from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will open an exhibition in Paris next week highlighting Africa’s contributions to the progress of humanity and the importance of historical knowledge in promoting peace and non-violence.
The exhibition, Heritages and Contributions of Africa to the Progress of Humanity, will open at UNESCO Headquarters on 17 September and remain on display until 22 September 2026.
Drawing on UNESCO’s landmark General History of Africa series, the exhibition explores the history and achievements of Africa and its diasporas through archival documents, photographs, maps, publications and audiovisual material.
Among the themes featured are Timbuktu’s scientific traditions, the civilisations of Aksum and Great Zimbabwe, the Haitian Revolution, Pan-African movements, African independence struggles and the fight against apartheid.
The exhibition comes as UNESCO’s General History of Africa reaches a significant milestone, following the publication of Volumes IX, X and XI.
The series seeks to deepen understanding of Africa’s past from African perspectives and make that knowledge accessible to new generations.
Historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, the exhibition’s curator and a contributor to the latest volume, will lead an informal tour following the opening ceremony.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany will deliver opening remarks alongside Angola’s ambassador to UNESCO and Senegal’s ambassador, who chairs the Africa Group at UNESCO.
The initiative also builds momentum towards the fourth Biennale of Luanda, the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, scheduled for Angola on 22 and 23 October.
– CAJ News