Edward Wilmot Blyden

Edward Wilmot Blyden , the father of panAfricanism, 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 panAfricanism 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.

Blyden was born onAugust 1832 in St Thomas, Danish West Indies , to Free Black parents who claimed descent from the Igbo of the area of presentday Nigeria. Between 1842 and 1845 the family lived in Porto Bello, Venezuela, where Blyden discovered a facility for languages, becoming fluent in Spanish.

Source: Wikipedia