Edward Wilmot Blyden (3 August 1832 – 7 February 1912), the father of
pan-Africanism; was an educator, writer, diplomat, and politician primarily in
Liberia. Born in the West Indies, he joined the free black immigrants to the region from the United States; he also taught for five years in the British West African colony of
Sierra Leone in the early 20th century. His writings on
pan-Africanism were influential in both colonies, which were started during the slavery years for the resettlement of
free blacks from the United States and Great Britain. His writings attracted attention in the sponsoring countries as well. He felt that
Zionism was a model for what he called
Ethiopianism, and that African Americans could return to Africa and redeem it.