While this discussion will broadly trace the history and development of pan-Africanism, it will largely focus on the impact of Marxism on pan-Africanism. 

It will begin with a discussion of the first formulation of the term pan-Africanism by Henry Sylvester-Williams to its application by post colonial leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah. This discussion will also touch on the relationship between the evolution of pan-Africanism over the 20th century and its engagement and relationship to the evolving nature of colonialism and imperialism more broadly.