Integrating the General History of Africa (GHA) into formal, non-formal, and informal curricula.
For centuries, the historical narrative of Africa has been shaped largely by external and skewed perspectives. The GHA initiative addresses this imbalance by reconstructing the continent’s rich and diverse past through African voices, its research, and knowledge systems. Launched in 1964 as African nations gained independence, the General History of Africa (GHA) is an ambitious UNESCO initiative seeking to tell the history of the continent from an African perspective.
Summary
Why mainstream the General History of Africa into education systems worldwide?
What can be found in the resource pack?
Over the years, UNESCO gathered more than 550 African and international experts to write a pioneering corpus of research culminating with the publication of eleven volumes. The General History of Africa is also an important global educational resource. Through a set of practical tools based on the GHA vision and content, UNESCO has worked with education stakeholders at the regional and national levels — in Africa and beyond — to help mainstream the GHA into education, be it formal, non-formal or informal learning settings.
Why mainstream the General History of Africa into education systems worldwide?
Education is one of the most powerful tools to advance peace and justice, promote human dignity, and foster global citizenship. Yet, for too long, learners, in Africa and around the world, have encountered distorted or incomplete representations of African history in school curricula and in other learning settings. It is crucial for countries across the continent and around the world to integrate these rectified narratives into their education systems, to fundamentally reshape how African history is taught and understood.
By mainstreaming the GHA into education systems and beyond, UNESCO is helping:
What is UNESCO doing to support the mainstreaming of the GHA into education?
UNESCO provides specific tailored support to countries at the regional and national levels to help them with the mainstreaming of the General History of Africa into local education systems.
UNESCO has been supporting education stakeholders in Africa, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, through a series of capacity-strengthening workshops. These workshops help countries identify key entry points to integrate the GHA into their policies, curricula, subject syllabuses and in other education dimensions, guided by a decolonial vision of education.
UNESCO, with the support of the International Bureau for Education (IBE), gathered education policy-makers, curriculum developers and specialists, pedagogical advisers and teacher trainers with the aim to assess the current state of history teaching and learning in basic and secondary education in their respective countries;
and, more specifically, assess the role of and approach to the study of African history and culture in their national curricula, and the extent of the GHA’s integration therein.
Country specialists were able to explore ways to contextualize the education materials to their specific regional and national needs and priorities.
The main outcomes of these workshops were the elaboration of national GHA action plans and the creation of a collaborative network of stakeholders, through which they can share experiences and best practices.
What can be found in the resource pack?
UNESCO has developed a resource pack for teaching and learning the General History of Africa for education policy-makers and practitioners. It is composed of:The curriculum pathway: a tool to support ministries of education in integrating the GHA into formal, non-formal, and informal curricula. It puts forth curriculum outlines for basic and secondary education through nine thematic learning units, arranged chronologically from the origins of humanity and civilizations to Africa’s most recent history.
Mainstreaming the General History of Africa into education systems: the curriculum pathway
UNESCO - 2025
The pedagogical pathway: a set of 10 booklets that guide teachers and educators in engaging learners with the GHA and creating learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. The booklets are structured around the nine thematic learning units laid forth in the curriculum pathway
African Heroes is a free downloadable video game developed by UNESCO ‘s Regional Office in Dakar in collaboration with NETINFO, which invites young people to discover the journeys of ten iconic figures from Africa and its diasporas. It aims to bring the GHA to life through an engaging and educational platform. By blending education with interactive technology, African Heroes connects African youth to their historical roots, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their rich cultural heritage.
What can be found in the resource pack?
Over the years, UNESCO gathered more than 550 African and international experts to write a pioneering corpus of research culminating with the publication of eleven volumes. The General History of Africa is also an important global educational resource. Through a set of practical tools based on the GHA vision and content, UNESCO has worked with education stakeholders at the regional and national levels — in Africa and beyond — to help mainstream the GHA into education, be it formal, non-formal or informal learning settings.
Why mainstream the General History of Africa into education systems worldwide?
Education is one of the most powerful tools to advance peace and justice, promote human dignity, and foster global citizenship. Yet, for too long, learners, in Africa and around the world, have encountered distorted or incomplete representations of African history in school curricula and in other learning settings. It is crucial for countries across the continent and around the world to integrate these rectified narratives into their education systems, to fundamentally reshape how African history is taught and understood.
By mainstreaming the GHA into education systems and beyond, UNESCO is helping:
- Foster pride and identity in African heritage among learners in Africa and the African diaspora.
- Correct historical injustices and overcome hegemonic, colonial and Eurocentric thinking and associated racial bias.
- Build understanding and respect for Africa’s contributions to humanity.
- Support peace and social cohesion through intercultural knowledge and mutual respect.
What is UNESCO doing to support the mainstreaming of the GHA into education?
UNESCO provides specific tailored support to countries at the regional and national levels to help them with the mainstreaming of the General History of Africa into local education systems.
UNESCO has been supporting education stakeholders in Africa, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, through a series of capacity-strengthening workshops. These workshops help countries identify key entry points to integrate the GHA into their policies, curricula, subject syllabuses and in other education dimensions, guided by a decolonial vision of education.
UNESCO, with the support of the International Bureau for Education (IBE), gathered education policy-makers, curriculum developers and specialists, pedagogical advisers and teacher trainers with the aim to assess the current state of history teaching and learning in basic and secondary education in their respective countries;
and, more specifically, assess the role of and approach to the study of African history and culture in their national curricula, and the extent of the GHA’s integration therein.
Country specialists were able to explore ways to contextualize the education materials to their specific regional and national needs and priorities.
The main outcomes of these workshops were the elaboration of national GHA action plans and the creation of a collaborative network of stakeholders, through which they can share experiences and best practices.
What can be found in the resource pack?
UNESCO has developed a resource pack for teaching and learning the General History of Africa for education policy-makers and practitioners. It is composed of:The curriculum pathway: a tool to support ministries of education in integrating the GHA into formal, non-formal, and informal curricula. It puts forth curriculum outlines for basic and secondary education through nine thematic learning units, arranged chronologically from the origins of humanity and civilizations to Africa’s most recent history.
Mainstreaming the General History of Africa into education systems: the curriculum pathway
UNESCO - 2025
Diáspora is an educational game kit exploring hidden milestones, heritage, landmarks, and role models from Africa and its descendants in the Caribbean. Developed by the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana, in collaboration with over 100 researchers and 6 artists from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, it was designed for adolescents and youth aged 12 and above. The Diáspora board game and comic book engage learners in cooperative and competitive challenges that require navigating across time and space within Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela — in both formal school settings and non-formal learning environments.
African Heroes is a free downloadable video game developed by UNESCO ‘s Regional Office in Dakar in collaboration with NETINFO, which invites young people to discover the journeys of ten iconic figures from Africa and its diasporas. It aims to bring the GHA to life through an engaging and educational platform. By blending education with interactive technology, African Heroes connects African youth to their historical roots, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their rich cultural heritage.
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