In the 20th century, many African leaders and political parties were engaged in a struggle for independence from colonial rule. At this time, many of these leaders and parties adopted theories of governance based on Marxist ideologies and the shared identity of Africans across borders. This theory can loosely be described as Pan-African Marxism. Chief proponents of this movement include, but are not limited to, Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress in South Africa, the SWAPO party in Namibia, the MPLA in Angola, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania and Kwame Nkurumah in Ghana. However, shortly before gaining independence or soon thereafter many of these parties abandoned the theory in favour of the capitalist democratic structure popular in the West.

In the 20th century, many African leaders and political parties were engaged in a struggle for independence from colonial rule. At this time, many of these leaders and parties adopted theories of governance based on Marxist ideologies and the shared identity of Africans across borders. This theory can loosely be described as Pan-African Marxism. Chief proponents of this movement include, but are not limited to, Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress in South Africa, the SWAPO party in Namibia, the MPLA in Angola, Julius Nyerere in Tanzania and Kwame Nkurumah in Ghana. However, shortly before gaining independence or soon thereafter many of these parties abandoned the theory in favour of the capitalist democratic structure popular in the West.