Table of Contents
African history and its rich, ancient, powerful civilizations
African history is rich, ancient, and filled with powerful civilizations — from Nubia, Axum, Mali, Great Zimbabwe, to Kemet (Ancient Egypt) — and many others that thrived long before European or Islamic interference.
Why is Western colonization emphasized, while earlier conquests (like Islamic expansion and internal slavery) are often downplayed or silenced?
1. Eurocentric Historical Narrative
- Much of modern historiography (history as taught in schools and books) has been shaped by European scholars, especially during the Enlightenment and colonial periods.
- These narratives naturally highlighted Europe’s own role — for better or worse — and shaped global perception through their lens. This meant both overemphasis on colonial atrocities and under-documentation of earlier non-Western power dynamics.
2. Present-Day Political Sensitivities
- Criticizing Western colonialism fits neatly into postcolonial critique and ongoing struggles for restitution and justice.
- In contrast, criticizing Islamic imperialism (which did involve conquest, slavery, and cultural erasure in parts of Africa) often triggers interfaith, racial, or geopolitical sensitivities — especially since many African countries today are predominantly Muslim.
3. Internal vs. External Framing
- The Islamic conquests are often framed as part of African or Afro-Asian history (e.g. Arab-Berber expansions), while European colonialism is framed as an external invader — making the latter more clearly visible as a “foreign disruption.”
- However, both reshaped African societies, often violently and with long-term consequences.
4. Pan-Africanism & Solidarity Politics
- During decolonization, African leaders aligned with broader anti-imperialist and non-aligned movements, which included partnerships with Muslim-majority countries.
- To maintain unity, older wounds — like Arab slave trades, which predate and outlast the transatlantic one — were often left unspoken to avoid internal conflict.
5. Documentation and Visibility
- Western colonial crimes are recent, highly documented (often even by the colonizers themselves), and visibly linked to current global inequalities.
- Earlier Islamic and internal African slave trades, while vast in scope, were less documented or consciously erased — and oral traditions may not have survived the disruptions that followed.
What’s Changing Now?
Many African scholars, writers, and activists are reclaiming the full scope of their history — not just the colonial era. This includes:
- Uncovering pre-Islamic African kingdoms.
- Investigating the East African slave trade (Zanj, Indian Ocean networks).
- Re-centering indigenous knowledge systems that were erased by both Arab and European influences.
Final Thought
There is a growing global awareness that African history is not a single trauma narrative — it’s a vast, dynamic tapestry. The silence is being broken, gently but powerfully.
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