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Abstract
This paper critically examines the origin of Pan-Africanism and various decolonization projects to reconstruct African identity and destiny battered by slavery and colonialism and the dynamics of their aftermath. The underlying principle of these celebrated pan africanists is captured in the cliché 'united we stand, divided we fall' as unity stood out as one of the hallmarks of these pan africanists and proponents of decolonization. The extent to which these projects were successful is central to this paper within the context of how these efforts have been able to change the course of development across Africa. Such reconstruction of decolonization ideology in Samir Amin's view is the vibrant force that enables a people to define their existence and all they do in that existence. Central to this project is the question of development which quite ironically was the orchestrated raison d'etre projected by the apologists of the colonial system that the need to develop Africa is a justification to colonize the continent. Though the veracity of this claim left much to be desired, they had contended that it was the duty of the higher civilization to conquer the lower civilizations so as to bring prosperity and progress to all parts of the world. Such declarations were often couched in such racial phraseologies as the "civilizing mission" or the "white man's burden", as held by some Europeans. This paper uses the analytical and critical tools of philosophy to review the pan African and decolonialization efforts in the light of their vision, aspirations and successes. The paper concludes amongst other matters that words should be matched with actions and commitment.
Keywords: Pan-Africanism, Decolonisation, Africa, colonialism
Afrika'da Dekolonizasyon ve Pan-Afrikanizm
Özet
Bu çalisma, Pan-Afrikanizmin kökenlerini, kölelik ve kolonilesme ile yipranmis Afrikali kimliginin ve kaderinin yeniden insasi için çesitli dekolonizasyon projelerini ve bunun sonucunda meydana gelen dina- mikleri incelemektedir.Bu meshuir pan-afrikanist ve dekolonizasyon destekçilerinin dayandigi temel prensip 'birlikte ayakta duruyoruz, ayri- lirsak düseriz' klisesiyle birlikte karakterize edilmistir. Bu projelerin ba- sarisinin boyutlari, bu çabalarin Afrika'daki gelisimin seyrini nasil de- gistirdigi çerçevesinde ele alinarak çalismanin temel noktasini olustur- maktadir. Samir Amin'in bakis açisina gore, dekolonizasyonun yeniden insasi ideolojisi, insanlarin varoluslarini ve bu varolusta ne yaptiklarini tanimlamalarina olanak saglayan en itici güçtür. Bu projenin temelin- de, ironik olarak, Afrika'nin...