Reimagining Pan-Africanism: Continuity and contestation in the 21st century

Pan-Africanism as a movement has a long and contested history, both on the continent and in the Diaspora. The movement, depending on one's geographical location, historical linkages, and ideological orientation, represents hope and an opportunity for African people to live a liberated and dignified life. However, the movement is divided into segments that agree, disagree, and openly oppose one another, thereby minimising its overall impact. This study interrogates the evolution of Pan-African ideas, diverging positions and critical intersections, which are paramount to understanding the current conjuncture of the movement. Grounded in critical moments of the movement, this talk interrogates contemporary continuities and contestations and offers suggestions for the future direction of the global Pan-African movement.

Mjiba Frehiwot is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana. She is currently a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) at the University of Stellenbosch. Dr Frehiwot researches, debates, and thinks deeply about Pan-African consciousness and how to decolonise and re-Africanise knowledge production in Global Africa. Her primary research focuses on Pan-Africanism, African political thought, and social movements in Global Africa with a focus on Ghana, Tanzania, and the United States. Dr Frehiwot has been engaged in several funded projects that centre on decolonisation, African Agency, and Pan-Africanism. She recently released her first film titled "Umoja: Africa Must Unite Now”. She is the editor-in-chief of the African Evaluation Journal and is an associate editor with Feminist Africa. Dr Frehiwot is the Treasurer of the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA). She has published several chapters, journal articles, special issues, and edited volumes.