A powerful tribute to the legacy of anti-colonial struggles and Black unity
In October 2025, the city of Manchester commemorated the 80th anniversary of the 5th Pan-African Congress, originally held in 1945 in the Chorlton-on-Medlock district. This historic congress brought together iconic figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Amy Ashwood Garvey. Together, they laid the foundations for Africa’s independence movements and demanded the right of Black peoples to self-determination.
To honor this legacy, Manchester hosted a series of cultural events, including the See My World festival and the play Liberation, written by Zodwa Nyoni and performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre. These initiatives, led by artist Tunde Adekoya, reawakened the spirit of Pan-Africanism through art, performance, and historical reflection.
The congress’s message—freedom, solidarity, and justice—resonated once again in 2025. On this occasion, the African Union and several Caribbean nations announced a coalition to demand colonial reparations and to strengthen cooperation in education, healthcare, and trade.
Researcher Dr. Shirin Hirsch reminded the public that Manchester played a central role in the Pan-African movement, thanks in part to local activists like Len Johnson and T. Ras Makonnen, who created meeting spaces for Black communities and African-American GIs during the Second World War.
As Edna, a participant of São Toméan origin, put it:“Believing in Pan-Africanism means believing in yourself, claiming your identity, and fighting for what matters.”
A heartfelt celebration in a city that was—and remains—a cradle of dignity and Black resistance.