"African history must be told by Africans"

"African history must be told by Africans"

The demand that African history be told by Africans themselves is part of a broader discourse on the decolonization of knowledge, self-determination, and overcoming colonial narratives. During the colonial era, African history was primarily recorded from the perspective of the colonizers. European chroniclers and researchers shaped an image of Africa as a "continent without history" or as a place that needed "civilization" from the outside. These portrayals ignored rich pre-colonial empires and cultures (e.g., Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe); diminished local traditions, languages, and knowledge systems; and legitimized colonial rule as a "civilizing mission." In many African societies, history is passed down orally through generations—through storytellers (griots, imbongi), songs, dances, and rituals. These forms of storytelling have long been considered "unscientific" in colonial and Western academia, even though they are important sources for understanding African societies. When Africans tell their own stories, they can: set their own priorities (which events, figures, and cultures are important?); contribute perspectives that are often overlooked from the outside (e.g., women's roles, local conflicts, and resistance movements); and strengthen self-confidence and identity. Africa's history is not monolithic—it comprises thousands of ethnicities, languages, empires, and cultures. Only African historians can adequately represent the subtle differences and connections without resorting to stereotypes ("Africa as one place"). Practical steps for implementation: Strengthening African universities and archives and expanding history institutes and research centers across the continent. Preserving and digitizing local archives, oral traditions, and local documents. Increasing funding for African students and scholars. Opportunities for African academics to remain in their countries and conduct research there. Systematic recording and analysis of oral history by local researchers. Recognition of oral sources as equivalent historical sources. African history should be taught from an African perspective in schools and universities. Local languages ​​and narrative forms should be integrated into education. Many documents on African history are located in formerly colonial countries (France, Great Britain, Belgium, etc.). African researchers need better access to these archives and their digitization. Publishing books, articles, and documentaries in local languages. Supporting African publishers and media outlets that focus on history. Examples of progress: Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso) urged: "Tell our own history, otherwise others will tell it for us—and then it will be wrong." Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal) refuted the thesis of a "historyless Africa" ​​with his research and demonstrated the importance of ancient Egypt for African identity. African History Month and other initiatives promote the visibility of African perspectives. Open-access archives such as African Journals Online (AJOL) enable African researchers to publish their work worldwide. "African history must be told by Africans" is more than a slogan—it is a demand for self-determination, recognition of local knowledge, and the overcoming of colonial power structures in historical scholarship. This perspective fosters a nuanced, rich, and authentic understanding of Africa—not as the object of foreign narratives, but as the subject of its own history.