The Trento University Screens Pan-Africanism: Testing Ideas on Reality, A Documentary by Obehi Ewanfoh
The African proverb reminds us: “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” On June 11, 2015, within the academic environment of the University of Trento, a deep-rooted conversation occurred. African students, scholars, and future industry leaders gathered for a screening of the documentary “Pan-Africanism: Testing Ideas on Reality,” organized by the African students themselves.
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This event was more than a traditional university seminar; it was a “Mission Excavation.” In a region known for its industrial precision and economic management, the Diaspora students in Trento recognized that their technical expertise, whether in Engineering, Economics, or Modern Letters, would remain a form of “Economic Tenancy” unless it was anchored in a sovereign understanding of their own African heritage.
See student’s comment after the film screening (In Italian)
This article draws on the passionate testimonials of students who, moved by the screening, engaged in a lively Q&A session with director Obehi Ewanfoh. Their insights offer a raw look at the film’s impact. To understand their reactions, we must first examine the historical context of the argument.
Breaking the Silence of a Hidden Ideology
For many students in the Diaspora, the history of African political thought is an “Institutional Barrier.” While they are taught the intricacies of Industrial Engineering or International Management, the “Sovereign Truths” of Pan-Africanism are often treated as “hidden ideologies”.
Didi Arco, a student of Industrial Engineering from Ghana, articulated this “Pain Point” with precision. He noted that the film made him reflect deeply on an ideology that has unfortunately remained “hidden or unknown to many”.
In the framework of Narrative Strategy, if your ideology is hidden, your power is dormant. By bringing this documentary to the University of Trento, the director, Obehi Ewanfoh, acted as the catalyst to move this ideology from the shadows into the light of academic discourse.
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The setting itself, a university in Northern Italy, serves as the perfect backdrop for this deconstruction. Students here are often seen as “Economic Tenants,” individuals expected to acquire Western skills and return to a system they do not control.
However, the Trento screening challenged this by offering a “Sovereign Lens” through which these students could view their technical brilliance as a tool for collective liberation.
What is Pan-Africanism?
Pan-Africanism is both a political movement and a cultural ideology rooted in the belief that people of African descent, whether living on the continent or in the global diaspora, share a common history and a unified destiny.
It emerged primarily as a response to the fragmentation caused by the transatlantic slave trade and European colonialism.
At its core, the movement seeks to dismantle racial hierarchies and foster a sense of brotherhood and solidarity that transcends national borders, emphasizing that the liberation and progress of one African nation are inextricably linked to the well-being of all Black people worldwide.
Historically, this vision has evolved from the intellectual activism of figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garveyv into a practical framework for continental governance and economic integration.
Today, Pan-Africanism is embodied in institutions like the African Union and initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aim for a “borderless Africa.”
Beyond politics, it flourishes as a cultural renaissance, celebrating African heritage and indigenous knowledge as a way to challenge external narratives and reclaim autonomy over the continent’s future. And this is why this documentary was vital for students at this time of their studies.
The “Formula of Hope” for Global Leaders
The testimonials from Trento reveal a specific “Decoding Formula”: Academic Excellence + Pan-African Brotherhood = Institutional Sovereignty.
Through the lens of the Story-to-Asset methodology, we can see how these students converted the raw data of the documentary into a psychological asset for their future careers.
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1. The Hope Metric
Kwaku, an Economics student from Ghana, identified the most critical data point of the evening: Engagement. He observed that the high level of participation and interest among the youth was a direct signal of a shifting future. He stated:
“The participation of the people present… very interested… gives a hope that young Africans, especially, are interested in these arguments”.
“Once the youth are interested, then there is hope for the future”.
In our methodology, “Hope” is not a vague feeling; it is a strategic asset. When a generation of economists and engineers begin to study their own history with the same rigor they apply to their masters’ degrees, they become Anti-Fragile.
2. The Educational Breakthrough
Richard Boateng, pursuing a master’s in economics and management, described the documentary as an “educational thing” that provided a much-needed perspective on the continent. His insight provides a bridge between the past and the present:
“It’s a very educational thing that opened my eyes to the things that concern Africa… Pan-Africanism speaks of the brotherhood of Africa, which was not a thing of the past but can also be spoken of and lived today”.
3. The Exposure Formula
Another student highlighted the “Institutional Barrier” of thematic exclusion, noting that the documentary treated a theme that is “rarely treated” and introduced it to an audience that is “often not exposed to these themes”.
The simple act of bringing this theme to light for a large group of people who would “otherwise not have anything to do with themes like Pan-Africanism” is a sovereign act of Narrative Reclamation.
Protecting Your Family’s Future Through “Story-to-Asset”
The Trento Awakening demonstrates why it is not enough to be a successful “Practitioner” in your field. Whether you are an engineer like Didi Arco, an economist like Richard Boateng, or a student of Modern Letters like Edwina, your success is fragile if it is not codified into a Sovereign Asset.
Here is the question for you. How does this event help you own your genius?
- Awaken the “Hidden Ideology”: At AClasses Academy, we help you uncover the “trapped expertise” in your own history. Like the students in Trento, you must realize that your story is a powerful ideology waiting to be used.
- Move from Talk Show to Institutional Power: While the format may appear like a “talk show,” the reality was a profound educational experience that “opened eyes”. We help you move your message out of the “informal” and into a permanent, high-value asset, a book, a course, or a legacy video.
- Build a “Fortress of Peace”: When you know your “roots” (Pan-Africanism, your family history, your cultural values), you protect your legacy from being “nullified” by Western institutional standards. You stop answering to a system and start building your own.
Conclusion: Engineering the Sovereign Future
The event at the University of Trento on June 11, 2015, was a declaration of intellectual independence. It proved that African scholars in the Diaspora, students of Industrial Engineering, Economics, Modern Letters, and International Studies, are ready to “rescue” their culture and “live the brotherhood” in their modern professional lives.
As the proverb says, “If you want to go far, go together.” The “Story-to-Asset™” framework is the vehicle that allows us to go the distance.
By turning the “hidden ideology” of our past into the “Sovereign Asset” of our future, we ensure that the “hope” witnessed in Trento becomes the reality of our global community. Book Your Free 15-Minute Legacy Strategy Call Now.
