Page 121 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

1422 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

in the United States and specifically to take control of revival of the movement, being the “largest and most rep-
the collection of funds for the scattered Ethiopian ref- resentative Pan-African Congress yet convened” (Padmore
ugees (Zewde 2002, 206). In 1937 Malaku founded the 1972, 127). Delegates to this congress included some of
Ethiopian World Federation and a newspaper, Voice of the leading future political and intellectual leaders of
Ethiopia, whose slogan was “Ethiopia is Stretching Forth Africa and the Caribbean. At the age of seventy-seven,
Her Hands unto God” (Harris 1994, 130).The paper saw Du Bois also took an active part in the proceedings.
itself as the successor to Garvey’s Negro World, but advo- The resolutions of this congress were more radical than
cated the use of “black” instead of “Negro” as a term allow- any previous ones.They rejected all euphemisms for colo-
ing a greater sense of unity among African-Americans, nial rule, such as partnership, trusteeship, guardianship,
West Indians, Ethiopians, and other Africans. It had a and the mandate system, demanding “autonomy and
clear Pan-African perspective, stating,“We are out to cre- independence,” and the right of all colonies to be “free
ate a United States of Africa” (Harris 1994, 131). from imperialist control, whether political or economic”
(Langley 1979, 758, 760).
Pan-Africanism Political Pan-Africanism after 1945 has consisted of the
Since World War II ultimately contradictory movements for national inde-
Two important supporters of Ethiopia in Britain in the pendence and African unity. Culturally, Pan-Africanism
1930s—George Padmore (1900–1959) and T. Ras has involved a series of conferences of black writers and
Makonnen (1899/1903–197?), a name adopted by artists, held periodically since 1956, and the publication
GeorgeThomas Nathaniel Griffith in honor of RasTafari of the journal, Presence Africaine.
Makonnen)—illustrate the Pan-African connections of The political movement was led by Kwame Nkrumah
the Ethiopian and World War II movements. Padmore (1909–1972), the head of state of independent Ghana,
was born Malcolm Nurse in Trinidad and adopted his 1957–1966. He sponsored two Pan-African meetings in
new name when he joined the Communist International 1958, the Conference of Independent African States, and
in the late 1920s, but later rejected the “pretentious the more significant All-African Peoples’ Conference, the
claims of doctrinaire Communism” (Padmore 1972, xvi) latter described as the “true successor” to the series of Pan-
in favor of African nationalism and Pan-Africanism.” African congresses (Wallerstein 1967, 33).
Makonnen was from Guyana but claimed Ethiopian Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), the leader of Tanzania
ancestry. He lived in the United States, England, Ghana, from 1961 to 1985, supported the cause of liberation in
and Kenya, and acted through a plethora of personal southern Africa, playing a significant role in the Libera-
contacts with people of African descent in the diaspora, tion Committee of the Organization of African Unity
using face-to-face lobbying and advocacy in cases of police (OAU), formed in 1963, and hosting liberation move-
brutality or colonial injustices, thus exemplifying “prac- ments. He also hosted a Pan-African Congress at the
tical Pan-Africanism.” University of Dar es Salaam in 1974.This congress was
Makonnen’s business acumen enabled him to help spearheaded by African-American and Caribbean acti-
finance and organize the Pan-African Federation, formed vists who developed a consensus theme of “self-reliance,
in 1944 by the merger of several groups, including the self-determination and unity of black people throughout
International African Service Bureau that had been the world” (Abdul-Raheem 1996, 7), emphasizing par-
formed in 1937 to support Ethiopia. The Pan-African ticipation by people’s organizations and liberation move-
Federation organized the 1945 Manchester Pan-African ments rather than governments.Yet another Pan-African
Congress and continued into the postwar era, as did Congress was held in Kampala, Uganda, in April 1994.
Makonnen’s journal, Pan-Africa. By that time, the political independence of the continent
The 1945 Pan-African Congress marked a significant was essentially complete, and the congress dealt with such