16. The Pan-African Pantheon: Prophets, Poets and Philosophers
Reviewer: Professor Simphiwe Sesanti
Review Publisher: Journal of Renaissance Studies
Author: Adekeye Adebajo (eds.).
Date: 15 February 2021
In 2003, Hakim Adi and Marika Sherwood published their book Pan-African History: Political Figures from Africa and the Diaspora since 1787. Fifteen years later, in 2018, Hakim Adi brought out Pan-Africanism: A History. Two years later, in 2020, Reiland Rabaka brought out Routledge Handbook of Pan-Africanism, an edited volume. In the same year (2020), Adekeye Adebajo also brought out an edited volume on Pan Africanism, The Pan-African Pantheon: Prophets, Poets, and Philosophers. What is remarkable about Adebajo’s book is not only his awareness of the above-cited titles, but his open acknowledgement of this scholarship. This enables him to demonstrate the unique contribution that his book makes to Pan-Africanism, a “political thought … that has been historically under-researched”. The Pan-African Pantheon: Prophets, Poets, and Philosophers contains short biographical essays about the intellectual thinking and contributions about of thirty-six Pan-Africanist figures.
Ms Zoliswa Ntsoko (South Africa) is the Institute’s Administrative Assistant who assists with general administration and research. She is a seasoned professional with a background in Disaster Management. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Management from Milpark Business School, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Management from Regenesys Business School. She also holds certificates in Project Management, and in Disaster Management. Previously, she has worked as a Disaster Management Specialist at the City of Johannesburg – Disaster Management Centre.
Ms Cecilia Lwiindi Nedziwe-Moyo is the Research Coordinator at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation. She previously served as a Regional Coordinator at the Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) in Zimbabwe between 2007 and 2013. She completed her master’s degree in International Studies, Peace, and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Australia as a Rotary Peace Scholar. She has just completed her doctoral studies at Rhodes University. Her areas of interest include: gender, foreign policy, regional organisations and conflict resolution.
Ms Thembeka Somtseu is a seasoned professional with a background in the textile and construction sectors. She holds a National Diploma in Business Administration from the Durban University of Technology, and studied Development Communication and Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. She worked as a corporate communications specialist for more than ten years, serving in both local and multinational companies.