W. E. B. Du Bois’ Africa

W. E. B. Du Bois was one of the leading figures of Pan-African thought and activism in the twentieth century. As a sociologist, Du Bois wrote much about the historical and social circumstances of African Americans while often acknowledging the African historical background of much of African American, or Negro, culture.

In 1946, Du Bois published The World and Africa, which was a culmination of previous attempts at penning a narrative of African history beginning with his 1915 publication The Negro. In this work, he included the social-historical experience of African Americans within the continuity of African history.

This book delivers for the first time a comprehensive Afrocentric investigation and critique of Du Bois's writings on African history. It argues that while Du Bois presented a strong critique of the Eurocentric construction of African history at the time, many of his descriptions and arguments about African people and history were flawed with interpretations that projected the cultural subjectivities of Europe.

Further, while Du Bois rightfully presents the historical relationship between African Americans and Africa as a justification for Pan-African activism, this book contends that Du Bois's failure to centre African culture instead of race leads to superficial justifications for Pan-African unity.