African Marxism: Fundamental Boundaries, Theoretical Logic, and Historical Status

Tracing its origins from the black radical movements in the 19th century, which is interrelated with Black Marxism, African Marxism represents a synthesis of Marxism with the indigenous social characteristics of Africa. It forms a liberation philosophy of the African people with anti-colonialism and anti-racism as its core, and constitutes an important segment in the developmental lineage of Marxism. Theoretically, African Marxism is predicated on human liberation, employs decolonization and anti-racism as fundamental means, and chooses socialism as the necessary path for achieving human liberation. Walter Rodney’s concept of “decolonized Marxism in the Third World” has provided a clearer developmental perspective for African Marxism. In the context of Third World Marxism, African Marxism is a historical phase of Marxist development and also maintains a continuous link with Third World Marxism, thereby highlighting its historical status and contemporary significance.