KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY OF AFRICA ; HISTORY 153

A. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STUDY AFRICAN HISTORY ?

B. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES ONE EXPECTS TO ENCOUNTER IN

STUDYING AFRICAN HISTORY ?

C. HOW COULD THESE BE RESOLVED ? .

YAW TABIRI YEBOAH

INDEX : 4625910
Human history in Africa is immensely long. In fact, both archaeological research
and genetic studies strongly support the theory that evolution of the modern
human species (Homo sapiens) occurred in Africa. In other words, it is believed
that man first lived on that continent before moving to other continents.

This therefore corrects the erroneous notion that Africans do not have any history
worthy of study. It is important to study African history particularly as Africans
and students in Africa.

IMPORTANTS

The study of African History facilitates the development of such positive values as
patriotism and general civic- spiritedness in the students emanating from a
deeper understanding of the past of their own people and their achievements and
failures. This is particularly the case, since most African societies are undergoing
rapid change.

The study of African History, as part of mainstream historical studies, trains

students to develop critical imaginative and literary skills that could be
appreciated to the study of the problems of Africa and the rest of the world.

It helps in the process of identification of origins and trends in the African past
and their significance, for the present generation based on the study of the
subsequent events, the consequences of the original events and the prevailing
environment within which they occurred.

CHALLENGES
The Western conception of “race ‘’ and “racial’’ differences have influenced our
notions of the past. These ideas, which have usually contrasted the presumed
inferiority of black people with the superiority of whites, arose in Western
societies as Europeans sought to justify their enslavement of Africans and the
subsequent colonization of Africa. This paved the way for the drawn conclusion
that “Africa has no history” and that African history is nothing more than the story
of European activities in Africa.

There is also the problem of alternative information to some extent less

influenced by European preoccupation. These alternative sources include writings
by Africans (which are found in only a few portions of sub- Saharan Africa before
the twentieth century).

The geography of the continent is also another problem that cannot be ignored.
The continent cannot be treated as a single entity due to the diverse nature of its
culture, social and political institutions. In order to simplify the study of African
history, attempts have been made to divide the continent broadly into
geographical regions. These include the Magrib, the Nile valley and Ethiopia, East
and central Africa, South Africa, the Congo Basin, the Sudan and the Forest Areas
of West Africa.

HOW TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

Historians now recognise that ideas of racial inferiority have inspired the belief
that in the past, African peoples lived in a state of primitive barbarism. At the
same time, they have realised that many of the European writings which they use
to reconstruct the African past (such as accounts by nineteenth- century
missionaries and travellers) for example are tainted by these same notions of
African inferiority and ignorance on the part of scholars who knew no better
argue otherwise.

The reconstruction for the study of African history must be done through
vocabularies (African languages themselves), the physical artefacts uncovered by
archaeologists. African art is also one of these alternative sources of information.
Like the other alternative sources, it helps us to understand African history not
from the standpoint of Europeans, but from the perspective of Africans
themselves.

The issue of the vast nature of the continent Africa, can be best resolved by the
use of maps which is a valuable tool in the study of African history as they help
the student to identify the types of relief, rainfall and vegetation patterns in the
area being studied.

A study of geography enables the student to identify more clearly the area being
studied.

Finally, the use of inter- disciplinary approach for the study of African history is a
better ideology since there are only a few written sources portioned to some
section of the continent written by Africans (which are found in only a few
portions of sub- Saharan Africa before the twentieth century).Through the
comparison, deductions and additions of knowledge acquired from the various
fields of study helps remove biases and distortion of information.