The purpose of this study was to examine features of the contemporary migrant and refugee flows across Africa northward to the Mediterranean and then to European countries (sometimes called the "new mass migration" and also migrant flows southward to South Africa. In addition, the purpose was to examine dimensions of response and adaptation in receiving countries, also the interconnections between sending- and receiving countries. In the post-colonial era, a variety of political, economic, and other societal forces combined to generate increased and more frequent flows of people seeking a better life, worldwide. Migrations of Africans are part of this global phenomenon, with manifold implications for source countries in Africa and for receiving countries in Africa and Europe. This consideration of issues is framed in the context of contemporary globalization theory and migration theories including social capital theory and push-pull theory. Implications and challenges for education and society in receiving countries such as France and South Africa, and in African sending countries, are summarized, drawing on contemporary research and debate on the issues in education and other sectors of society and on policy-practice research. Prominent themes in the research literature are highlighted, including language issues, policy responses, demographic shifts and trends, transnational family relationships, labor market issues, and educational ramifications. The impacts of refugee influxes on intermediate destinations such as the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, and Istanbul are also considered. The study results indicate that Pan-African -- Mediterranean migrations have generated a significant new landscape of interconnectedness across the macro-region and that the challenges and responses in European countries--the target destinations of the northward migrations--have counterparts in South Africa--the south-end target destination for many desperate migrants and refugees. Current recommendations are for multiple levels of response to tackle crucial issues in education and wider society, including in-country improvement of conditions but also joint responsibility between sending- and receiving countries in Africa and across the Mediterranean to Europe. There is a need for more research on the specific experiences of desperate migrants in the macro-region to expand understanding of the full extent of this contemporary migration phenomenon and its ramifications. (Contains 2 figures.) [The original version of this paper was presented at the IV Mediterranean Society of Comparative Education (MESCE) Conference, Rabat, Morocco, 8 -10, November 2009.]