A Dialogue on Pan-Africanism and Transformative Patriotism

This study explores an intersection between Pan-Africanism and patriotism in contemporary African politics, leadership, and civic life. While Pan-Africanism historically emerged as a movement for continental solidarity and resistance to colonial domination, its ideological resonance remains uneven across the continent, often reduced to political symbolism rather than systemic integration. Patriotism in postcolonial Africa has been co-opted by political elites to justify authoritarianism, stifle opposition, and entrench power, rather than serve as a foundation for accountable and inclusive governance. The study identifies a critical gap in how both concepts are operationalized within African politics and civic life and introduces the concept of transformative patriotism—a framework of political belonging and civic engagement. It draws on a dialogic research approach that integrates historical analysis, political discourse review, and discussions with African scholars and policy practitioners across different regions of the continent and the diaspora to conceptualize a “transformative patriotism”. Findings recommend a redefinition of patriotism as devotion to the dignity, rights, and advancement of the people, aligned with Pan-African visions of self-determination and shared prosperity. This dialogue contributes to a growing body of political scholarship on the decolonization of politics and the institutionalization of civic consciousness across Africa.