The numbers of unarmed Black youth murdered with impunity by state security agents in the US continue to rise. These killings demand a pan-African response. The African Union, which officially counts the Diaspora as its sixth region, ought to come out clearly and demand an end to these murders.

The rare display of groundedness and humility by a sitting African head of state was enough to catapult Nyerere on to the path to canonization. His daring socialist experiment and the decision to leave office at the end of his term, something that remains difficult for African presidents, are significant highlights of his pro-people politics.

This year is the deadline for MDGs, and the global community is set to come up with new set of development goals SGs in September at UN summit in New York. The Addis Ababa 3rd International Conference on Finance for Development held last week laid a foundation for further conversation on how to end extreme poverty and pursue the other post-MDG goals.

Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRD–Net) has opened a call for nominations for the 2nd Edition of human rights defenders awards. The awards will honor exceptional individuals who peacefully promote and protect universally recognized rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Departments of History and Philosophy; Government, Sociology and Social Work, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados and PANAFSTRAG are pleased to issue a second call for papers for this inaugural international Pan African Colloquium to be held at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados over the period January 12-15, 2016.

African ownership of African resources is important but exposing and dismantling financial imperialism, which prevents African economies from thriving, is the crucial second stage of African liberation.

Governments, most prominently those of Sub-Saharan countries, have argued for huge tax hikes on mining, oil and gas contracts in the name of the national interest. But beyond the rhetoric, resource nationalism is a cover for a business-as-usual bias.

The pan-Africanist spirit is alive and strong, but building a solid Pan African Movement remains a big challenge – as witnessed in the Pan African Congress in Accra, Ghana, in March. A Pan Africanist political culture must be inculcated, nurtured and institutionalized throughout the six regions of the African world.

I appreciate to make your case. I am happy to hear you refer to pragmatic PanAfricanism. Whatever cannot be built piece-by-piece is a project at-risk. Only a Napoleon of sorts can build such a continental government.

Some of the hurdles to a united Africa - and I use "united" with reservation - are language/cultural diversity, dictatorial or corrupt politicians, religious extremism, and perceptions of racial divide between black and Arab Africa.

The United States of America was practically envisioned to be a unity of white, English-speaking, Christian, free-market and democracy loving immigrants. The Americans did not have as many hurdles as we Africans.

Let's be pragmatic about our future, Africa !

Saint John
[email][email protected]

While plenty of anger has been targeted at South Africa, in Kenya the Uhuru Kenyatta administration’s reactions to Al Shabaab attacks have resulted in deepening anti-Somali and anti-Islam sentiments, thereby weakening the nation’s ability to build a united and effective response to the terror group.

The xenophobia – better called Afrophobia – which broke out in South Africa in 2008 and again in 2015 is a sign of the continued existence of a deep-seated colonial mentality in this country. The ideas of pan-Africanism and the vision of a United States of Africa need to be embraced by the masses. Only by uniting the false borders will we be able to liberate ourselves for the benefit of all African people.

In the absence of representation of the Repatriate Diasporan Community at the 8th PAC in Accra, Ghana, last month, the cry for a ‘law of return’ was successfully side-stepped and instead plans were proposed to restrict involvement of repatriates to certain organisations only, thereby facilitating infiltration, manipulation and sabotage.

Cecil John Rhodes was a most odious and obnoxious man who held Black people in extreme contempt. He epitomised white racism, capitalist greed and imperialism. The university named after him should instead be dedicated to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, a man of unparalleled integrity and a consummate intellectual who devoted his entire life to Black freedom.

The rise in Black student activism must be seen as connected to larger global rebellions seeking to supplant white imposed definitions of reality with Black definitions of the world.

The Pan African Congress was held 21 years after the previous one. Its resolutions capture the Congress’s desire to re-ignite the Pan African spirit, enthuse commitment to our African identity and inject energy into the Pan-African Movement.

The courts in Burkina Faso have paved the way for a proper identification of the remains of the martyred revolutionary leader who was buried in 1987 without an official ceremony or an explanation of the circumstances of his death. His widow Mariam is demanding a broader inquiry into the assassination of the much-adored revolutionary.

Internationalists who are in agreement with Malcolm X’s internationalism and global justice commitments ought to actively support the fight for self-determination, independence and development of the labouring classes in Haiti.

Progressive literary fiction has not always been highly regarded within African literature. Ahjamu Umi makes the case for its consciousness-developing and educational properties, and argues for its wider acceptance in African societies.

February 27 marks 37 years since the passing away in the hands of the apartheid regime of the great pan-Africanist leader. His radical dedication to the total freedom, unity and prosperity of Africa ought to stir up the present generation to embrace a similar commitment.

From street hustler to powerful orator, Malcolm X’s life was cut short when he was brutally murdered in front of family, friends and supporters. Fifty years on he is still at the forefront of political debate, but his legacy as a towering revolutionary pan-Africanist with important messages for our time is not in doubt.