African History and Contemporary Development: A Reflection on European Racism and African Historiography

Abstract

This article accepts and argues that the study of African history and African historiography have
been facing existential challenges since the beginning of the systematization of the discipline as an
academic field of study. Attempts at denying African history and historiography had their roots in
the European ideological considerations, based on racial interpretations of human history. This
article reveals the actual context within which the problematic of African history and historiography
are situated, especially in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also draws the attention of
scholars to the contemporary situation, which requires concerted efforts to address the challenges
facing the discipline. It is also the position of this article that majority of African existential
challenges are directly or indirectly associated with the neglect of African history and
historiography as designed by the vested interests of the globalists. The article used bench work to
examine and analyze relevant contents for understanding the issues under considerations.
Addressing the issues raised by this article would go a long way in solving most of the challenges
facing African continent in all its spectrum.