If Africa Had Written the Modern World: Would Power Have Made Us Different?
If Africa Had Written the Modern World: Would Power Have Made Us Different? By Arafa Alhammadi A speculative essay grounded in African history Imagine opening a history book in which Europe appears only at the edges. Its kingdoms are described briefly, often through the observations of African travellers. Its languages survive at home but rarely enter diplomacy, science, or international law. European children study Yoruba or Swahili because fluency is necessary for education and social advancement. Their grandparents still remember when traditional names were discouraged in schools. Their museums display objects removed from European palaces during foreign expeditions, while curators debate whether those objects should ever be returned. In this world, Lagos is not merely a large African city. It is one of the capitals of global taste. Addis Ababa sets industrial standards. Kinshasa influences the price of technologies used on every continent. Timbuktu is spoken of in the way peo...
