Africans see many advantages by uniting the continent into a single nation, or by uniting several small nations of a particular region into a nation. In unity there is strength. Africans often point to the United States, formed by the original 13 states, as an example of this principle. Africa now is divided into many weak nations. United, they would be much stronger. Africans could then more easily deal with foreign efforts to control them. Also it would be easier to plan and carry out big projects like the building of highways and dams.
The considerations for African unity go beyond the practical advantages it brings. As we have seen, one factor is that the feeling of belonging to a particular nation is not strong among Africans. If, for example, you were to ask a man from Paris " What are you?", he would certainly answer " A Frenchman". Ask the same question of a man from Ibadan in Nigeria and he might give one of three answers, or all three, depending on his education and outlook. He might say, " A Yoruba" (his people), or " A Nigerian," or just simply " An African."
Another factor that enters into the desire for unity is that African leaders throughout the continent feel that they all have many things in common. They all lived through the experience of colonial rule. Many of them went to school and university with men who now lead other African countries. They all feel very angry about the way in which they were treated in the past. Compared with these strong bonds (结合)，which overshadow the borders of nations, the idea of building separate nations does not have so much meaning. Some leaders say they are ready, in fact, to give up their separate nations.
Many nations have written into their constitutions(宪法), and they may give up their powers to a Pan-African government that will come into being.

Title: ______	Measures	uniting the continent ______________
_______	★___________________ ★easier to handle foreign influences ★easier to build________
_________	_______	★being weak among Africans ★depending on_
leaders’ similarities	__________ receiving similar education hoping for unity
Results	Many nations have written into constitutions. A __________will come into being.