These three additional volumes of the General History of Africa help us rediscover the history of humanity through a voice that is diverse, independent and alive. By restoring to Africa the mastery of its own narrative, this collective work celebrates the richness of its knowledge, the strength of its diasporas, and the continent's essential contribution to our shared humanity.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Three new volumes
Volumes IX, X and XI complete the first eight volumes published in the years up to 1993. More than 200 African and international experts contributed to these new chapters, the result of several years of research.
These volumes explore the major social, political and cultural developments of the continent and its diasporas, incorporating recent discoveries in archaeology, anthropology and the humanities.
They address contemporary dynamics - nation building, youth, gender equality, migration, globalization, environmental justice - and promote the concept of "global Africa", which presents the continent as a central player in global political, economic and cultural networks.
This perspective highlights the contribution of African diasporas to the formation of the modern world and universal thought, from the scholar Ahmad Baba of Timbuktu to key intellectual figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Frederick Douglass.
New educational resources for a shared history
More than an academic work, the General History of Africa is now becoming a global educational tool. On this occasion, UNESCO is unveiling:
an educational guide to assist ministries of education in integrating contemporary African content into school curricula;
and a free downloadable video game, African Heroes, which invites young people to discover the journeys of ten iconic figures from Africa and its diasporas.
These initiatives aim to convey a history free of prejudice and to empower younger generations to understand the diversity and richness of African heritage.
A historic international cooperation project
Launched in 1964 by UNESCO and several newly independent African states, the General History of Africa project is the result of more than 60 years of research.
Designed under the direction of a pan-African scientific committee, it has mobilized more than 500 researchers from 54 African countries and the diaspora, as well as international experts. Its ambition is to tell the history of the continent through African eyes, using an innovative approach that combines oral tradition and modern historiography.
First published in English, French and Arabic, the volumes have since been translated into twelve languages, including three African languages - Kiswahili, Hausa and Fulani - to ensure accessible and inclusive dissemination across the continent.
A global reference for the future
Thanks to its scientific rigour and universal scope, The General History of Africa is now recognized as a global reference for researchers, teachers and the general public. It continues to inform reflection on the identity, memory and future of the African continent in a globalized world.
