- 1884-1885: The Berlin Conference, also known as the Congo Conference, was held to divide up Africa among European colonial powers. This event sparked outrage among African intellectuals and led to the development of early pan-Africanist ideologies that focused on unity, self-determination, and liberation.
- 1900: The first Pan-African Conference was held in London, convened by Trinidadian lawyer Henry Sylvester Williams. This conference brought together delegates from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States to discuss issues of racial equality, colonialism, and the advancement of people of African descent.
- 1919-1920: The Pan-African Congress was held in Paris, organized by W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and other prominent pan-Africanists. This congress adopted a resolution calling for African self-determination, independence, and the creation of a united Africa.
- 1930s-1950s: Pan-African ideas continued to gain momentum in the decades that followed, with the rise of independence movements in various African countries. Pan-Africanist leaders and activists played a critical role in mobilizing support, organizing protests, and advocating for the rights and self-rule of African people.
- 1963: The Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established as a continental body representing the newly independent African states. The OAU's charter expressed the principles of unity, solidarity, and cooperation among African nations.
Throughout this period, pan-African ideas were disseminated through conferences, publications, and intellectual networks, as well as through the work of political leaders, activists, and cultural figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, and Léopold Sédar Senghor. The spread of pan-African ideas contributed to the growing sense of African identity and unity, and played a significant role in the eventual decolonization of Africa.
