History is not important merely so that we can boast about ancient kingdoms. Neither should learning about Africa's past cause us to romanticize it or ignore the continent's present challenges. Rather, history gives us perspective.
Growing up in Ghana, I knew Africa as home. But I am not sure I fully understood what that meant. Like many young Africans, much of the history I encountered focused on colonization, slavery, poverty, conflict, and the struggles that followed independence. These are important parts of our story, but they are not where our story begins. Learning about ancient and medieval African civilizations challenged that perspective.
Long before colonialism, Africa was home to organized societies, powerful kingdoms, trade networks, systems of governance, innovation, religion, art, and culture. Civilizations such as Nubia and Axum demonstrate that Africans were not simply waiting for outsiders to introduce structure or civilization. African societies already had identities and systems of their own.
Learning this made me feel two things: proud and disappointed.I felt proud because there was so much more to Africa's story than I had understood. But I was also disappointed because I began wondering: Why didn't I know more about this growing up? And perhaps an even more important question is: What does not knowing our history do to the way we see ourselves?
Interestingly, my understanding of Africa changed even more when I moved to the United States.
Until then, much of my identity had been centered on Ghana; my birthplace and my home. Living outside the continent exposed me to very different perceptions of Africa. I encountered people who viewed Africa through stereotypes and others who deeply admired its culture, resources, history, and significance to humanity. But something else happened. I found community with Nigerians, Cameroonians, and people from other African countries. Despite our national differences, there was something familiar among us: our cultures, faith, values, humor, food, and strong sense of community. I began to understand an identity beyond simply being Ghanaian. I was African.
Today, when I say Africa means home, I mean something deeper than geography. Africa is a shared history, identity, responsibility, and possibility. Our continent has experienced colonization and exploitation, and some destructive patterns have continued even within our own systems. Many Africans leave in search of opportunities elsewhere, sometimes carrying the hope that they will one day return and contribute to rebuilding the continent. Not everyone gets that opportunity. But perhaps rebuilding Africa begins even before infrastructure, policies, or institutions. Perhaps it begins with how Africans see Africa and how Africans see themselves.
We speak often about the Africa we want to build. We dream about better governments, stronger educational systems, thriving economies, innovation, infrastructure, and opportunities that will allow young Africans to prosper without feeling that they must leave the continent to succeed.
But how do we confidently build Africa's future if we do not understand Africa's past?
History is not important merely so that we can boast about ancient kingdoms. Neither should learning about Africa's past cause us to romanticize it or ignore the continent's present challenges. Rather, history gives us perspective. Knowing that African societies governed, traded, created, built, and innovated long before colonialism challenges the idea that Africa's progress must always come from somewhere else. It reminds us that our present challenges are not evidence of an inability to build functioning societies.
At the same time, history places a responsibility on us. It is not enough to say, “Africa was once great.” The more important question is: What are we going to build now? And that begins with looking beyond the Africa we were taught and discovering the Africa that was already there.
Written by Fellow Josephine Ennin
