Continental pan-Africanism: the first all-African people’s conference and the struggle for Africa’s independence

Mulugeta, Daniel

Abstract

The first All-African People's Conference (AAPC), convened in Accra in December 1958, marked a pivotal moment in the quest for African autonomy and solidarity. Led by Kwame Nkrumah and George Padmore, the conference aimed to empower Africa by advocating for independence from colonial rule and asserting a distinct African voice globally. Drawing from primary and secondary sources, this article investigates the AAPC as a seminal event in the emergence of continental Pan-Africanism. It shows how the AAPC inspired hope for African agency, while also ushering in ideological and political schisms that have contributed to its ambiguous legacy. The article further contends that understanding the fluidity of Pan-Africanism requires methodological attention to its practical and political expressions. It advocates for a contextual and interpretative approach that focuses on situated meaning within historical contexts rather than adhering to a teleological definition. It argues that studying solidarity events like the AAPC provides valuable insights into the multifaceted evolution of Pan-Africanism.

Citation

Mulugeta, D. (online). Continental pan-Africanism: the first all-African people’s conference and the struggle for Africa’s independence. Critical African Studies, https://doi.org/10.1080/21681392.2024.2443407

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 16, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 10, 2025
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Journal: Critical African Studies
• Print ISSN: 2168-1392
• Electronic ISSN: 2040-7211
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21681392.2024.2443407
• Keywords: Africa, All-African People’s Conference (AAPC), George Padmore, Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681392.2024.2443407