Afrocentrism

Afrocentrism is a scholarly and cultural movement that seeks to center African peoples and perspectives in the interpretation of world history, culture, and knowledge. Proponents argue that traditional historiography and curricula in many Western institutions have marginalized or distorted Africa's past, contributions, and agency, and they aim to reframe history from an African-centered viewpoint.

Origins and core ideas: Afrocentrism emerged in the late 20th century among African American scholars and the African diaspora. Key figures include Cheikh Anta Diop, who argued for the African origin of ancient civilization and language roots, and Molefi Kete Asante, who formalized Afrocentricity as a framework for analyzing culture and history. The approach emphasizes Africa's civilizations, languages, religious systems, and scientific achievements, and it often places African influence at the center of world history, including claims about ancient Egypt and Nubia as integral to Africa.

Variants and goals: Afrocentrism spans academic, educational, and popular contexts. Some adherents advocate curricula that foreground African civilizations and diasporic cultures; others engage in historiography, philosophy, and literary criticism from an Afrocentric lens.

Reception and critique: Critics caution against essentialism, selective use of evidence, or neglect of non-African contributions, and they emphasize rigorous methodology and balanced sourcing. Proponents argue Afrocentrism provides a corrective to Eurocentric biases and broadens understanding of global history. The movement remains contested within mainstream historiography, where scholars seek to integrate Afrocentric insights with broader comparative methods.