Background
A broad consensus exists within Africa and her Diasporas that despite an intense period of slave trade and colonial exploitation, Africa is rising and rebuilding herself; and that the continent’s renaissance is rooted in her resilient culture and heritage which dates back over millennia to the papyrus age. African and Diasporic intellectuals, led by prominent continental historians including Professor Bethwell A. Ogot of Kenya, Professor Jacob Ajayi of Nigeria, Professor Joseph Ki-Zerbo of Burkina Faso, Professor Adu Boahen of Ghana and Professor Ali Mazrui of Kenya among others, have been at the centre of documenting this cultural history. UNESCO, the United Nations specialized agency mandated to support global efforts in education and preservation of culture and heritagee, has contributed immeasurably to this continental renaissance. Under the tenure of Dr. Moctar M’Bow of Senegal, UNESCO the agency initiated an ambitious project of documenting Africa’s history, culture and heritage from an African perspective. Work on the first 8 volumes started in 1964 and were published under UNESCO General History of Africa between 1981-1999. This was later followed by another 3 volumes released in 2025 which brings the studies to a total of 11 volumes covering Africa to the present times. These publications written from an African perspective when taken together have established Africa’s presence and authenticity in world history highlighting the continent’s resilience and immense contribution to global development. They serve as a strong foundation for other initiatives such as the present one which seek to deepen the understanding of Africa’s long and rich history for the benefit of posterity.
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