Foto: Balima Boureima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images/The Conversation

The Franco-Beninese activist Kemi Seba, leader of the NGO Urgences panafricanistes, has in recent years become an influential figure among young Africans, amidst a growing pan-Africanist movement. He has stood out for his harsh criticism of the relations between France and Africa, which led to the revocation of his French nationality. Christophe Premat has studied political discourse in Francophone countries, with a particular focus on identity politics. He explains to "The Conversation Africa" the reasons behind Kemi Seba’s rise

Who is Kemi Seba?
Kemi Seba describes himself as an ideologue leading the NGO Urgences panafricanistes, promoting economic and political practices that support Pan-African sovereignty. An anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist activist, he has been living in Benin for several years. After facing experiences of racism in France, he was convicted for anti-Semitic remarks and also served a prison sentence. He then turned his focus toward Africa, where he continues his fight for the emancipation of Black people.

How did he gain recognition?
Kemi Seba is an activist committed to spreading his message to African and Afro-descendant populations. His book Supra-négritude, autodétermination, antivictimisation, virilité du peuple (2013) is both an autobiography and a self-defense manual against racism. He stands out through spectacular actions aimed at making an impact and fighting against the discrimination faced by Black populations.

Since the 2010s, he has taken on the role of a spiritual guide, dedicated to defending Black communities. He recently burned his French passport, which led to the revocation of his nationality by the French authorities.

In the 2000s, he had ties with radical movements like the Nation of Islam, which at the time supported positions advocating Black supremacy. However, over time, he adopted a more ethno-differentialist approach, based on the idea that ethnic and social groups have their own history and specific characteristics. His harsh criticism of certain African regimes has led to travel bans and even periods of incarceration.

What defines his Pan-Africanist thought?
His stances, such as his opposition to the CFA franc and his calls for the repatriation of African diasporas, have strengthened his influence within Pan-Africanist circles. Kemi Seba develops a radical Pan-Africanist philosophy, which he outlines in his book Philosophie de la panafricanité fondamentale (2023). Unlike traditional approaches to Pan-Africanism, which aim for the unity of African peoples and their descendants, he is one of the few thinkers to introduce the term “Pan-Africanity”, emphasizing a return to ancestral roots.

In reality, he draws from a conservative Pan-Africanist repertoire with an almost exclusive focus on the identity of the Black subject. His vision is based on a total rejection of the capitalist West, which he considers a symbol of spiritual and moral decay.

Following in the footsteps of the Senegalese historian Cheikh Anta Diop, who studied the first Black civilizations, Kemi Seba advocates a return to ancestral African spirituality, which he sees as essential for Africans to regain their dignity and autonomy. His radical project envisions the creation of a federal state for all African peoples, the “United Quilombos of Kemet”, with “KMT” being an acronym referring to Black peoples.

The term “quilombo” refers to the maroon communities formed by escaped slaves who preserved an ancestral way of life. His cosmogony draws on the legacy of ancient Egypt, which he sees as a model of stable spiritual governance.

What impact does his discourse have on young Africans?
Kemi Seba’s message resonates strongly with African youth, particularly those who feel marginalized by neocolonialism and persistent inequalities. He inspires many young people with his calls for Black pride and resistance against economic imperialism, represented by institutions such as France and the European Union.

Through his use of social media (YouTube, Facebook) and interviews with alternative media in Francophone Africa, he mobilizes young people around African sovereignty and the need to create a political and economic system independent of Western influence. In Cotonou, he has also initiated solidarity-based businesses that sell only products made in Africa. He also emphasizes values of masculinity, embodying a sort of Francophone Malcolm X.

What issues does his case highlight in France-Africa relations?
Kemi Seba’s case illustrates the growing tensions in France-Africa relations. He denounces what he calls French “neocolonialism”, embodied by the CFA franc, which he sees as a symbol of France’s economic domination of Africa. In this context of reorganizing geopolitical power dynamics, his NGO claims partnerships with countries such as Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran. He has been invited to participate in Russia-Africa summits and is regularly accused by French authorities of receiving funding and support from Russia, particularly through the Wagner militia.

Kemi Seba has also aligned himself with the new regimes in Mali, Niger, and Guinea, even being appointed as a special advisor to the government in Niamey. His activism, along with that of similar voices such as the Cameroonian-Swiss activist and businesswoman Nathalie Yamb, reveals France’s struggle to move away from the legacy of “Françafrique”, marked by corrupt networks between France and certain African governments, to establish equal partnerships with African countries.

At the same time, Kemi Seba’s approach reflects a certain melancholy among Afro-descendant communities in France, who struggle to be recognized as full citizens. This struggle partly explains why his message resonates so strongly within these communities.

Panafrikanism: Varför Kemi Sebas budskap engagerar den afrikanska ungdomen