FULafia Don Advocates Rewriting of African History, Curriculum to Promote Black Pride and Development

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FULafia Don Advocates Rewriting of African History, Curriculum to Promote Black Pride and Development

Prof. Mallam Al-Bishak makes call at Federal University of Lafia's 44th Inaugural Lecture, urges establishment of Institute for Ancient African Studies

By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku 

A Professor of African Literature at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Mallam Al-Bishak, has advocated the rewriting of African history and educational curricula from an African-centered perspective to foster pride, confidence, and a brighter future for the continent.

The professor made the call on Wednesday while delivering the 44th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Lafia titled, "Egyptology, Egyptomania and Khemetology: Literature and the Black African Literary as Masters of Homer, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle etc."

Speaking before an audience drawn from different sectors of society, Prof. Al-Bishak argued that Africa's history had long been presented through a Eurocentric lens that diminished the achievements and capabilities of Africans while elevating those of Europe.

According to him, there is an urgent need to reconstruct Africa's historical narrative and redesign educational curricula across the continent to instill self-worth and confidence among African pupils.

"There is the absolute need to rewrite African history away from the Eurocentric perspective that seeks to denigrate Africa and its inhabitants and exaggerate the capabilities of the white race in order to entrench Eurasian hegemony and keep Africans subservient," he said.

He maintained that Africa's educational system should be restructured to reflect the continent's authentic historical and cultural heritage, enabling future generations to appreciate their roots and contribute meaningfully to societal development.

Prof. Al-Bishak further urged Africans to reject the stigma associated with slavery and embrace positive affirmations such as "Black is Beautiful" and "I am Black and Proud."

"Our history, just as our artifacts, has been stolen from us. We have been indoctrinated with an inferiority complex, believing that we are incapable of achieving greatness independently and must always rely on the white man," he stated.

He stressed that the solution lies in Africans taking control of their destiny by reclaiming their history, restoring their leadership role in antiquity, and rebuilding pride in the Black race.

The inaugural lecturer argued that Africa was a centre of learning and literary development thousands of years ago, noting that ancient African scholars and intellectuals should receive greater recognition in discussions about the continent's literary heritage.

He also encouraged African scholars to develop indigenous theories and solutions to local challenges rather than depending solely on foreign frameworks.

As part of his recommendations, Prof. Al-Bishak called on the university's management to establish an Institute for Ancient African Studies to facilitate research into Africa's historical achievements and inspire future generations.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, who chaired the occasion, commended the inaugural lecturer for his scholarly contributions and urged academics to sustain research and innovation efforts that would advance education and national development.

Prof. Kida described the lecture as a significant intellectual engagement that highlighted Africa's contributions to world civilization and encouraged critical reflection on the continent's place in global history.

He noted that inaugural lectures provide a platform for professors to showcase their research achievements, innovations, and contributions to knowledge.

The Vice-Chancellor also lauded Prof. Al-Bishak's extensive research on the relationship between ancient Egyptian civilization, African cultural heritage, literary traditions, and intellectual history.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Inaugural Lecture Committee, Prof. Josephine E. Odey, said the event featured practical exhibitions and other academic activities. She appreciated the university management and stakeholders for their support.

In a vote of thanks, Dr. Suzan Dingba expressed gratitude to guests and participants for attending the lecture and prayed for continued blessings upon them.

The event climaxed with the presentation of a certificate and commemorative seal to Prof. Mallam Al-Bishak by the Vice-Chancellor in recognition of his successful delivery of the university's 44th inaugural lecture.