‘Back to Wakanda’ The Pan-African mission of Hip-hop

The vision of Pan-Africanism is the achievement of a unified African state of commonwealth, where all peoples of African descent can live in common with shared cultural norms and values. Pan-Africanism has existed as a political movement for three decades spanning from the 19th century, but the 21st century introduced the advancement of this movement through a cultural and aesthetic medium pioneered by the African Hip-hop generation of contemporary Pan-Africanists.

African Hip-hop artistes like Yemi Alade, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Burna boy, Asake, Tems, Wizkid and TuFace have creatively used Hip-hop as a vehicle to constitute African solidarity, but, the question remains: Is there a unified African state currently? How efficiently is Afrobeat of the 21st century establishing unity in Africa in comparison with the efforts of the early Pan-Africanists and freedom fighters?

“Music no need permission to enter your spirit” Mohbad

From a Pan-African viewpoint, Afrobeat as a musical culture has positioned itself as a means of authenticating the African identity, following the core objective of Pan-Africanism, hence, penetrating the minds of African peoples and fostering a unifying tie and interaction among Africans. The early musical voices that advocated for unity like Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Huge Masekela, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Angelique Kidjo, Brenda Fassie and Awilo Logomba etc., set the pace for contemporary artistes like Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Tems, and many others like, Busiswa, Tyla, Shatawale etc., to continue using their art for the purpose of uniting the African continent.

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In African music, Pan-Africanism serves as a cultural expression as it shapes the lyrical content and musical composition and musical expressions. Also, African music embodies musical elements that hold representations of the different regions of Africa, consumers of Afrobeat in excitement incorporate expressions like Ajeh, ghe-ghe, comot bodi jor, chee, oshey, in daily conversations. Music from Africa has evolved to be a social tool that projects the African identity worldwide, promoting unity and creating a sense of shared identity among Africans.

The activism for a unified nation through music has proven to be efficient in achieving the major objectives of Pan-Africanism; celebrating African culture, promoting unity and creating friendly bonds among Africans. Music as a universal language has resonated with Africans preaching the message of PanAfricanism and this does not only appeal to Africans but also enlightens other races about Africa and its peoples.

“Afrobeat is not just a genre, it is a way of life” Fela Kuti

Currently, there is no political entity unified by Pan-Africanism as imagined by the early Pan-Africanists, however, there is a Pan-African nation of musical imagination of which several organisations and initiatives facilitate. In the international world, African music has gained recognition and influence and pioneer PanAfrican singers like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Youssou N’Dour, Angeliq Kidjo, unto contemporary artistes like Tems, a two time Grammy winner, Yemi Alade nominated in the 2025 Grammys, Asake 2025 Grammy nominee, Burna boy and Wizkid, 2021 Grammy award winners, Tiwa Savage, first Nigerian artiste to perform at a British royal event and others in the art of music, have made a mark in the music industry, as they keep promoting cultural understanding between nations, thereby, creating and establishing unity among peoples of black descent. The evidence of this success is in the expanding genre of Afrocentric music.

Sophia-Kathrine Haruna (PhD)