Unesco Workshop in Abidjan Focuses on Integrating African History into Education

An international workshop on integrating the General History of Africa (GHA) into African education systems opened in Abidjan on May 19, 2025. Organized by UNESCO and its International Bureau of Education (IBE), the event gathered delegations from various African countries, education experts, and institutional representatives. The goal is to reposition Africa at the heart of its own historical narrative. The Ivorian Minister of National Education and Literacy, Mariatou Koné, emphasized the importance of this initiative for transforming African education systems. She highlighted UNESCO's role in providing African researchers the opportunity to correct omissions in universal history and reposition Africa in the narrative of humanity. Minister Koné stressed the need for young Africans to have a deep understanding of African culture, values, and contributions to world history to strengthen their identity and restore truth. UNESCO's representative in Côte d'Ivoire, Mame Omar Diop, noted the extensive research involved in the GHA, launched in 1964 and completed in 1999, involving over 230 researchers across eight volumes. While translated into several languages, the GHA remains largely inaccessible to the general public. In 2009, UNESCO launched a project to utilize this work pedagogically, creating textbooks, youth books, and media content. Cécilia Barbieri, head of the Education unit at UNESCO headquarters, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to transform curricula, teaching practices, and collective representations to build a strong African identity. The Abidjan workshop aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063, aiming to build an educated, sovereign, inclusive Africa deeply rooted in its history.