Launched in 1964 as many African nations gained independence, UNESCO’s General History of Africa (GHA) is one of the most ambitious intellectual projects ever undertaken on the continent. Its core mission is simple but powerful: to tell Africa’s story from African perspectives, grounded in indigenous knowledge systems, research, and lived experiences.
For centuries, African history has been shaped largely by external, colonial, and Eurocentric narratives. The GHA initiative seeks to correct this imbalance by reconstructing Africa’s past through the voices of African scholars and global experts. Over the years, UNESCO mobilised more than 550 African and international specialists, producing eleven authoritative volumes that now serve as a major global reference on African history.
Beyond research, UNESCO is actively working to mainstream the General History of Africa into education systems worldwide. Through tailored support, capacity-building workshops, and curriculum development programmes across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the organisation is helping countries integrate GHA content into formal, non-formal, and informal learning. The goal is to reshape how African history is taught—fostering pride in African heritage, correcting historical injustices, challenging racial bias, and promoting peace, social cohesion, and mutual respect.
To support this effort, UNESCO has developed a comprehensive resource pack that includes curriculum pathways, pedagogical guides for teachers, educational games such as Diáspora, and interactive digital tools like African Heroes, all designed to make African history engaging and accessible for learners of different ages.
📌 Edutimes Africa encourages readers, educators, policy-makers, and students to read the full article and explore these resources directly on the UNESCO platform for deeper insights into how African narratives are transforming education globally.
Read more on UNESCO’s official website.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
