Understanding Our Roots
African history is part of a rich tapestry—one often captured in the ancient name “Alkebulan,” representing the genesis not only of man but of the many civilizations which have inculcated their contributions richly into the world’s narrative. This is what diversity and the deeper history of Africa tell us: that the knowledge of where we come from is a precursor to knowing where we are going. As A. Boahen insists: “This history covers the period in which virtually the whole of Africa was seized and occupied by the Imperial Powers of Europe…but in this book, one of Africa’s most respected and best-known historians reinterprets the colonial experience from the point of view of the colonized” (Boahen, 1987). This only increases the calling to take our story, understand the experiences that our forefathers went through, and realize the built-up resilience.
The Value of Ancestral Wisdom
The journey through African history is a testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and profound wisdom of our ancestors.
And so, from the grandeur of the past civilization, that was the ancient civilization, to the powerful empires of Mali and Songhai, our fathers crafted our destiny centuries ago. For knowledge, creativity, and the spirit of innovation still remain a beacon towards the future. This is the historical account that, as “Perspectives on Africa: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation” elaborates, is more than just an account of the past but rather a source of inspiration that cracks wide open with the potential in human beings to fashion a future as splendid as the empires of yore. Learning from the Past for the Future
The challenges and triumphs that it brings forth in African history are, indeed, not lessons for the present time but rather guidelines for the future.
And the fight against colonization for freedom, all must be sharp details of the continuing spirit of African peoples to have their self-determination and justice at any cost.
I find the “The General History of Africa (Unesco)” project very important and, what is more, quite essential. This is underscored on the ground that it refers to the importance of our appreciation of history in the diversity of experiences and unity in the aspiration for independence and dignity.
Quotes on the Value of History
- “To know your future, you must know your past.” — African Proverb
- “The history is not the nature of the past, but it includes an understanding of the dreams, struggles, and achievements of our forefathers on whose strength the future of our community must rest.”
- “The essence of knowledge is to know yourself; knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom.”