FROM UDADISI ARCHIVE:

GLOBAL PAN AFRICAN MOVEMENT-TANZANIA BRANCH

(PAM-TZ)

PRESS RELEASE

(15th September 2002)

The Pan African Movement-Tanzania Branch wishes to announce with grief and profound sadness the death on the 11th September 2002 in a car accident near Voi en route to Mombasa in Kenya of the militant young Pan Africanist Philippe Enoc Wamba. He met his death while undertaking research on the Situation of the Youth in Africa. This research had taken him to South Africa, Nigeria, Cameron and Tanzania. He was travelling from Nairobi to Mombasa on the Kenya-leg of his work.

Philippe Wamba was born on 3rd June 1971. His father is Professor Ernest Wamba dia Wamba and his mother is Elaine Wamba. Both are well known Pan Africanists. He grew up in Boston (USA) as well as Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). He received his early education at Mlimani Primary School in Dar es Salaam and later on joined the International School of Tanganyika, also in Dar es Salaam. He went on to join the Armand Hammer United World College for his International Baccalaureate Diploma. He then studied at Harvard University for his BA degree before going on to Columbia School of Journalism for his MA.

After his studies Philippe Wamba returned to Harvard University where he worked with Professor Kwame Appiah and Professor Henry Louis Gates of the African American Studies Department as one of the editors on the Encyclopaedia Africana Project. Philippe Wamba was also the first Editor-in-Chief of the Africana.com web-site. During his editorship, he sought to give the web-site a global Pan Africanist orientation.

Among Philippe Wamba’s world-renowned publications is an insightful book titled Kinship: A Family’s Journey in Africa and America published by Dutton Books in 1999. In this book, Philippe Wamba explores the meaning of the dream of Pan-African consciousness into which he was born and seeks to answer the profound question asked by all Africans both on the continent and in the Diaspora of: “Who are we?”

Philippe Wamba had undertaken the current research on the Situation of the Youth in Africa under the fellowship of the Alicia Patterson Foundation. He expected to visit Uganda and one or two African French speaking countries. He had already published some articles based on his previous research visits. The Pan African Movement will be saying more about this young vibrant Pan African militant in the course of the week leading up to his burial here in Dar es Salaam on either Friday 20th or Saturday 21st September 2002.

Philippe Wamba’s death is an occasion for sadness and grief but also an occasion for critical reflection on the situation of the youth and the marginalized people in Africa. It should inspire all of us to carry on with the struggle for the emancipation of the people of Africa.

Dr. Azaveli Feza Lwaitama

Ag. Secretary

Pan African Movement-Tanzania Branch

LEST WE FORGET:

Philipe Wamba Fund for Road Safety in Africa:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112364279808


Philippe Wamba Summer Research Travel Grant:


http://aaas.fas.harvard.edu/awards/other