Using African history as a tool for Change | Zeinab Badawi | TEDxEuston

Summary

The speaker passionately advocates for the importance of African history, emphasizing its role in fostering self-respect and identity. They recount their family's commitment to education and the paradox of being educated yet ignorant of one's own history. The speaker highlights the rich historical contributions of Africa, from ancient civilizations to modern diaspora, and calls for a reclamation of African history to counteract its underrepresentation and misrepresentation in global narratives.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of history, particularly African history, for self-respect and identity, arguing that it's been overlooked and undervalued.
• 🌟 History is presented as a tool for empowerment and a means to assert oneself on social, political, and cultural agendas, not just for those in Africa but also for the African diaspora globally.
• 🏫 The speaker shares personal anecdotes about the role of education in their family, highlighting the pioneering efforts of their great-grandfather in female education in Sudan.
• 🔍 There's a paradox highlighted where individuals can be educated but lack knowledge about their own history, which the speaker has observed in Africa and among the diaspora.
• 🏰 The speaker recounts their journey of discovering the rich and extensive history of Africa, including the ancient Sudanese pyramids and the influence of ancient Sudanese kings.
• 📖 The General History of Africa (GHA) project by UNESCO is mentioned as a significant effort to decolonize history by compiling Africa's history written by African historians.
• 🎥 The speaker's own involvement in creating a TV series based on the GHA to share African history with a broader audience is discussed, emphasizing the need to include both experts and ordinary citizens' perspectives.
• 🌍 The script touches on the historical achievements of various African civilizations, such as the kingdom of Aksum, Great Zimbabwe, and the Mali Empire, challenging the narrative that Africa lacks a significant history.
• 💪 The late environmental activist Wangari Maathai's quote is used to stress the importance of knowing one's history as a means to prevent mental enslavement.
• 🔄 There's a call to action for reclaiming and centering African history in education and media, to counter the infantilization of Africa and to promote a more accurate and empowering narrative.
• 🌈 The script concludes with a plea for unity among all people of African descent, regardless of their location, and the importance of history in fostering a shared identity and collective progress.

Q & A

What is the main argument the speaker is making about the importance of history?

The speaker argues that history is not just about the past; it is crucial for African people to have self-respect, a reclaimed identity, and a voice in social, political, and cultural agendas today.

Why does the speaker believe that history has been overlooked in education?

The speaker believes history has been overlooked because it is fashionable to focus on education in general, but the quality and content of that education, particularly the inclusion of history, are often neglected.

What paradox does the speaker highlight about education in Africa?

The speaker highlights the paradox that one can be educated but not know much about their own history, as evidenced by the lack of knowledge about African history among educated individuals in Africa and the diaspora.

What role did the speaker's great-grandfather play in female education in Sudan?

The speaker's great-grandfather was a pioneer of female education in Sudan, establishing a school in his own family compound despite opposition from the local community and British colonial authorities.

Why does the speaker refute the notion that there is no history in Africa?

The speaker refutes this notion by pointing out the long and rich history of Africa, including the presence of thousands of pyramids in Sudan, the influence of ancient Sudanese kings, and the contributions of various African civilizations throughout history.

What project did UNESCO initiate to reclaim African history?

UNESCO initiated the General History of Africa project in the 1960s to decolonize history by compiling volumes of Africa's history written by African historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, and other experts.

What was the impact of the speaker's TV series 'The History of Africa' on the African film crews involved?

The African film crews involved in the production of 'The History of Africa' expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn about their own history, indicating a hunger and thirst for such knowledge among Africans.

Why is the study of history important for national identity and individual self-respect according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the study of history is important for national identity and individual self-respect because it allows people to assert themselves on social, political, and cultural agendas and to understand and value their own heritage.

What is the significance of the quote by Wangari Maathai mentioned in the script?

The quote by Wangari Maathai, 'You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself, that values itself, that understands itself,' signifies the importance of knowing one's history to maintain self-respect and resist being marginalized or controlled.

What is the speaker's view on the term 'African-American' and its importance for unity?

The speaker views the term 'African-American' as important for unity because it evokes a discussion of the world and represents the oneness of disparate communities, drawing on a common shared history to realize the ambitions of early independence fighters and Pan-Africanists.

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for African history to be told by Africans?

The speaker emphasizes the need for African history to be told by Africans to counter the infantilization and misrepresentation of Africa by Western historians and to ensure that the narrative is accurate, empowering, and representative of the African perspective.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Importance of Historical Education

The speaker begins by expressing their pleasure at being in Abu Dhabi and introduces their academic background in politics, economics, and history. They emphasize the importance of history, particularly from an African perspective, stating that it is not just about the past but also about self-respect and identity. The speaker argues that history is crucial for Africans to assert themselves on various agendas and criticizes the neglect of history in favor of education, which they believe should include quality history education. They share a personal anecdote about their great-grandfather's pioneering efforts in female education in Sudan, highlighting the importance of education within their family and the resistance faced from colonial authorities. The speaker also discusses the paradox of being educated but knowing little about one's own history, using their own family and experiences in Nigeria as examples.

05:01

🧐 The Neglect and Rediscovery of African History

The speaker reflects on their own knowledge of history and the realization that despite being well-educated, they knew little about their own history. They recount a professor's dismissive view of African history during their time at Oxford, highlighting the infantilization of Africa's historical narrative. The speaker then discusses their journey of self-discovery, learning about ancient Sudan and its rich history, which contradicted the negative perceptions. They mention the General History of Africa project by UNESCO, which aimed to decolonize history by compiling volumes written by African scholars. The speaker's involvement with UNESCO led to the creation of a TV series to bring African history to a broader audience, emphasizing the need to include both experts and ordinary citizens in the conversation.

10:02

🌍 The Rich Tapestry of African History

The speaker highlights the wealth of African history that is often overlooked, such as the kingdom of Aksum, Great Zimbabwe, and the Mali Empire. They argue for the importance of history in providing a sense of identity and self-respect, quoting the late Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai. The speaker discusses the ongoing efforts to decolonize curricula in South Africa and at Oxford University, emphasizing that African history is part of the global narrative. They express a desire to reconstruct African history from an African perspective, putting African intellectuals in the spotlight and addressing the neglect of history faculties in African universities.

15:06

🤝 The Unity and Identity in African History

The speaker talks about the importance of African history in fostering unity and identity, drawing on their late father's pan-Africanist beliefs. They discuss the African diaspora's shared history and the need for greater interaction between recently arrived Africans and established African-American communities. The speaker argues against the retrenchment to terms like 'black' and encourages the use of 'African-American' to represent the shared history and unity. They also touch on the importance of history in national and individual identity, using examples like the Olympics and football matches, and advocate for putting African history center stage.

20:07

🦁 The Power of History in Shaping Perception

In the final paragraph, the speaker shares a conversation with former South African President Thabo Mbeki about the significance of history. Mbeki's quote emphasizes that until the historically marginalized have their own historians, their stories will not be fully recognized. The speaker expresses gratitude that their children now understand the history of the continent of their heritage. They end with a call to action for all Africans to claim their narrative and identity through history, and the speech concludes with applause and music.

Keywords

💡History

History, in the context of the video, is portrayed as a crucial element for self-respect and reclaimed identity, particularly for people of African descent. The speaker argues that history is not merely about the past but is instrumental in shaping one's present and future. It helps in asserting oneself on social, political, and cultural platforms. The script mentions how the lack of knowledge about African history has led to a sense of deracination among the diaspora and how reclaiming this history can empower individuals and communities.

💡Self-respect

Self-respect is highlighted as a vital outcome of understanding one's history. The video emphasizes that knowing one's history can instill a sense of pride and self-worth. It's linked to the broader theme of historical education, suggesting that without a deep understanding of their past, people may struggle to value themselves in the present.

💡Identity

Identity in the video is intrinsically linked to one's historical background. It refers to the collective characteristics and experiences that define a group's sense of self. The speaker discusses how a reclaimed sense of history can help African people worldwide assert their identity in various social and political spheres.

💡Education

Education is discussed as a powerful tool for empowerment, with a specific focus on the quality and content of education. The video points out that while education is essential, the kind of education one receives, particularly in terms of historical knowledge, is critical. It underscores the importance of including African history in educational curricula to ensure a well-rounded and empowering learning experience.

💡Diaspora

The term 'Diaspora' refers to communities living outside their ancestral homelands. In the video, the African Diaspora is mentioned to describe people of African origin living in various parts of the world, such as the Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States. The speaker notes the paradox of these individuals being educated but lacking knowledge about their African history, emphasizing the need for a shared historical narrative to foster unity and self-understanding.

💡Decolonization

Decolonization in the video is used to describe the process of freeing oneself from the cultural and intellectual dominance of former colonial powers. It is mentioned in the context of African countries wanting to reclaim their history from a Eurocentric perspective. The speaker discusses the efforts made by African leaders and scholars to write their own history, free from colonial biases.

💡Plea

A 'plea' in this context refers to the speaker's urgent request for the recognition and重视 of African history. The speaker uses the term to express their passionate call to action, urging audiences to value and incorporate African history into mainstream education and cultural narratives.

💡Paradox

The paradox mentioned in the video refers to the situation where individuals can be well-educated but lack knowledge about their own history. This concept is used to illustrate the gap in historical education and understanding, particularly among the African diaspora.

💡Infantilization

Infantilization in the video is used to describe the低估 or dismissal of African history and culture by Western perspectives. The speaker argues against this notion, asserting that Africa has a rich and complex history that deserves recognition and respect.

💡Narrative

Narrative, as used in the video, refers to the stories and histories that shape our understanding of the world. The speaker advocates for the creation and promotion of an African narrative that is controlled by Africans themselves, emphasizing the importance of owning one's story to build identity and self-respect.

💡Unity

Unity in the video is discussed in the context of the shared history and experiences of people of African descent across the globe. The speaker calls for a collective recognition of this shared history to foster a sense of unity and common purpose among the African diaspora and the continent.

Highlights

The importance of history for self-respect and identity in Africa.

The paradox of being educated but knowing little about one's own history.

The role of history in education and its impact on the African diaspora.

The pioneering efforts of the speaker's great-grandfather in female education in Sudan.

The resistance faced by early advocates of female education in Sudan.

The speaker's personal journey of discovering African history.

The misconception that African history begins with European colonization.

The General History of Africa project by UNESCO.

The significance of African historians writing their own history.

The rich and diverse history of African civilizations predating colonialism.

The influence of ancient Sudanese kingdoms on the African continent.

The need for a reclamation of African history in education and media.

The role of history in asserting oneself on social, political, and cultural agendas.

The impact of historical understanding on the unity of the African diaspora.

The importance of African history for national identity and community.

The speaker's experience filming a history series on Africa and the reactions of African crews.

The call for African history to be put center stage by politicians, academics, and the public.

The quote from former South African President Thabo Mbeki on the importance of history.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello don't you all look terrific from

this vantage point that I have so I'm

saying Abu Dhabi it's my great pleasure

to be with you and although I studied

politics and economics at Oxford I

actually did my postgraduate studies in

history so I am here today to make a

plea for history to say that history is

not something about the past no history

from the African point of view is

something which allows you to have

self-respect it helps you to have a

reclaimed identity it helps you to

assert yourself on the social political

and cultural agenda today so it's a very

very important thing and in my view it's

been overlooked wrongly it's very

fashionable to talk about education

education is important it's the you know

most empowering thing you can give a

young child in Africa and it's true but

what kind of education quality education

is the thing that's very important in

history is an integral part of that and

not just for people living in Africa but

also the established African Diaspora

Beauty in the Caribbean be it in Brazil

beauty in the United States whether it's

also the more recently arrived diaspora

Africans living in the West all part and

parcel of the same history is the shared

history so I've been very struck by the

paradox that you can be educated but not

know very much about your history and

I'll take you on a journey as to why I

believe this is the case

first of all education you could say is

the family business in the Sudan because

my great-grandfather was the pioneer of

female education in the Sudan at the

turn of the last century there were no

schools for girls but my

great-grandfather chef barbequed Beverly

said you know what why should my girls

go uneducated so he established a school

in his own family compound against much

much

not only from the local community but

from the British colonial authorities at

the time they said don't do this you

know it's going to upset people's you

know traditional customs and so on and

he said there's nothing in Islam that

says women should not be educated and

that's why actually whenever I hear

about you know so-called Muslim

societies denying girls education I

think there's nothing inimical to

educate educating girls in Islamic

societies so my great-grandfather

persisted in the teeth of opposition and

he succeeded in fact in the family we

say he was so Pro women he married four

of them we'll just skate over that

particular thing thankfully one

tradition that's not continued and

finally he just you know started schools

and the British in the end said you know

what you've done so well and they

awarded him an OBE in the late 1940s and

he went and accepted it from the

Governor General of the Sudan and

Winston Churchill was prime minister in

the UK and he said well tell mr.

Churchill I fought against him in the

Battle of Omdurman but I won't hold that

against him and he took his OBE so good

on you great-grandfather's so you know I

grew up with women who if they were

alive today would be well over a hundred

highly educated women with degrees from

Western universities you know my mother

was a teacher and so on and so forth so

I grew up with very very powerful female

figures where it was just you know we

imbibed it with our mothers milk really

but having said that I was sitting down

a few years ago with my late father who

died last year very sadly and my mother

and I said you know these are two people

who were highly educated you know in the

Sudan and I said what do you know about

Sudan's ancient history and I think I

said well we were taken to the pyramids

once on a school trip in the 1930s or

the 1940s you know and these were people

could tell you about British history you

know Kings you know King Henry the

eighth his wives and so on and yet when

it came to their own country's history

these two educated people you know drew

a bit of a blank and it wasn't just my

parents I realise this you know over

time that I was filming in lake or

in Nigeria and I was going around the

university there and I talked that you

know the finest the brightest and the

best of Nigeria and I said what do you

know about your history and they said

well we got our Nigeria was formed in

1911 slavery obviously was quite you

know think I said what before that

before that and they all drew a blank

and and I realized that actually this

was a pattern not only in Africa across

generations but also diaspora African

communities who you know perhaps living

in the Caribbean or whatever we're

feeling quite deracinated didn't know so

much about their history and I thought

you know what this isn't right and I and

I began to think about myself what do I

know about my own history and you know

when I and I realized that although I've

always liked to say oh you know I'm a

well-educated person what did I know and

it reminded me of a time when I was an

undergraduate at Oxford who was one of

the history professors when I was

actually there professor Hugh

trevor-roper late Hugh trevor-roper

and this is what he said about African

history perhaps in the future there will

be some African history to teach but at

present there is none or very little

there is only the history of Europeans

in Africa he talked about the

unrewarding gyrations of barbarous

tribes in picturesque but irrelevant

corners of the globe so if you think

that that kind of infantilization of a

continent and I actually think that

Africans have been infantilized to a

degree which we have not seen with

people anywhere else in the world if you

think that's just you know the

ruminations of a man long since dead

know you know the leader of a major

Western country only a few years ago

less than a decade ago was visiting an

African country a key African country

made a speech to his African audience

they all listened very politely as he

said the African people have not entered

the history books they've not entered

history and when I visited this

particular country not so long ago to

this day so many people from you know

presidents politicians down to waiters

and restaurants remembered this speech

made by this Western leader that the

African man had not entered history so

don't

think this is something that you can

consign to the past so it was with these

thoughts that I began to develop an

interest in ancient Sudan and you know I

discovered wonderful things there are

thousand pyramids in the Sudan 300 of

them preserve their superstructure in

around in the eighth century BC the

kings of ancient Sudan the kings of

Koosh were superpowers in Africa they

that you know their influence extended

as far as the modern-day Middle East

they governed Egypt for the best part of

a century and so on and so forth and

then after that so all you know with all

this sort of coalescing in my mind my

metamorphosis was sort of quite gradual

you know the conversation with the

parents that the finding out about

ancient Sudan I then was at UNESCO and I

saw there that there were some volumes

called the general history of Africa and

I asked what these were the GHA and I

was told that in the early 1960s during

that period of rapid decolonization in

Africa the newly independent African

President said look we have decolonized

our countries we want to decolonize our

history so they got together there was a

very enlightened Frenchman line a mile

was director-general of UNESCO at the

time and he said okay you know in Kruger

Kenyatta near re and so on and so forth

you guys pay for this and our

facilitators process so UNESCO scoured

the continent of Africa for the best

historians archaeologists

anthropologists paleontologists you name

it and they compiled volume after volume

after volume of Africa's history written

by Africans themselves there's a

difference between being an African

estándar African historian these were

African historians and these are proper

scholarly works you know they use the

kind of sausage which Western historians

had often overlooked and they also use

you know use culture like music dance

and so on to inform what they had done

and they said just because Western

historians have said in the past that

Africa's history is not always recorded

written it doesn't mean that Africans

don't have a history indeed they had the

longest history in the world because

it's where human beings originated if

you're not from Africa you're an African

export

aren't you so you know yeah well we're

talking about trade you know Africa was

the major exporter par excellence so you

know so the irony that this continent

with this long history should be told

that you know wow you don't really have

a history because you know it just means

we've got to get at it in a different

way and that's what the African

historians did so I thought this is a

wonderful inspiring project but very few

people know about it so I either then

worked out with UNESCO how I could make

a TV history series based on these

volumes Africa's history told by

Africans themselves the experts but I

also wanted to make sure that ordinary

African citizens were also part of this

conversation and I embarked on this

journey of filming around Africa the the

first history series of what was called

the history of Africa was a nap but are

we which went out on BBC World TV and it

was a real eye-opener for me you know

going around seeing the wonderful things

that just at the back of my mind proved

huge revenue per solar so wrong we all

know about ancient Egypt but you know

what about the kingdom of Aksum in

modern-day Ethiopian Eritrea and bits of

the Horn of Africa in the fourth century

this was described by a Greek historian

as one of the four greatest

civilizations of the world

what about Great Zimbabwe the wonderful

you know monuments if you go there what

about King Musa in the 12th 13th century

when who you know was was one of the

kings of the Mali Empire the Ghana

Empire the Nok civilization you know

that was BC BCE before a Common Era in

in in Nigeria today in northern Nigeria

you know really honestly I could go on

and on the berber kingdoms of north

africa with their had you know their

capital in in morocco it was just you

know i there was so much history that

actually my first series stops at around

the 13th century and i've got to start

the second series so really you know

there is so much there that you can get

at and why i think history's so

important is I'll give you a quote from

the late wonderful Kenyan environmental

and social activist Wangari Maathai who

sadly died in 2011 where she received

the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and she

said you cannot enslave a mind that

knows itself that values itself that

understands itself and I'm very

heartened that you know just as the the

African leaders in the 1960s you know

with this project which is still ongoing

by the way the general history of Africa

at UNESCO just as as they said look

we've got to reclaim our history now you

see for example students in South Africa

wanting to decolonize their curriculum

because even 20 years after the end of

apartheid more than 20 years you still

find that you know higher education in

South Africa is still deeply rooted in

colonial and apart at the apartheid

thinking you see students now at Oxford

University saying we want African

history to be taught because it's part

of world history African history is part

of the global narrative it's not just

something that's just relevant to you if

you are or of African origin you know it

is absolutely for for everybody so this

is what I really I'm very keen to be

part of his reconstructing African

history from an African perspective

putting the African intelligentsia

center stage so I'm not saying do away

I'm not saying

and and you know honestly there were so

many of them I mean in this series every

person I interviewed was you know an

African and the minds you know they

would be comfortable in any major

academic institution anywhere in the

world is just they've not been given the

chance to go center stage

put them center stage you know great

thinkers like shake hand et up from

Senegal the late Senegalese professor

yes yes you know he should be known you

know his he was a polymath one of the

greatest minds of the 20th century you

know accomplished in so many disciplines

people should know about him so you know

I I really want to be part of this

movement but sadly sadly as Professor

Anthony assuage you a wonderful night

year in historian told me when I was

talking to him a few years ago like

Lagos University African universities

right across the continent not just in

Nigeria history the history faculty is

really really neglected of course

Africa's future lies in you know

leapfrogging technology and science and

technology and medicine and all these

things are important to make sure that

you know Africa is part of the 21st

century but it doesn't mean that we

should completely you know forget our

history so it is a plea to say that our

history is about identity it's about

self-respect

it's about claiming our own narrative

working in the media people often say to

me oh you know you always get some

Western you know well meaning often

person to sum up the situation be it you

know the Ebola crisis or some political

situation that's happened what about our

own experts this infantilization over

people whereby you've got to get other

people to come and talk on their behalf

people still see development as

something which has got to be done by

outside agents actually no country in

history has ever been developed by

outsiders

you know perhaps Germany a bit with the

Marshall Plan after the Second World War

but you know it's it's putting age it's

putting Africans in the driving seat of

a train

it means starting that journey are not

just jumping Midway insane

to claim our narrative today let us erm

you know start now no no no you've got

to go all the way back to the past to

bring yourself down to the present and

it's also about unity you know my late

father was a great agitation for

independence in the Sudan in you know in

the 1940s and 50s and he was a great

pan-africanist very inspired by you know

Kwame Nkrumah and George Padmore and so

on and and that's really what I bring as

well to this topic of history because

African history it is about unity it

doesn't matter where you live in the

world you are of African descent be you

you know in Brazil where by the way a

lot of people don't realize that around

a hundred million Brazilians that's

about more than 50% of the population

either have african heritage or mixed

African heritage you know that they are

the second largest African population

after Nigeria or the African American

diaspora the most powerful and

influential diaspora of Africans in the

world you know about 18% of the American

population again a vast number

seventy-five million you know come

together it pains me when I see when I

go to the United States and chat to

people about my relations today between

the recently arrived Africans more

recently arrived Africans from the

continent and the established

african-american community that there

isn't as much interaction and cross

fertilization of you know ideas and and

so on between them there seem to be more

differences than I would really really

like and I don't think that's right I

mean even now there are people amongst

the African American community who are

beginning to say let's go back to

calling ourselves black Americans to

distinguish ourselves from the more

recently arrived you know Africans in

our Diaspora in in the country I think

that would be a retrograde step because

stick to the term african-american I

talked to Jesse Jackson I had the

pleasure of talking to him a little bit

about his history and you remember Jesse

Jackson the 1980s was part of that kind

of scholarly movement in the United

States to claim the term

african-american and he said just as we

were called colored but we were not that

and then Negro but we were not that I

mean African simcha answering i'ma need

I'll call myself a Negro I call myself

colored they didn't to be called black

he said it's just as baseless black

tells you about skin color what side of

town you live on african-american evokes

discussion of the world so it's that

oneness of the disparate community it's

bringing everybody together under you

know one banner so you know I would

appeal to African Americans to maintain

that that name african-american because

it's only by drawing on this common

shared history that we have that one can

really realize the

ambitions of the you know early

independence fighters like my late

father the Pan Africanist who see the

whole African community you know when

you're talking about the black lives

matter campaign or you know racist

attacks or races and feelings or

whatever you know do you think

somebody's going to stop and say oh are

you from Khartoum or are you from

you know Kingston Jamaica or are you

from you know from Boston or whatever no

it's all part and parcel of the absolute

same community and I know that this is

an important topic because you know here

we live in the United Kingdom we know

how important history is for you know

informing your present and if you watch

any major events like the Olympics or

you know whatever football matches

they're always you know a bit of history

coming in whereby a nation asserts

itself so history is important for

national identity for an individual

sense of identity for a community as

well and so Africans must not be robbed

of this you know advantage because it's

something that hasn't been put center

stage and I want to say actually but

when I I know this is right because when

I was filming the film crew who I was

with I used African film crews

everywhere I went filming for this TV

series at the end of each shoot they say

say not thank you we are exhausted

you've worked so hard but we are so

grateful to you saying that because now

for the first time we really know about

our own history it's been an

I open a forest and these are by and

large you know young men and women who

were very struck by the wonderful minds

that they were listening to telling them

about their own history and so there is

a thirst there is a hunger there for

this kind of knowledge and I think that

my plea

would be that be it politicians be its

academics be it you know ordinary

members of the public in whatever guys

you are you should say please let us put

African history center stage I will end

with a quote earlier this year I was

sitting having tea in in a central

London hotel with a former president of

South Africa our president mocked lanty

and we were talking about history and he

said to me you know what say 'no I think

you're absolutely right to focus on

history because only when Lions have

historians will the hunters cease to be

heroes and that is absolutely right and

I am so glad that my four children two

sons and two daughters Joseph Sophia

Hannah and Zachary have all said mummy

thank you so much for telling us about

the history of the continent where you

were born because my four children I'm

sure like all people of African descent

anywhere in the world

are the real lions thank you for your

attention

[Applause]

[Music]