New Publication on General History of Africa (GHA)
The UNESCO publication Mainstreaming the General History of Africa into Education Systems: The Curriculum Pathway (2025) provides a practical framework to integrate the General History of Africa (GHA) into national curricula as a response to the dominance of Eurocentric narratives in education. A new alliance was further announced between 11 universities - including several IAU members - as part of the UNITWIN Network on the General History of Africa, which supports the integration of African perspectives into education and research worldwide.
The framework aims to correct imbalanced portrayals of Africa’s past by foregrounding African agency, heritage and contributions to human civilization, while promoting values that challenge colonial mindsets and racial bias. Rooted in a decolonial vision, the publication offers guiding principles and approaches for curriculum design at both basic and secondary education levels. It introduces curriculum outlines organized into nine chronological thematic learning units that span from the origins of humanity and early African civilizations to modern African history and the global African diaspora. Ultimately, the guide serves as both an educational and policy tool to support countries in reframing the teaching of African history in a more inclusive, accurate and empowering way, contributing to the development of a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa and world.
The curriculum is built around nine chronological Learning Units, covering:
- Origins of humanity in Africa
- Early civilizations
- African societies and cultures
- African scientific and technological heritage
- Interregional exchanges
- Encounters with the outside world
- Resistance to slavery and colonization
- Independence movements
- Contemporary Africa and the diaspora
Access the publication here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395932