African century is the belief or hope that the 21st century will bring peace, prosperity and cultural revival to Africa. Unlike other neologisms, this idea is not focused on the dominance of African politics and culture, but a development focus. Among those who have spoken of an African century are South African politicians Thabo Mbeki and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chevron CEO David J. O'Reilly, US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and celebrity campaigner Bono.

Nigerian economist and chair of the United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, declared that the key components of Africa's role in the new world order are its: youthful, growing population; natural resources; entrepreneurship; and unification. In January 2025, the African Development Bank forecasted that Africa's GDP will grow at an average of 4% per year over the next decade, largely driven by entrepreneurship and innovation.

It has also inspired a radical policy journal - African Century Journal founded in 1999.

While studying in Paris between 1946 and 1960, Senegalese historian Cheikh Anta Diop wrote a series of essays charting the development of Africa, which are foundational elements that comprise the African Renaissance.

With the establishment of the African Union, the entity seeks to promote political cooperation, manage conflicts, advance economic integration, uphold agreed governance standards, and strengthen Africa's collective position in global affairs. This union functions as the primary institutional vehicle through which continental aspirations for stability, development, and greater autonomy would be pursued.

The "African Century" gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In 2000, Nelson Mandela delivered a speech at the London School of Economics noting that "we are in a period of decisive historical significance for Africa and its place in the world. We are determined that this 21st century shall indeed be the African century." The phrase is often attributed to Thabo Mbeki, 2nd President of South Africa. Mbeki delivered a lecture at Gallagher Estate in Midrand saying that 'African leaders have the capacity to assist the African masses [and] capacity has to be built in policy-making processes to achieve policy-making autonomy where decisions are rooted on African realities, experiences and aspirations.' The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported that 'we must continue to claim the 21st as the African century.'

It has been subsequently reaffirmed by African political leaders. Ibrahim Traoré has been pegged as a "young" leader of the 21st century Pan-Africanism movement, largely thought to have died off after the post-independence wave between the 1960s and 1980s. Traoré, along with many others in West Africa, are making movements like the Alliance of Sahel States confederation.

Population growth in Africa is expected to outpace the global population. At one billion people in 2010, by 2050, Africa's population should reach close to 2.5 billion, which would mean that more than 25% of the world's population will be African. The continent is set to reach close to 40% by the end of the century. The countries leading are to be Nigeria, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Egypt. While its percent of the world population is expected to grow exponentially, North American and European shares of the global population are expected to decline.