Despite Africa’s immense and complex history, many Africans—and much of the world—remain unaware of it. The continent is often seen through a narrow lens of conflict, poverty, and dependency. But what if Africa’s greatest untapped resource is its own forgotten past?
British-Sudanese journalist Zeinab Badawi explored this question while working on the History of Africa series for BBC World News. What she uncovered was both remarkable and troubling.
Forgotten Civilizations
We all know of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, but few have heard of the over 1,000 pyramids in Sudan, built by the Kingdom of Kush—a major African power that once conquered Egypt in the 8th century BC. This kingdom lasted for centuries, extending its influence into the Middle East.
Today, more than 300 Kushite pyramids still stand, especially around Jebel Barkal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These tombs, temples, and burial chambers reveal a legacy of artistic, religious, and political sophistication going back nearly 3,000 years.
And Kush was not alone. The Kingdom of Aksum, based in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, was once listed among the four great world civilizations, alongside Rome, Persia, and China. It dominated Red Sea trade routes and was the first African empire to adopt Christianity as a state religion.
Yet these stories are rarely taught—even within Africa.
A Colonial Curriculum
When Badawi returned to the UK after visiting the pyramids in Sudan, she asked her highly educated Sudanese parents what they knew about them. Their answer: nothing. They had learned more about British monarchs like Henry VIII than their own history.
This is no accident. During the colonial era, African education systems were shaped by European narratives. Even post-independence, many African nations retained Western-style curricula. This left generations of students—and teachers—without access to a full, chronological account of Africa’s past.
One example of this erasure came from British historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, who infamously said in 1965:
“Perhaps, in the future, there will be some African history to teach. But at present there is none… only the history of Europeans in Africa. The rest is largely darkness.”
The General History of Africa: A Hidden Treasure
In the 1960s, as decolonization swept across the continent, African leaders decided it was time to decolonize history itself. UNESCO launched an ambitious project: to create a comprehensive, African-led account of the continent’s past.
The General History of Africa, coordinated by UNESCO, brought together over 350 African scholars to write eight volumes—from prehistory to the modern era. The first volume boldly began with human origins, placing Africa at the heart of the story of humanity. Not everyone welcomed that decision—especially in religious or Western circles where evolution or Africa’s central role was controversial.
Still, the volumes were completed by 1990. A ninth is in development.
And yet, almost no one knows they exist.
The books have never been widely distributed or integrated into African school systems. Even many political leaders have done little to promote them. Whether by neglect or oversight, a priceless African achievement remains shelved and ignored.
Rewriting the Narrative
This lack of historical education has consequences. Africa continues to be portrayed as a continent in need—of food, aid, instruction. This narrative, while often well-intentioned, reinforces a sense of inferiority and dependency.
But Africa’s past tells a different story: of innovation, governance, global trade, and empire-building. A history that includes queens who ruled, empires that flourished, and people who shaped the world.
Efforts are now underway to change that. UNESCO plans to incorporate the General History of Africa into national curriculums across the continent. If successful, future generations may grow up learning about Meroë, Aksum, Timbuktu, Great Zimbabwe—not just Europe.
A Past to Be Proud Of
Africa is not a blank slate. It is not a land waiting to be saved. It is a continent with deep roots, forgotten empires, and stories that deserve to be told by Africans themselves.
The history is there. It has been written. Now it must be taught.
As Zeinab Badawi says, understanding the past is the foundation for building a greater future.
Source BBC
