The world is witnessing a rise in regionalism, but challenges such as Brexit, growing Euroscepticism, declining multilateralism, and the breakdown of international regulations and global governance are impacting this trend. Nevertheless, some regions are broadening their focus to include economic and political aspects. These developments necessitate a reassessment of mainstream theorising on regionalism beyond the European integration exemplified by the European Union, achieving economic and monetary union across most of Europe. For example, the European integration framework may not be directly applicable to Africa, indicating the need to rethink African integration outside traditional theories. However, this rethinking must be approached with caution. This essay explores the historical and theoretical evolution of regionalism and regional cooperation in Africa, transitioning from intra-African functionalism to continental federalism.