The False Promise of Pan-Africanism

By Nokrach, O. (2025)

The Rotten Core of Pan-Africanism

From its inception, pan-Africanism was built on a shaky foundation, one rooted not in shared values or interests but in skin color and a romanticized, artificial notion of “African culture.” Rather than fostering genuine unity, it papered over deep-seated ethnic, cultural, and political divisions under the guise of solidarity.

After World War II, Pan-Africanism became a rallying cry across colonized African territories. Its central appeal lay in opposing colonial rule through a shared racial identity, conveniently ignoring the immense diversity of languages, customs, histories, and political interests among Africa’s people. The goal, independence from colonial powers, justified this oversimplified narrative. But the cracks began to show immediately after the flags were raised and new national anthems were played.

Independence Without Unity

Once independence was achieved, the lack of a genuine, cohesive cultural foundation led to inevitable fragmentation. The dream of Pan-African unity quickly unraveled. Tribalism, sectarianism, and competing power interests surged to the forefront. Far from fostering harmony, most post-colonial African governments relied on repression, coercion, and patronage to keep their fragile states intact.

Modern African governments often function more like oppressive regimes than democratic institutions. Their survival increasingly depends on the suppression and elimination of dissent.

A Cycle of State Violence

The brutal truth is that many African states kill to maintain power. This pattern is not new. Today, we see it playing out vividly:

• In Sudan, the government bombs its own capital with military aircraft.

• In Ethiopia, the state has used starvation and drone strikes against its own populations in Tigray and now faces revolt from the Amhara. Once allies, now targets.

• Across the continent, similar cycles of repression unfold, often justified by the need to preserve a fragile national unity drawn along colonial borders.

An Abusive System, Not a Brotherhood

Pan-Africanism, as it stands today, functions like a dysfunctional polygamous marriage where co-wives take turns being abused by a tyrannical husband. When one group is under attack, others turn a blind eye, until it’s their turn.

By insisting on maintaining colonial-era borders and imposing a false, monolithic “black identity,” Pan-Africanism has failed to deliver justice, peace, or prosperity. Instead, it has entrenched a system of state violence, ethnic manipulation, and endless cycles of suffering.

The Way Forward?

It is time to critically re-evaluate the myths that sustain Pan-Africanist ideology. Genuine progress in Africa will require moving beyond surface-level identity politics to address structural inequalities, local autonomy, and historical grievances.

Read More: Why did Pan-Africanism fail?