PAN-AFRICANISM'S RENEWED SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CURRENT GLOBAL CONTEXT

Abstract

This paper delves into the enduring Western fantasy that has shaped the narrative surrounding Africa and Africans for the past four centuries. Rooted in European and American popular literature, this fantasy has given rise to a mythical, fantastical, and fictionalized image of Africa. It served as the foundation for European colonial rule, which was built upon the erroneous belief that Africa was "backward" and its inhabitants were "sub-human." The literature produced during this era aimed to deny and erase any semblance of civilization, culture, or humanity among Africans. Eurocentric writers propagated false images, stereotypes, and assumptions to solidify their hegemony and indoctrinate populations with the notion that Africans were "inferior," devoid of intelligence, "uncivilized," "barbaric," "inhuman," and mired in "darkness."

Historical atrocities that have plagued the Black race throughout its complex history, including slavery, colonization, racial oppression, and contemporary forms of neo-colonization and exploitation, have been incredibly advantageous to the West at Africa's expense. These events have played a pivotal role in shaping the New World, the transatlantic Slave Trade, and the extraction and exploitation of Africa's natural resources. Today, Africa remains heavily reliant on its relationship with Europe and the United States for development.

The descendants of deported slaves, once in the New World, were treated as commodities, denied basic human dignity, and subjected to lives of obedience and servitude. Colonization in Africa and segregation toward Africans in the Diaspora marked the imperialists' enduring dominance under the guise of a "civilizing mission." They invaded the African continent, introduced a new system of education, imposed colonial Christianity, expropriated land and resources, disrupted local ways of life, and reshaped cultural identities, social structures, and political systems.

This paper seeks to unravel the historical roots and consequences of the Western fantasy surrounding Africa and Africans. By examining the impact of this fantasy on the Black diaspora in Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, we gain a deeper understanding of the enduring legacies of slavery and colonization. By shedding light on these issues, we hope to contribute to a more comprehensive dialogue on race, identity, and the enduring effects of historical injustice.