. Delegates were now predominantly Africans and African students or workers in Britain.
The meeting rejected the conservative reformist approach of earlier congresses, demanding an unequivocal end to colonialism and advocating strikes, boycotts, and direct political action to achieve independence.
The congress emphasized that Africans themselves should be the "primary agents of change." Key attendees, including Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, and Hastings Banda, later became national leaders in independent African states. The 1945 congress has been described as a "seismic moment" in the fight against colonial rule.
Post-independence focus (1974–1994): Neocolonialism and modern challenges
Following independence, the PAC's focus shifted to contemporary issues. The 1974 Dar es Salaam congress addressed neocolonialism and apartheid, promoting African unity and socialism while condemning racism and nationalism.
The 1994 Kampala congress further broadened the agenda to include HIV/AIDS, women's rights, globalization, and redefining "African" as a concept beyond race.
Throughout its history, the PAC grappled with internal divisions. Early debates pitted moderate assimilationist leaders against those advocating pan-African political consciousness.
The 1945 congress saw debates between prioritizing political versus economic emancipation. Later congresses negotiated tensions around neocolonialism, socialism, nationalism, and inclusive definitions of African identity.
