Architect of Pan-African Marxism who led sub-Saharan Africa's first independence
“We must unite now or perish.” — address to the Conference of African Heads of State, Addis Ababa, 1963
Ghana's independence leader, first prime minister and president. He secured sub-Saharan Africa's first independence in 1957. Through Nkrumaism, synthesizing scientific socialism with African tradition, he forged the intellectual foundation of the pan-African liberation movement.
Career timeline
- 1935–1945Studies in America — degrees in economics, theology, philosophy and education from Lincoln and Penn
- 1945Co-organizes the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester
- 1947Returns to the Gold Coast as General Secretary of the UGCC
- 1949Founds the Convention People's Party; launches Positive Action campaign
- 1952–1957Prime Minister of the Gold Coast — negotiates independence
- 1957Ghana wins independence — sub-Saharan Africa's first; becomes first Prime Minister
- 1960–1966First President of Ghana — socialist construction and Pan-African diplomacy
- 1963Co-founds the Organization of African Unity
- 1962Awarded the Lenin Peace Prize
- 1965Publishes Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism
- 1966.02Deposed by military coup while visiting Beijing
- 1966–1972Exile in Guinea — honorary co-president; continues theoretical writing