Pan-Africanism and Communism

[Pirate Utopian]

are Communism and Pan-Africanism compatible?
i dont know much about pan-africanism and would nessarly call myself a pan-africanist, however im curious to know if Communism and Pan-Africanism could go hand in hand, where they clash and where they agree.

i read a speech by Kwame Nkrumah (I speak of freedom (http://www.marxists.org/subject/africa/nkrumah/1961/speak-freedom.htm)) where he said:

Individually, the independent states of Africa, some of them potentially rich, others poor, can do little for their people. Together, by mutual help, they can achieve much. But the economic development of the continent must be planned and pursued as a whole. A loose confederation designed only for economic co-operation would not provide the necessary unity of purpose. Only a strong political union can bring about full and effective development of our natural resources for the benefit of our people.

[Vargha Poralli]

No I fear for the reason mentioned in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Africanism#Criticism).I think it is more or less equal to Pan-Arabism(idealogy of baa th Party) and will fail for the same reason baathism failed i.e it is too late for a bourgeoisie revolution.

[Pirate Utopian]

but do the theories have their agreements at some points?

[manic expression]

While I don't think this directly contradicts communist thought, and is probably strongly influenced by it, it is a different direction IMO. Actually, I think that it deals with completely different questions.

Pan-Africanism asks how a continent can strengthen itself and better itself after centuries of being raped by others. Does this run against leftist thought? Not really. Does it support leftist thought (and visa versa)? In some ways, in some ways not. I guess it comes down to this: if it seeks the establishment of a socialist society (or societies), then it is compatible (and then some).

Nevertheless, being economically self-sufficient is something that leftism is not opposed to.

[More Fire for the People]

Yes.

Originally posted by "Kwame Nkrumah"
...I have explained how strong is the world position of those who profit from neo-colonialism. Nevertheless, African unity is something which is within the grasp of the African people. The foreign firms who exploit our resources long ago saw the strength to be gained from acting on a Pan-African scale. By means of interlocking directorships, cross-shareholdings and other devices, groups of apparently different companies have formed, in fact, one enormous capitalist monopoly. The only effective way to challenge this economic empire and to recover possession of our heritage, is for us also to act on a Pan-African basis, through a Union Government.

[Janus]

but do the theories have their agreements at some points?
Well, the African People's Revolutionary Party belive in a pan-African state operating under socialism.

However, Pan-Africanism is not compatible with a communist society as the later transcends national and racial boundaries.

[midnight marauder]

All Pan-Afrikanists I know call for a unified socialist Afrika. The two are completely compatible.