Introduction

Scholars have provided various definitions of Pan-Africanism that take its historical trajectory, institutional structures and ideological origins into account. In a narrow sense the first Pan-African Conference in London in 1900 can be seen as its starting point, while in a broader sense Pan-Africanism’s origins can be located as far back as the late eighteenth century. Furthermore, Cold War historians, Africanists, historians of international history and postcolonial theorists have also analysed the place of African unity within the international system. They concluded outside pressures limited the African unification project. An overview of the field highlights how the role of African agency requires more research and has to be based on newly available sources and approaches, a challenge Visions of African Unity takes on.